Summary of essential functions
Spiritual Care & Assessment
Assess spiritual, emotional, and relational needs of patients, families, and team members across care settings.
Utilize evidence-informed spiritual assessment models appropriate to diverse populations and contexts.
Develop and document spiritual care plans integrated into the interdisciplinary plan of care when applicable.
Provide presence and interventions that foster hope, meaning, connection, resilience, and spiritual well-being.
Support individuals from diverse cultural, religious, and spiritual backgrounds, including those with no religious affiliation.
Provide spiritual care in person or through approved virtual platforms when appropriate.
Crisis, Transitions & Significant Events
Provide crisis intervention and emotional support during acute events, serious diagnoses, end-of-life situations, and other significant life transitions.
Respond to urgent care needs across the system, including high-acuity clinical events when applicable.
Support individuals and teams during organizational stressors, critical incidents, or traumatic events.
Grief & Bereavement Support
Provide grief support and bereavement care consistent with cultural, spiritual, and family preferences.
Support individuals navigating illness, loss, anticipatory grief, or major health transitions.
Participate in family meetings, care conferences, or goals-of-care discussions when requested.
Staff & Team Member Support
Provide spiritual and emotional support to team members experiencing stress, moral distress, grief, or compassion fatigue.
Offer pastoral presence following critical incidents or challenging clinical situations.
Promote resilience and well-being through supportive conversations and reflective presence.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries in all encounters.
Documentation & Professional Practice
Document spiritual assessments, interventions, and outcomes in accordance with organizational, and professional standards.
Participate in departmental quality improvement efforts as assigned.
Demonstrate cultural humility, self-awareness, and ethical integrity.
Adhere to the Code of Ethics of a recognized professional chaplaincy organization.
- On-Call Responsibilities
- Provide scheduled on-call coverage to support spiritual care needs across the health system.
- Other Duties
- Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support patient, family, and team member spiritual well-being throughout the organization.
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field (required)
- Master’s degree in theology, pastoral care, or a related field (preferred)
- Minimum of one (1) unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (preferred)
- Licensure / Certification
- Eligible for or board certified/credentialed in professional chaplaincy (preferred).
- Endorsement/credentialing from a recognized faith tradition (preferred).
- Experience
- Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in healthcare chaplaincy or related field.
- Experience providing spiritual care across diverse populations and care settings preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in crisis care and interdisciplinary teamwork.
- Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong spiritual assessment and crisis intervention skills.
- Ability to adapt spiritual care approaches to inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, and virtual settings.
- Proficiency in documentation and professional communication.
- Emotional maturity and capacity for sustained pastoral presence.
- Ability to function effectively within a dynamic, system-wide healthcare environment
