Chaplain

Job description

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