Company:

Compassus

 

“As I talk with or visit with a Family Member who is in mourning for a beloved member who has died, I am honored and privileged to join with them in acknowledging the life and love of this beloved family member – walking with them as they share through their pain.”

- Colleen, Bereavement Coordinator

At Compassus, we are dedicated to compassionate care, clinical excellence and providing comfort and support to patients and their families facing the end of life. We help support families, even after the patient dies. For many of our team members, this is more than a career—It’s a calling.

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Join our team today as a Hospice Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator to positively impact the experiences of our patients and families.

Status: Full-time, 32 hours per week (Benefits eligible.)

Position Summary

The Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator is responsible for modeling the 3 Company values of Compassion, Integrity, and Excellence, and for promoting the Compassus philosophy, using the 6 Pillars of success as the foundation. S/he is responsible for upholding the Code of Ethical Conduct and for promoting positive working relationships within the Program, between the Program and other Company departments, and between the Program and all external stakeholders. The Chaplain is a hospice-trained individual who provides spiritual support to patients and the members of the family. S/he may be a priest, minister, rabbi or other individual with experience in spiritual support. The hospice Chaplain is not intended to replace the patient's own clergy, but to provide spiritual support and help.

The Bereavement Coordinator is a hospice-trained interdisciplinary team member who oversees an organized program to ensure grief counseling for the bereaved. S/he is responsible to develop and deliver a program of bereavement support and counseling that is available to patients during their hospice care and to the bereaved family members of patients for at least 1 year after the death of the patient. S/he is responsible for applying the rules and regulations of state and federal regulatory agencies and other certified agencies.

Position Specific Responsibilities

Chaplain Responsibilities:

Explains hospice services and Medicare benefits to patients and families; obtains Informed Consent and Election of Benefits documents as requested.Submits appropriate documentation and paperwork to facilities at the completion of patient visits; documentation is completed and submitted timely according to company policy.Articulates the regulatory framework governing the role of the Spiritual Counselor (federal and state, if applicable).Participates as a member of the IDT, including development and implementation of the plan of care.Provides spiritual care support to the patient and family; supports the involvement of community clergy as the patient/family request.Assists in identifying the need for intervention of other IDT members.Effectively communicates patient and family needs to IDT.Collaborates with IDT to coordinate spiritual care support for the patient and family to ensure appropriateness, continuity, and quality of care.Maintains updated, comprehensive care plans which reflect current problems, goals and interventions for patients.Maintains respect for the family's environment and belief systems, and remains nondiscriminatory regarding age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, and other personal matters.Counsels in accordance with patient’s and family’s beliefs.Supports the patient and family in working through the stages of death, grief, and bereavement.Acts as liaison with the clerical community to interpret the needs of the hospice patient and family, and helps recruit clerical volunteers for the hospice.Performs other duties as assigned.

Bereavement Coordinator Responsibilities:

Participates as a member of the IDT, including development and implementation of the plan of care.Works with the hospice Social Worker in the completion and analysis of the pre-bereavement risk assessment and care plan development for the patient and the family.Promotes and supports assessment of bereavement risk factors at admission and throughout the hospice patient’s care.Develops and implements the bereavement plan of care after the death of the patient.Identifies the needs of non-family caregivers, including staff and residents at nursing facilities where the patient may have resided, and ensures bereavement support for them.Provides education about bereavement services to members of the IDT.Assists in identifying the need for intervention of other IDT members.Effectively communicates patient and family needs to IDT.Provides education about bereavement services to members of the IDT.Works collaboratively in a team environment to promote the values of hospice and of Compassus.Recognizes issues or concerns and escalates appropriately.Prepares reports, in-services, and other documents to demonstrate the value and effectiveness of the bereavement program as requested.Delivers high quality bereavement support, either with internal resources or through outreach to community resources when needed.Develops, organizes and delivers grief support groups either independently or in association with other grief support resources in the community.Maintains a resource library of materials appropriate to various bereaved individuals, including those with high-risk or disenfranchised grief – provides materials as part of routine bereavement contacts and upon request.Documents care and services provided according to state and/or federal requirements.Works with Volunteer Coordinator to identify opportunities for volunteers to participate in bereavement support activities.Assists in identifying the need for intervention of other IDT members.Effectively communicates patient and family needs to IDT.Provides education about bereavement services to members of the IDT.Recognizes issues or concerns and escalates appropriately.Prepares reports, in-services, and other documents to demonstrate the value and effectiveness of the bereavement program as requested.Attends and participates in community events, promoting Compassus and the universal need for grief and bereavement support.Develops and performs public service announcements regarding grief and bereavement.Promotes hospice philosophy.Provides bereavement counseling and support, based on personal qualifications, when needed.Develops and delivers memorial services for program patients.Develops and supports delivery of memorial services for patients of nursing facilities served by the program.Participates in funeral or other memorial services if requested by family.Works with all members of the hospice team to promote Compassus in the community.Leverages community events, professional contacts and volunteer network to promote Compassus and hospice.Operates within established budgetary guidelines.Manages expenses of bereavement program.Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or general education degree required.Degree in divinity, social sciences, or other related field preferred.Minimum of one (1) year of experience in the provision of spiritual/ pastoral support to individuals or families required.Minimum of two (2) years of experience in the provision of grief, loss and/or bereavement support for individuals and families required.Completion of at least one (1) unit of CPE and one (1) or more years of experience in the provision of pastoral support to individuals/ families related to loss, grief, bereavement, or trauma preferred.

Skills

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage.Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from leaders, colleagues, investors, and external parties. Strong written and verbal communications.Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to understand, read, write, and speak English. Articulates and embraces hospice philosophy. Strong organizational, interpersonal, and time management skills. Must be able to work a flexible schedule to include nights and weekends. Must be able to travel. Understanding and acceptance of hospice philosophy. Must be of high integrity including maintenance of confidential information including all patient records. Clinical experience or training related to death, dying, and bereavement. Must be able to provide grief counseling to families and others in need. Strong skills in counseling the terminally ill and his/her family. A positive, compassionate, and empathetic attitude. Ability to counsel patient and family and assist local clergy in rendering pastoral care.

Certifications, Licenses and Registrations

Clinical Pastoral Education as required per state regulation.

State Specific Requirements
Arizona - None

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a colleague to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the colleague is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk and hear. The colleague frequently is required to stand, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The colleague is occasionally required to walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The colleague must frequently lift and/or move more than 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a colleague encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. There will be possible exposure to infectious diseases through working with clinical caregivers. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

At Compassus, including all Compassus affiliates, diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our Pillars of Success. We are committed to creating a fair work environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, highly valued, and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

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