Spiritual & Bereavement Counselor

Northeast Ohio Hospice

Part Time - Flexible Hours

The Spiritual Counselor - Northeast Ohio Hospice is responsible for the provision of non-denominational spiritual counseling services to patients, families and the hospice staff via home visits, phone contact, and referrals to the other local community clergy as appropriate.

Requirements for a Spiritual & Bereavement Counselor:

• Bachelor's degree in divinity, religious studies or theology preferred. Other degrees will be considered if background and work experience relate to job requirements and responsibilities.
• Education in grief or loss counseling required.
• Clinical Pastoral Education Training: with a minimum of 2 to 4 C.P.E. credits obtained from an accredited program preferred.
• Must have training/experience in dealing with grief and bereavement counseling.
• Minimum of 1-year experience in providing ecumenical approach in pastoral/spiritual care and client/family counseling.
• Background reflecting provision of individual and family therapy/counseling related to issues of grief, loss, death and dying as well as the development of programs for the provision of grief and loss support and education.
• 2 years of health care experience with hospice preferred.
• Should be endorsed and in good standing with a denomination. Prefer a certificate of ordination or certification.

Responsibilities for a Spiritual & Bereavement Counselor:

• Provide comprehensive assessment of spiritual needs of hospice patients, families and/or caregivers within five days of patient's election to the hospice benefit or according to patient/family wishes on the Spiritual Care Assessment form.
• Provide consultation and support to patients, families, caregivers and team members in a non-denominational manner or as requested by patients/families/caregivers and document according to agency policies and procedures.
• Contact patient/family's preferred spiritual advisor/clergy to ensure ongoing involvement and to invite participation in interdisciplinary care planning when requested by team member or patient/family member.
• Contact patient's community clergy or spiritual leader to assist in provision of spiritual care of patients and family members as requested.
• Develop and document plan for spiritual care, in conjunction with the interdisciplinary team.
• Participate in Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meeting and evaluate and revise plan for spiritual care of patients/families/caregivers with the IDT on an ongoing basis.
• Provide spiritual care counseling services to patients/families and significant others and document the services according to agency clinical record guidelines.
• Maintain records of spiritual care services utilization and related activities for quality assurance, program development and policy and procedure review and revision.
• Maintain working list of local community chaplains and spiritual counselors.
• Provide consultation, education and support to the IDT on spiritual care.