SPIRITUAL ADVISOR - PALLIATIVE CARE

FLSA Status

Job Role Summary

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Provides counseling as indicated
• Develops support systems that integrate the medical, spiritual and psychosocial needs of the patient and their families
• Serves as a bridge between the medical community and the patient's community to provide needed resources at the end-of-life
• Participates in multidisciplinary team meetings for the implementation and coordination of services to ensure appropriate treatment plans and continuity of care
• Serves as a resource, role model, advocate, mentor for both patients, families, persons in the community and staff
• Alters activities/behaviors to reflect/ensure care appropriate to the age of persons being served
• Assesses need for spiritual support/intervention of patients and their families and coordinates and provides appropriate resources to help assist with needs such as bibles, art therapy supplies, games, glasses, etc.
• Directs efforts of the community by facilitating collaborative relationships with community agencies and faith communities around the needs of dying patients/families.
• Support Palliative Care volunteers within the NODA program including recruitment, education, training, and ensuring volunteers have all necessary resources needed to provide the highest caliber patient care.
• Documents assessments, and all other spiritual support, legally, legibly, concisely, per policy/procedure.
• Coordinates pro bono legal work with The Indianapolis Bar Association and Palliative Care patients to meet the needs of dying patients to have their legal affairs and wishes including but not limited to assisting with access to patients, locating a notary as needed, etc.
• Facilitates education about pro bono services with patients and other community resources
• Oversees the coordination, data entry, and volunteer management for the bereavement program for families of Palliative Care patients, as they are followed for 13 months after the death of patients
• Works with volunteers and staff to document deaths and contact information allowing for mailing, phone calls and support during the grief process
• Serves on hospital and community committees as appropriate/requested

Job Requirements

• Bachelor degree in Religion, Theology, Psychology, Counseling or related discipline required
• Master degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling preferred
• Minimum of two years' experience working with persons in the urban community
• Proven skills in dealing with complex psychosocial/spiritual issues
• Ordained by a faith community
• Previous work with dying patients/families beneficial

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to:
  • assess/evaluate patients/families psychosocial, spiritual condition/needs
  • develop comprehensive plan for care
  • work effectively and cooperatively with multidisciplinary team consisting of professional and paraprofessional persons from various community agencies and hospital departments
  • communicate verbally and in writing in a concise, easily understandable manner which includes public speaking/media presentation, staff training and publication in accordance with policy
  • understands and effectively communicates with patients/families, necessitating familiarity with the issues of end-of-life/palliative care
  • understand and relate to individuals with diverse backgrounds
  • develop programs and educational offerings
  • prioritize tasks and work effectively with complex issues under pressure/time constraints/schedules
  • assess environmental conditions and interactions of family through home visitation
• Knowledge of:
  • issues/concerns surrounding the dying process
  • literature/research regarding unique needs of dying patients and their families
  • spiritual needs of individuals taking into consideration age and enormity of illness
  • terminal illness coping mechanism and styles
  • history and issues of diverse ethnic cultures
  • volunteer recruitment, retention and management