Chaplain

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Chaplain, you will help patients, their families, and staff assess and address their spiritual needs so they can experience holistic healing and support throughout their healthcare journey. Every day you will serve as a full member of the healthcare team by ministering to the spiritual and emotional needs of the hospital community.

You will be expected to actively participate in the organization’s mission, core values, and strategic performance improvement goals. To be successful in this role, you must demonstrate a commitment to compassionate service, a deep understanding of the healing mission, and the ability to integrate spiritual care into a clinical environment

• Demonstrates commitment to the regional health system's mission by maintaining an attitude of caring, openness to change, respect for life, compassionate service and quality.
• Supports the spiritual services team by actively participating in regional and departmental meetings and educational sessions, contributing ideas, issues and opportunities for improvement. Participates in interdisciplinary and performance improvement committees as assigned. Shares new concepts with regional colleagues and collaborates effectively with patient care staff.
• Visits and ministers to patients and their families, providing counsel and determining appropriate care plans. Assesses needs and manages time and resources effectively, keeping accurate records of services rendered. Assigns a high priority to the terminally ill and those in mental, spiritual and emotional distress.
• Communicates effectively with supervisor, co-workers, physicians, clergy members and the public.
• Participates in continuing care rounds and patient care conferences, providing on-call services.
• Provides effective grief counseling and education, and offers outreach grief counseling when appropriate. Helps coordinate services of area clergy when necessary.

Job Requirements

Required

• Master's degree in Divinity, Theology, or Pastoral Studies with at least four (4) units of clinical pastoral education (or its equivalent). Must obtain certification by NACC or APC or certification within 18 months to move to a Chaplain II
• Experience, preferably in a hospital setting, working as part of a team
• Must have one of the following license/certification:
  • Board Certified Chaplain APC or
  • Certified Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Educationor
  • Board Certified Chaplain BCC or
  • BCC - JEWISH CHAPLAIN or
  • Catholic Chaplain or
  • BCC - CANADIAN SPIRITUAL

Where You’ll Work

Founded in 1899, Dignity Health - St. Joseph’s Medical Center is a 355-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Stockton, California. Serving over 125,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level III NICU, cancer care, heart care, and a family birth center. Additionally, St. Joseph’s Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. It is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center and was named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades in 2026.

One Community. One Mission. One California