Chaplain

POSITION TITLE: Chaplain

REPORTS TO (TITLE): Director of Clinical Services

PAY RANGE: $33.80 - $40.56/per hour

Flexible position (24-32 hours per week--8 hour shifts)

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

The Chaplain provides spiritual care, emotional support, and ethical guidance to patients, families, and staff within an inpatient psychiatric hospital environment. Working as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Chaplain supports the organization’s therapeutic philosophy by offering trauma informed, culturally sensitive spiritual services that complement clinical care. The Chaplain assists patients in exploring meaning, coping with illness, navigating crises, and accessing personal belief systems as part of holistic treatment. The role also supports staff well being, contributes to ethical decision making, and ensures compliance with standards related to patient rights, documentation, and spiritual care practices.

Spiritual Care & Crisis Support

• Provide individualized spiritual assessments to identify beliefs, values, sources of meaning, and areas of spiritual distress.
• Offer crisis support during acute psychiatric episodes, including suicidality, grief, trauma responses, or emotional dysregulation.
• Deliver one‑on‑one spiritual counseling, reflective listening, and meaning‑centered interventions.
• Facilitate optional spirituality groups focused on mindfulness, hope, resilience, and grounding practices.
• Support patients navigating psychosis, mood disorders, and complex trauma with non‑clinical but clinically aligned interventions.
• Respond to patient requests for spiritual guidance, prayer, meditation, or ritual support in accordance with hospital policy.
• Support staff well‑being during crises by providing emotional grounding, spiritual presence, and post‑incident stabilization resources.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Treatment Support

• Collaborate with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and therapists to integrate spiritual care into treatment plans.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, providing updates on spiritual needs and patient progress.
• Support treatment goals by reinforcing coping strategies, emotional regulation, and meaning‑making aligned with clinical objectives.
• Assist with family meetings, offering spiritual guidance, grief support, and communication assistance during crises.
• Provide staff support, including debriefing after critical incidents, burnout prevention, and emotional/spiritual wellness resources.

Ethics, Patient Rights & Professional Standards

• Serve as a resource for ethical consultation related to patient autonomy, consent, cultural considerations, and end‑of‑life decisions.
• Advocate for patient rights, including respect for religious, cultural, and non‑religious identities.
• Support processes involving patient grievances or concerns related to spiritual care or cultural respect.
• Ensure compliance with hospital policies, Joint Commission standards, and DSH requirements related to spiritual services.

Documentation & Compliance

• Document spiritual assessments, interventions, and patient encounters in the medical record according to hospital policy.
• Maintain accurate records of patient interactions, group participation, and spiritual care plans.
• Assist with audits or reviews related to spiritual care documentation and compliance.
• Track patient needs, referrals, and follow‑up requirements in hospital reporting systems.

Knowledge and Experience

• Master of Divinity (MDiv) or equivalent graduate theological degree from accredited institutions or equivalent academic preparation.
• Completion of Clinical Pastoral Education (minimum 2–4 units; psychiatric or trauma‑focused experience preferred).
• One year of experience providing spiritual care in healthcare, behavioral health, or crisis environments.
• Board certification or eligibility with APC, NACC, or equivalent preferred.
• Familiarity with trauma‑informed care, severe mental illness, and culturally competent spiritual practices.
• Experience supporting patients in crisis, including psychosis, suicidality, or acute emotional distress.
• Knowledge of patient rights, ethical frameworks, and interdisciplinary treatment models.
• Handle With Care certification required within the new employee orientation timeframe.

Skills and Abilities

• Maintains strict confidentiality and adheres to professional ethics.
• Sensitivity and respect for diverse cultural, religious, and non‑religious backgrounds.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; effective communicator across clinical and spiritual contexts.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams.
• Skilled in crisis presence, de‑escalation, reflective listening, and emotional grounding.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple tasks and maintain timely documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, influence, and motivate others in emotionally intense environments.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, high‑acuity psychiatric setting.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and Microsoft Office applications.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, this position is frequently required to:

• Use standard office equipment and access, input, and retrieve information from a computer.
• Communicate effectively in person or via telephone with diverse populations.
• Give and follow verbal and written instructions with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Perform complex mental functions; interpret laws, regulations, and policies; analyze complex information.
• See details of objects at close range.
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Reach forward, up, down, and to the side.
• Sit or stand for minimum periods of one hour at a time and move throughout the work area repeatedly. Lift up to ten (10) pounds.

• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• 401K Retirement Plan
• Healthcare Spending Account
• Life Insurance (Supplemental life, term, and universal plans are also available)
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• PTO Plan with Holiday Premium Pay