Bereavement Coordinator/Spiritual Counselor - Hospice

Description

Job Summary:   

The Bereavement Coordinator will assist in the delivery of grief counseling and support services to patients, caregivers, and families. The Bereavement Coordinator is responsible for the coordination and management of the hospice pre- and post-death bereavement program, including bereavement assessment, development and implementation of the bereavement plan of care, and delivery of bereavement services in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, and ProCare policy, while performing Spiritual Counseling duties for a designated patient caseload as a member of the Interdisciplinary Group. The Bereavement Coordinator serves as the qualified professional with experience or education in grief or loss counseling under whose supervision the bereavement program is furnished.

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Accountability: Lead Chaplain/Spiritual Counselor & Executive Director (RN)

FLSA Status: Salary/Exempt

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Requirements

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Essential Job Functions:

1. Fosters and maintains an effective working relationship between co-workers, patients, and other professional members of the community
2. Participates as a member of the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), attends IDG meetings for assigned patients, and contributes spiritual and bereavement assessment findings, including bereavement risk, to the IDG and the plan of care
3. Follows the individualized plan of care established by the IDG for each patient
4. Participates in the initial and comprehensive assessment of the patient and family by completing or contributing to the initial bereavement assessment of the needs of the patient's family and other individuals, addressing the social, spiritual, and cultural factors that may affect their ability to cope with the patient's death, and ensures this information is incorporated into the plan of care and the bereavement plan of care
5. Provides pre-death grief and loss support and anticipatory-grief counseling to patients, families, and caregivers, in collaboration with the social worker and other IDG members
6. Following the patient's death, completes a bereavement risk assessment and develops, documents, and updates an individualized bereavement plan of care for each identified bereaved individual that specifies the kind of bereavement services to be offered and the frequency of service delivery
7. Provides bereavement services to the family and other individuals identified in the bereavement plan of care, including, when appropriate and identified in the bereavement plan of care, residents and staff of skilled nursing, nursing, and intermediate care facilities, in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations, accreditation standards, and ProCare policy.
8. Ensures bereavement services reflect the assessed needs of the bereaved and are delivered according to generally accepted standards of practice and in a manner that is meaningful to the family
9. Coordinates and delivers bereavement outreach and services, including condolence contacts, follow-up calls and visits, mailings, individual support, grief support groups, and other activities of the bereavement program
10. Plans, coordinates, and hosts the ProCare Memorial Service(s)
11. When appropriate, makes referrals to outside agencies or professionals for needs beyond the scope of the bereavement program, including suicidal ideation, substance abuse, emotional abuse, or complicated/prolonged grief
12. Reports to the appropriate hospice team members the social, emotional, spiritual, and financial factors related to patient and caregiver coping, as necessary and appropriate
13. Initiates appropriate actions needed to assist families and caregivers with needs related to the patient's loss and grief
14. Provides Chaplain/Spiritual Counselor services to a designated caseload, including: assessment of the patient's and family's spiritual needs; spiritual counseling to meet those needs in accordance with the patient's and family's acceptance of the service and in a manner consistent with their beliefs and desires; reasonable efforts to facilitate visits by local clergy, pastoral counselors, or other individuals who can support the patient's spiritual needs; and advising the patient and family of the availability of spiritual care services
15. Provides ongoing recruitment support, training, and supervision for bereavement volunteers, consistent with ProCare's volunteer program
16. Coordinates grief support for the staff and volunteers of ProCare Hospice of Nevada, individually and in group sessions, when needed
17. Supervises assigned bereavement staff and volunteers, as applicable, including regular one-on-one meetings to discuss performance, challenges, and goals; provides individualized support and mentorship and addresses barriers to productivity or compliance
18. Hosts bereavement team meetings to share updates, review policies, and promote best practices in grief and loss care; provides education to IDG members on grief and loss theory and normal versus complicated grief
19. Oversees compliance standards for the bereavement program; completes required bereavement compliance audits on a monthly basis and promptly addresses any deficiencies
20. Maintains accurate, timely documentation in the clinical record, including spiritual assessments and visits, bereavement assessments, bereavement plans of care, all bereavement contacts, and attempted contacts, declined services, and completion of or discharge from bereavement services, in accordance with ProCare documentation and compliance guidelines
21. Reports unusual conditions, observations, and pertinent information to the nurse or appropriate clinical leader
22. Understands the basic principles of hospice and palliative care, including comfort-focused symptom management, within the scope of this position and as regulated by state and federal requirements and accreditation standards
23. Works closely with the quality and compliance team to ensure adherence to all hospice regulations and accreditation standards; participates in Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities as requested
24. Demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the hospice mission, philosophy, and scope of service
25. Encourages open communication and fosters collaboration among team members
26. Completes assigned projects within specified time frames
27. Other duties as assigned

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Specific to Job Position:

1. Adheres to patient rights, confidentiality (including HIPAA), and abuse-reporting policies, including Nevada mandatory reporting requirements for abuse, neglect, or exploitation of older or vulnerable persons and of children
2. Attends scheduled staff meetings and/or in-service training
3. Adheres to departmental dress code requirements related to uniform, personal grooming, and other attire
4. Demonstrates reliability by making every attempt to report to work on time, providing proper notification for absence or tardiness; participates in required meetings
5. Demonstrates the ability to problem-solve and make decisions by assessing situations and considering alternatives, seeking guidance and direction as necessary, and utilizing the proper chain of command
6. Demonstrates effective time management skills by coordinating activities to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency; willing to adjust or revise work schedules as requested
7. Assumes responsibility for ongoing personal development and continuing education
8. Stays current with all mandatory agency, regulatory, and accreditation requirements
9. Stays invested in learning and developing as a leader
10. Supports continuing education opportunities for team members to enhance their skills and knowledge

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Physical/Safety Requirements:

1. Must have the strength and endurance required for standing, walking, lifting, bending, pushing, and pulling on a consistent basis up to 20 lbs.
2. Uses appropriate body mechanics for the duties of this position
3. Category 2 for potential exposure to blood/body fluids: does not usually require the performance of procedures or other tasks in the work routine that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, but Category 2 tasks may require the unexpected performance of these procedures
4. Utilizes appropriate PPE as needed
5. Follows the designated plan of action in the event of a fire or other emergency
6. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles, work- related stresses, and driving hazards
7. The individual may be required to drive to meetings with clients, health care professionals, or patients’ homes
8. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal

The work environment and physical demand characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the employer will provide reasonable accommodations to meet the work environmental and physical demands listed above.

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Qualifications and Experience:

1. Documented experience or education in grief or loss counseling sufficient to serve as the qualified professional supervising the hospice bereavement program, as required by the Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation
2. Bachelor's or Master's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, divinity/theology, pastoral care, or a related field, and/or Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), preferred
3. Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, Certified Thanatologist (ADEC), or equivalent grief-counseling credential preferred
4. Minimum of one (1) year of experience as a chaplain/spiritual counselor or bereavement coordinator/specialist in hospice, palliative care, or geriatric care preferred
5. Must be able to identify and address the spiritual and bereavement needs of hospice patients, families, and caregivers both before and after the patient's death
6. Successful completion of a background check pursuant to NRS 449.188 and NRS 179A.100, along with a pre-employment drug screen and physical, TB testing, previous employment and reference checking, and a motor vehicle record (MVR) check (may include verification of education)
7. Able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
8. Must be able to handle frequent interruptions
9. Must be able to cope with emotionally charged situations encompassing patients, families, and other caregivers
10. Available for prescheduled on-call hours, weekends, and holidays
11. Must have a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and current auto insurance
12. Must have current CPR/BLS certification

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Benefits:

Welcoming Culture

Paid Time Off

NV Paid Leave

Medical Insurance

Dental & Vision Insurance

Voluntary Ancillary Insurance

Paid Holidays

Floating Holiday

401k with Company Match

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Discount Program

Uniforms