Assoc Chaplain-Hc

Associate Chaplain, Home Care

Full Time
, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Covenant Home Care is East Tennessee’s largest non‑profit homecare and hospice provider. Since 1978, we have provided quality home healthcare to allow patients to live with comfort, dignity, and independence. We care for more than 6,300 patients in our Home Care and Hospice program every year. Covenant Home Care is a proud member of Covenant Health, our region’s top‑performing healthcare network.

The Chaplain provides and coordinates pastoral care and/or spiritual counseling as well as bereavement support to Hospice and Home Health patients/families based on their spiritual beliefs. The Chaplain reports to the Manager of Volunteer and Bereavement Services.

• Conduct a spiritual assessment of the patient/family and provide ongoing spiritual support within 5 days of admission.
• Develop an individual spiritual care plan that collaborates with local clergy whenever possible and provides spiritual support as needed.
• Conduct religious services of prayer, worship, and rituals for patients/families as appropriate.
• Offer patients/families of different philosophies and religious perspectives opportunities to discuss and share their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and values.
• Document counseling provided in the patient’s clinical record demonstrating progress toward unresolved spiritual issues on appropriate forms within 24 hours.
• Work with other professionals to resolve spiritual/pastoral/ethical issues.
• Work in a team approach with the interdisciplinary care team to evaluate patient/family response to care.
• Attend interdisciplinary team conferences when the care plan is reviewed.
• Be available to meet with individual staff regarding personal spiritual issues which may affect their ability to function effectively, upon request.
• Be available to family during the bereavement period.
• Assist in developing and updating the plan of care.
• Provide bereavement support to staff.
• Participate in development of processes to meet additional staff counseling needs.
• Participate in development of outcome indicators for services provided.
• Coordinate requests for local denominational clergy when patients/families have no clergy.
• Assist families with funeral arrangements as appropriate.
• Serve as Bereavement Coordinator for provision of home care and hospice’s organized program of bereavement services for up to 13‑months following a patient’s death.
• Complete and submit clinical documentation in accordance with company policy.
• Assist in maintaining a safe environment for all residents, including reporting equipment failures, abuse, neglect, or criminal activities to appropriate managers.
• Travel locally as required.
• Follow policies, procedures, and safety standards. Complete required education assignments annually, work toward achieving goals, and participate in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

None specified; acceptance of any combination of formal education and/or prior work experience sufficient to demonstrate required knowledge, skill, and ability. Preference may be given to individuals with a Bachelor’s degree in a directly‑related field from an accredited college or university.

One (1) year counseling experience with a focus on spirituality.

Employee must have a valid Tennessee driver’s license Class D and state‑mandated minimum insurance coverage. Driving record must meet Covenant Health minimum standards at the date of hire and throughout employment tenure.

Rachel Dudek‑Fleming |