Chaplain

JOB SUMMARY

At Houston Methodist, the Chaplain position is responsible for providing spiritual care to meet the spiritual, religious, and emotional needs of Houston Methodist patients and their family members. This position provides spiritual care support for Houston Methodist employees, visitors and physicians. The Chaplain position makes spiritual care visits with patients to conduct initial assessments and for follow-up care. This position follows established patient care plans, proactively identifying when a change in approach or intervention is necessary, taking appropriate action and involving others as needed. The Chaplain position works independently, exercising sound judgment and executing above average critical thinking skills on challenging situations, with the ability to work collaboratively with peers. This position assists leadership in carrying out the Houston Methodist mission, vision and values, participating in and leading activities in these efforts.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Job responsibilities labeled EF capture those duties that are essential functions of the job.

PEOPLE - 30%

1. Facilitates a supportive and positive environment for Houston Methodist patients, family members, visitors, employees and physicians. Assists leadership with planning and carrying out Houston Methodist mission, vision and values. Provides spiritual care support to Houston Methodist employees. (EF)
2. Influences a dynamic, team-focused work unit that helps to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the patient care team by actively communicating in a positive, supportive, non-judgmental manner. Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles. (EF)
3. Serves as mentor to CPE students and spiritual care volunteers as assigned. Orients and precepts new chaplains, as assigned. (EF)
4. Exhibits and demonstrates healthy work relationships such as mitigation of conflict, leading problem-solving and resolution efforts. Recommends initiatives to improve department scores for employee engagement. (EF)

SERVICE - 40%

1. Provides spiritual care to meet the spiritual, religious, and emotional needs of patients and their family members of all faiths, during hospitalization and particularly for pre-operative, critically ill and dying patients. Enables others to utilize their own faith as a resource for health and healing. (EF)
2. Makes visits with patients to conduct spiritual care assessments, in response to referrals and codes, and for follow-up care. Follows established patient care plans, proactively identifying when a change in approach or intervention is necessary, taking appropriate action and involving others as needed. Enables patients to participate in their plan of care as applicable. (EF)
3. Serves as liaison with community clergy, local congregations and denominational groups. Utilizes community resources to assist in meeting the spiritual needs of others. (EF)
4. Serves as the initial point of contact for providing crisis intervention for patients, family members, visitors, employees and physicians. (EF)
5. Recommends initiatives/activities to meet/exceed department and organization targets for patient satisfaction measures. (EF)

QUALITY/SAFETY - 15%

1. Participates in interprofessional health team rounds; proactively identifies need for intervention and takes action, involving others as necessary. Reports “near misses” and documents in the Patient Safety Net (PSN). (EF)
2. Accurately and thoroughly documents patient visits and spiritual care provided in the patient’s record. (EF)
3. Consults with physicians, clinical management, hospital leadership and staff to assess quality and safety of services provided. Identifies opportunities for corrective action and improvement, providing recommendations; contributes to meeting department and hospital targets for quality and safety. (EF)

FINANCE - 5%

1. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks to achieve maximum results in a timely manner. Utilizes time efficiently, demonstrating responsible financial stewardship, and proactively helps other team members. (EF)

GROWTH/INNOVATION - 10%

1. Participates in and may plan and lead various department and/or hospital-wide activities such as, but not limited to: worship services, I CARE values integration, accreditation readiness, bioethics, etc. Assists with special projects and serves on various hospital committees as identified. (EF)
2. Participates in and represents the hospital in Houston Methodist sponsored community activities. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis. (EF)

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

o Master’s degree in theology or related studies from an institution accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or equivalency approved by the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC and only if prior to 2017), National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC), Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), or Spiritual Care Association (SCA)

o Four units of clinical pastoral education (CPE) from an accredited institution(s), e.g. the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC)

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

o Highly prefer experience as a professional chaplain