Pastoral Care Director - Healthcare jobs in Bangor, ME

Northern Light Mercy Hospital

Department: Office of Spiritual Care

Position is located: Mercy Medical Office Building

Work Type: Part Time Eligible

FTE: 20 Hours per week

Work Schedule: No Hours Assigned

Summary:

The Pastoral Care Associate visits and greets new patients to establish dialogue, assess needs, provide spiritual care and guidance or discuss personal problems. Assists and counsels dying patients and their families; assists and educates other hospital personnel and community clergy in counseling for patient care. Contributes input to healthcare providers on medical/ethical issues. The incumbent performs duties and tasks in accordance with standards established for the job. The incumbent may have access to highly confidential patient, employee and/or Mercy proprietary information, and must handle & protect the information in accordance with hospital & system policies, HIPAA requirements and the highest level of ethical standards. The incumbent is responsible for reporting all security events, potential events, or other security risks to the organization. The incumbent is responsible for participation in and completion of all patient safety initiatives appropriate to the position, and conducts all job responsibilities according to the Mission and Values of Mercy Hospital.

Responsibilities:

1. Provides bedside visitation, spiritual guidance, and counseling to patients as needed. • From admission slips and other census information, makes notation of patients to be seen on assigned units, if working a regular schedule. • If working alone, makes notation of all new inpatients to be seen and attempts to visit them. • Visits patients in Critical Care unit everyday, if working alone or on-call. • Provides visits to patients, regardless of religious affiliation, as needed if working alone or on-call. • Provides visits to patients at off-site facilities (i.e. Recovery Center, etc.) as needed and requested. • Goes to Emergency Room twice a day to see if there are any emergency Pastoral Care needs for patients, if working alone or on-call. 2. Provides visitation, spiritual assistance and counseling to families and staff. • On regular rounds of visiting with patients, speaks to and offers appropriate intervention to family members and staff as needed. • Provides individual/group/staff counseling when requested. • During visits to Emergency Room, ascertains if there are any emergency Pastoral Care needs for families and staff. 3. Provides worship services for patients, staff and various groups as appropriate and requested. • Responds to requests for special services, as needed (i.e. Memorial Service for staff members, or for family members of staff who have died, etc.). • Takes part in regularly scheduled Quarterly Memorial Mass and other regularly scheduled services. • Takes part in other special services as requested (i.e. Mercy Day, etc.). 4. Performs documentation in patient medical record according to department guidelines. • Records visits and interventions in computer and in patient medical record as appropriate and according to department guidelines. • Signs Pastoral Care section on back of patient’s multidisciplinary assessment form on patient’s clipboard. • Maintains record of Pastoral activity and hands in weekly statistical report. 5. Provides or takes part in ecumenical endeavors, educational workshops, seminars, inservices, and training programs to patients, families, staff, volunteers, and members of the Portland community. • Responds to requests for various educational programs made by patients, families, staff, groups, or organizations in the Portland community, as able and as other responsibilities permit. • Takes part in yearly inservice for Eucharistic Ministers, as requested. • Takes part in/attends yearly Ecumenical prayer service for Christmas and other special occasions. 6. Participates in patient care conferences as a member of the Patient Care Team. • Attends and offers support or insights at patient care conferences. • Attends rounds in units as assigned. 7. Makes referral for the Sacraments as requested and appropriate. • From admission slips and regular rounds of nursing units, decides upon patients who should have the Sacrament of the Sick offered to them (i.e. patients who are seriously ill, those going for surgery, the elderly, or others whose health is in grave danger). • Does follow-up visits with patients who have been seen earlier for the Sacrament of the Sick. • Responds to requests for emergency Baptisms. • Makes referral for Sacrament of Reconciliation when requested. 8. Interacts with other staff members, (within Pastoral Care as well as other departments) as appropriate and necessary for patient care purposes, (i.e. Social Workers, Nurses, Physicians, etc.). • Works closely with all members of the healthcare team. • Works closely with Pastoral Care staff for the good of the department’s functioning (i.e. scheduling paid time off, retreat time, serving as Eucharistic Minister when necessary). • Follows standard procedure for calling in/reporting absence from work because of sickness. 9. Maintains working relationships with community clergy. • Attends various clergy/chaplain meetings as able. • Extends hospitality to community clergy when they are visiting the hospital and their own parishioners. 10. Shares on-call responsibility with other chaplains to provide 24-hour coverage of the department. • Carries a pager during the day when working, and at night when on-call. • Takes assigned on-call coverage with other chaplains. • Responds immediately to pages for deaths, codes, and other emergencies. • Responds to referral on patients to be seen as soon as possible if not an emergency (i.e. at least within 24-hours of receiving referral). 11. Serves on Committees. • Agrees to attend and serve on committees as requested. • Offers support and insights as appropriate. 12. Complies with other mandates required of, or requested of all hospital employees. • Maintains strict confidentiality regarding patient, family, and staff information, consistent with Mercy Hospital policies and procedures, and as expression of respect for the privacy and dignity of each person. • Attends yearly inservice on Safety. • Completes TB test/x-ray every year. • Takes part in the Employee Opinion Surveys when administered. • Attends and participates in regular departmental staff meetings. • Demonstrates compassion and sensitivity in the treatment of patient, visitors, and staff. • Demonstrates loyalty by positively supporting the Mission of Mercy Hospital to patients, visitors, staff, and other professionals. 13. Performs additional duties as required or assigned.

Other Information:

Competencies and Skills

• Behaves with Integrity and Builds Trust: Acts consistently in line with the core values, commitments and rules of conduct. Leads by example and tells the truth. Does what they say they will, when and how they say they will, or communicates an alternate plan.
• Cultivates Respect: Treats others fairly, embraces and values differences, and contributes to a culture of diversity, inclusion, empowerment and cooperation.
• Fosters Accountability: Creates and participates in a work environment where people hold themselves and others accountable for processes, results and behaviors. Takes appropriate ownership not only of successes but also mistakes and works to correct them in a timely manner. Demonstrates understanding that we all work as a team and the quality and timeliness of work impacts everyone involved.
• Practices Compassion: Exhibits genuine care for people and is available and ready to help; displays a deep awareness of and strong willingness to relieve the suffering of others.

Education

• Required Bachelor's Degree

Working Conditions

• Potential exposure to abusive and/or aggressive people.
• Potential exposure to diseases or infections.
• Potential exposure to hazardous materials.
• Potential exposure to noise levels being uncomfortable.
• Potential exposure to noxious odors.
• Potential exposure to very hot or cold temperatures.
• Work with computers, typing, reading or writing.
• Lifting, moving and loading less than 20 pounds.
• Prolonged periods of sitting.
• Prolonged periods of standing.