Senior Chaplain

Scope of Department

The Department of Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education provides spiritual and emotional care to all Wexner Medical Center patients, families and staff; and provides an ACPE-accredited Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program for local, national, and international students seeking clinical education in health care chaplaincy. Our department staff enables WMC to meet Joint Commission Standards related to spiritual/religious care for patients, and contributes to optimal patient experience. Chaplains assist patients, families and staff regarding: emotional and spiritual distress related to crisis situations, ongoing or chronic medical challenges, end of life/loss bereavement concerns, and religious-specific requests, such as sacramental/ritual needs or visits by faith leaders. Our staff assists medical center leadership in providing resiliency and bereavement support for hospital staff; educates patients, families and staff about spiritual care, and provides education about spirituality, illness and grief. Our staff serves on medical center committees to provide spiritual care input, and contributes to knowledge in our discipline. Our ACPE-accredited CPE Program provides clinically-based education in spiritual and emotional care for seminarians, faith leaders, those seeking to be professional health care chaplains, and for those preparing to be an ACPE Certified Educator.

Scope of Position

The Senior Chaplain is an experienced chaplain who is responsible for providing expert education, support and guidance for the chaplain staff members, CPE residents/interns around clinical practice and service provision.

The Senior Chaplain is available at the request of Director/Manager for coaching chaplain staff for enhanced performance, learning best practices in the chaplain discipline, and educating staff about optimal behaviors in the chaplain role. The Senior Chaplain represents the Department of Chaplaincy in providing education, lectures and presentations related to our services and best practices in local and national chaplaincy organizations. The Senior Chaplain serves as a coach and consultant for the development of new policies, best practice services, and chaplains practicing at the highest level. The Senior Chaplain is also responsible for providing optimal emotional and spiritual support to patients, families and staff in assigned clinical areas; assesses patient and families spiritual, religious and emotional needs, offers interventions and services to address or meet those needs, and documents these in the medical record. The Senior Chaplain provides crisis support/response for patients, families and staff. The Senior Chaplain is the spiritual care specialist on the health care team, working collaboratively with providers, care team members, and chaplain colleagues, to provide optimal spiritual care to patients, families and staff of a variety of faith traditions. The Senior Chaplain provides emotional and spiritual support/services for staff, particularly in times of distress, grief/bereavement, or crisis. The Senior Chaplain is responsible for educating staff about spiritual/pastoral care and the departments services. The Senior Chaplain mentors chaplain residents and supports and contributes to the CPE Program through teaching in their areas of expertise.

Position Summary

The Senior Chaplain is an experienced chaplain who is responsible for providing expert education, support and guidance for the chaplain staff members, CPE residents/interns around clinical practice and service provision. The Senior Chaplain represents the Department of Chaplaincy in providing education, lectures and presentations related to our services and best practices in local and national chaplaincy organizations. The Senior Chaplain serves as a coach and consultant for the development of new policies, best practice services, and chaplains practicing at the highest level. The Senior Chaplain is responsible for the provision of spiritual/pastoral care services to patients, families and staff in assigned clinical areas. The Senior Chaplain provides spiritual support to persons of all faiths appropriate to their requests and needs. The Chaplain functions as a collaborative team member both within the Chaplaincy Department as well as within the health care team. The Senior Chaplain participates in the operational procedures and program/service development of the Chaplaincy Department, and contributes to the mission of the medical center by involvement in committees relevant to their clinical/spiritual care.

Minimum Qualifications

For Hire: Must be a Board Certified Chaplain* with the Association of Professional Chaplains, the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, or the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a health care chaplain. Subject matter expert in health care chaplaincy and in specific clinical/patient population(s). Demonstrated highest professional behaviors (self-presentation, professional dress and demeanor, excellent communication skills, patient/customer focused attitude, excellent track record with attendance and accountability to team/department expectations and commitments). Demonstrated leadership in current role by volunteering for new roles/projects, showing assertiveness and initiative, working at high capacity as demonstrated in annual performance reviews. Demonstrated competency in organizing and providing educational opportunities and professional presentations, knowledge in research principles. Advanced pastoral care education/certificate in specialized area preferred, if available.

*This certification requires a completed Bachelors degree, a Masters level theological degree or equivalent, four units of accredited Clinical Pastoral Education, a current endorsement for chaplaincy by a recognized religious/spiritual faith group, and appearance before a national certifying commission of the organization for assessment of competency.

Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills; ability to relate and work effectively with a wide variety of patients, families and staff.

Ongoing: Continuing education requirements set by the chaplains certification organization must be met annually. It is expected that chaplain will routinely keep abreast of new developments, best practices, and knowledge in the chaplaincy discipline. Maintains knowledge of OSUWMCs policies and procedures and functions within those guidelines. Responsible for knowledge of and adherence to Chaplaincy Department operational policies and procedures as outlined in the Department Procedures Manual and keeps current with changes and updates.

Our Comprehensive Employee Benefits Include

• An array of retirement plan options, each with a generous employer contribution.

• Affordable health insurance options, including dental, vision and prescription coverage that begin on day one.

• Paid vacation and sick leave, including short and long-term disability and paid parental leave.

• Get the most out of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

• And much more!