Spiritual Care Workers

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

To work with the multi-professional team providing spiritual and pastoral care to patients and families. To work within the Emotional & Spiritual Wellbeing Team to manage and support referrals. To be able to support spiritual care/emotional wellbeing volunteers. Working within the team to provide cover for Spiritual Care including some weekend working.

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SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

Demonstrate a commitment to keeping adults and young people safe.

Report any disclosure made to you to the appropriate person.

Report any safeguarding concerns in the workplace to the appropriate person.

Maintain an awareness of the Hospices policies in relation to safeguarding.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

To work within the Therapy Team to provide spiritual, religious and emotional support to patients, relatives and carers in various settings outpatients, community, In-Patient Unit and Community Care Units.

Attend the weekly referrals meeting with the Emotional Wellbeing Team.

To liaise closely with all of the Emotional & Spiritual Wellbeing team to manage referrals.

To work as the duty therapist providing telephone support, managing telephone enquiries, triaging and organising referrals.

To provide emotional/spiritual support to the In-Patient Unit.

Ensure patient telephone enquiries are dealt with in a timely, professional manner.

Ensure timely, accurate documentation of patient records via electronic system.

To organise and participate in the provision of faith rituals.

To plan, organise and participate in Hospice Remembrance Services in conjunction with the communication/fundraising team.

To establish and maintain close links with faith leaders and organizations representing the multi-faith community.

PASTORAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To be alongside and listen.

To help people to explore their emotions.

To support people through serious illness, loss, change and death.

To embrace all faith groups including working with other faith group leaders.

PRIESTLY RESPONSIBILITIES

To facilitate reconciliation.

To pray with and read scriptures.

Support communion.

Support with preparation for funeral service and follow up, traditional services (Christian and other faiths), Remembrance Services (religious and non-religious), community services.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

To supervise and support the work of the Spiritual Care volunteers acting as the line manager if required.

EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To promote knowledge and awareness of faith and spiritual care, both externally and internally.

To maintain an awareness of relevant research and development in Chaplaincy practice and to maintain best practice in the Hospice.

To participate in the Hospice education programme.

To give feedback from attended education programmes/study days to the multi-professional team.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

To devise with the Emotional Wellbeing Team Leader a personal development plan in line with the Hospice objectives and personal needs.

To maintain and increase personal professional skills.

ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To work at all times within the policies and guidelines of the Hospice.

To uphold the hospice and individual team values at all times.

To ensure effective use of resources.

To attend relevant meetings, providing effective communication.

To participate in the development of clinical standards and clinical audit, working within the quality framework of the Hospice.

To play an active part in the development and maintenance of good relationships with all who have business with the Hospice.

To participate in relevant activities which promote the Hospice, as requested.

To respect at all times the confidentiality of information covering patients, staff and volunteers.

To promote the Hospice philosophy of care towards patients, relatives and visitors.

Because of the special nature of the Hospice and its work, you may occasionally be asked to undertake other duties to help maintain our high standard of care.

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS NOT NECESSARILY EXHAUSTIVE AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE LINE MANAGER IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE POSTHOLDER

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Theological qualification.

Desirable

• Post Graduate Palliative Care qualification.
• Adult teaching qualification.
• Counselling qualification.

Experience

Essential

• In providing spiritual and pastoral care.
• In multi-faith issues and conducting religious and non-religious services according to the wishes of the patient and/or family.

Desirable

• Knowledge of NHS NICE and other national guidance and directives on delivering spiritual care.
• Knowledge and membership of the Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains (AHPCC).
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.

Specific Skills

Essential

• Able to establish links with other faith communities and good working relations with a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to identify spiritual care needs and write up individual spiritual care plans to meet assessed needs.
• Ability to use Microsoft packages and Outlook or willingness to undertake training.

Desirable

• Able to use own vehicle to travel to various sites and community visits.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Commitment to own personal and spiritual growth.
• Ability to show resilience in stressful situations.
• Perceptive, innovative and creative.
• Approachable, non-judgmental and effective communicator.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

St Elizabeth Hospice

Address

565 Foxhall Road

Ipswich

Suffolk

IP3 8LX

Employer's website

https://www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)