Under the supervision of an ACPE Certified Educator, and according to established policies and procedures of Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center, the Chaplain Resident provides spiritual care ministry to patients, families, and staff around religious and spiritual needs. As an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, the chaplain provides spiritual care and emotional support within the context of illness, crisis, loss, and death. The chaplain is committed to the Bon Secours Mercy Health Mission and models its core values.

The Chaplain Resident position is a full-time, time-limited educational position. Duties will be assigned to maximize professional experience as a spiritual care provider. The one-year training position includes a minimum of 300 hours of supervised, group and individual education. The position requires completion of weekly writing assignments and other academic work outside of scheduled clinical hours. Successful completion of the one-year residency provides a CPE student with credit for up to three units of Clinical Pastoral Education.

As a member of the MH-SVMC Spiritual Health team, the Chaplain Resident will provide spiritual care to all nursing units and to the Emergency Department at Mercy Health - St. Vincent Medical Center. Additional clinical responsibilities may be assigned in conjunction with the resident’s CPE learning contract.

The Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center CPE Program is accredited to offer Level 1, Level II, and CEC CPE through ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education | (404) 320-1472 | acpe@acpe.edu.

Requirements:

General: The Chaplain Resident must be physically, emotionally, and spiritually able to provide timely, compassionate, and competent care to persons served or employed by Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center, as demonstrated by the performance of duties outlined in this job description

Application Process: An applicant must submit the following to the Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center CPE Program:

• A completed ACPE Application Form

• Three (3) Reference Forms

• $25 application fee

CPE Program representatives have the right to duplicate admissions material for the purposes of review and subsequent admission action.

Interview: An interview is required for program admission. The interview will be with a qualified CPE interviewer along with a committee representing the CPE Program’s Professional Advisory Group.

Academic: 

• Degree in related field (such as religious or theological studies, counseling, etc.) or current enrollment in degree program

• Master's degree (preferred)

Special training: Successful completion of at least one unit of CPE or equivalent clinical or ministry experience (required)

Experience:

• One year of ministry experience in a congregational or agency setting and/or endorsement by congregational or denominational authority for ministry training (preferred)

• Experience as a chaplain in a healthcare setting (preferred)

Essential Job Functions

• Minister to a diverse population in a non-proselytizing manner and provide basic emotional and spiritual support to patients, visitors, our community, and fellow associates.

• Provide constructive spiritual care presence by employing spiritual care skills including active listening and the ability to communicate in a calm, non-anxious manner.

• Provide spiritual support during end-of-life situations and crises (Code Blue, Death, Trauma, etc.).

• Identify spiritual care situations where additional resources are needed and make appropriate referrals.

• Make notation of clinical encounters in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) per departmental protocol.

• Facilitate Advance Care Planning discussions and documentation

• Serve as a liaison between hospital staff and patient family during periods of crisis, critical illness, surgery, or death; facilitate the completion of necessary release forms after a patient death.

• Attend multidisciplinary rounds and participate in multidisciplinary team functions

• Provide staff support to BSMH associates

• Provide for religious and ritual needs of diverse faith groups.

• Recognize the sacramental needs of the Catholic population.

• Demonstrate knowledge of the Ethical and Religious Directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and adhere to the policies of the Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH) as a Catholic healthcare organization.

• Adhere to the Bon Secours Mercy Health Code of Conduct, including the duty to comply with applicable laws and regulations and to report to the designated Manager (or hospital hotline) any suspected unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful acts or practices.

• Adhere to the Common Code of Ethics for Chaplains, Pastoral Counselors, Pastoral Educators and Students; hold self and others accountable for behaviors that promote service excellence in patient-centered care.

• Participate in the CPE program as outlined by the policies and procedures of the CPE Program, the Spiritual Health department at MH-SVMC, and the standards of ACPE

• Demonstrate behaviors consistent with Mission and Core Values of Bon Secours Mercy Health.

Schedule Expectations

The Chaplain Resident position is a full-time, 40 hour / week position.

The Chaplain Resident should expect to work five (5) shifts of eight-hour duration, which includes 8 hours of supervised education per week.

Additional time beyond the 40 hours per week will be required for completing the program's academic assignments.  

Assigned clinical shifts may include a combination of daytime and afternoon/evening shifts. Occasional overnight shifts may be required according to department need. The clinical schedule is determined by a designated staff member, with the approval of the department Director.

The Chaplain Resident will:

• Provide clinical coverage on both weekdays and on weekends, with two days off per week

• Participate in holiday coverage

• Participate in the on-call schedule, rotating back-up coverage with staff chaplains.

• Attend monthly staff meeting of the Spiritual Care Department.

• Participate in the annual Memorial Service at Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center.