Job Description

Chaplain – Westchester Medical Center Health Network Job Summary: The Chaplain provides religious and spiritual leadership and guidance to patients, patient families, residents and staff of the facilities at Westchester Medical Center. Incumbents must be available on a 24‑hour basis to respond to emergency needs and related work as required. Responsibilities Schedule, plan and conduct religious services and administer rites in accordance with the practices of the represented faith. Provide 24‑hour crisis intervention, including counseling for families of critically ill infants, AIDS patients, terminally ill patients, and employees experiencing burnout, and offer guidance on personal and spiritual matters to employees, patients, inmates and their families; administer prayer and sacramental ministry and provide follow‑up pastoral care and community support. Provide particular care to patients and inmates with urgent needs such as the seriously or terminally ill, psychologically and emotionally disturbed, and pre‑operative and post‑operative patients. Visit and converse with patients, residents and inmates to minister to their moral, religious and related needs. Educate patients, residents and inmates about the availability of chaplaincy and chapel services. Conduct religious educational and training programs and organize discussions on issues of concern to staff, volunteers, community clergy and the general public. Consult with the Director of Pastoral Care, other chaplains, institution administrators and specialists regarding the coordination of the religious program and its relationship to overall institutional functions. Consult personnel and community clergy about ethical issues and spiritual resources in comprehensive health‑care treatment. Maintain good standing within own faith group by accountability to ecclesiastical authorities and by attending convocations, committee meetings, conferences and retreats to educate others on the spiritual needs of patients. Recruit, screen, train, assign, supervise and evaluate volunteer assistants to the Chaplain, thereby expanding chaplaincy services. Assist patients and staff with departmental matters such as organ‑donation requests. Remain abreast of research and new developments in pastoral care and counseling within medical or correctional settings by conducting studies and attending seminars, workshops and other continuing‑education events. Maintain collegial rapport with professional organizations and denominations, and review professional journals to stay current with research in psychology, religion, health and other relevant fields. Qualifications / Requirements Experience: Ordination and endorsement for the specialized ministry of chaplaincy or pastoral care by a chaplain’s adjudicatory authority. Education: Master’s degree in religion, pastoral counseling, divinity or theology (required). Licenses / Certifications: National certification as a member of an appropriate credentialing association (e.g., American Association of Pastoral Counselors, College of Chaplains, or Joint Certification Standards of Ministries in Specialized Settings); State certification by the New York State Council of Churches Department of Chaplains, the New York Board of Rabbis, or the New York Conference of Catholic Bishops; or Ecclesiastical endorsement by the Archdiocese of New York (for Catholic chaplains only). Other: Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of the represented faith; awareness of health‑care procedures; familiarity with the parish clergy ministry; Knowledge and appreciation of other faiths and denominations; Understanding of hospital nursing, geriatric and psychiatric units; Skill in interpersonal communication and in administering volunteer and educational programs; Ability to remain emotionally balanced and to commit fully to the spiritual, psychosocial and physical needs of those served; Operational knowledge of the field for pastoral diagnostic assessment; Coordination of parish clergy ministry and design of educational events for professional and non‑professional groups; Computing competence (spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, email, database software); Proficiency in English for all essential functions. Dependability, flexibility, perception, insight, resourcefulness, initiative, integrity, sound judgment and physical condition commensurate with the position. Seniority Level Entry‑level Employment Type Full‑time Job Function Other Industries Hospitals and Health Care #J-18808-Ljbffr Westchester Medical Center Health Network

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