Rabbi - Jewish Spiritual Care Provider - Hospice

Why RVNAhealth?

RVNAhealth (formerly known as RVNA, the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association) is an eleven time winner of the Hearst Media Top Workplaces Award. We offer rewarding career opportunities where you can make an enormous impact, every day.

This is a Per Diem Rabbi position covering all of Fairfield County, CT

The Hospice Jewish Spiritual Care team member is a qualified professional, who delivers varied pastoral and spiritual support services to Hospice patients and their families. This role is an integral part of the Hospice Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), providing initial assessment and on-going spiritual support, life review, grief and bereavement assessment and support, funeral planning, community education, outreach referral support and service.

Responsibilities:

Spiritual Care:

• The spiritual care program supports the client and family unit in exploring and utilizing the spiritual/community resources available to them.
• This individual is responsible to make all reasonable efforts to facilitate visits by local clergy, pastoral counselors, or other individuals who can support the patient’s spiritual needs to the best of their ability.

This individual is a core member of the IDG and duties include but are not limited to, the following:

• The initial spiritual assessment of the patients and family’s spiritual needs will be completed by Spiritual Care within (5) five days from election of the Hospice benefit. This assessment will become part of the comprehensive assessment.
• Observations, interventions and the patient’s response to interventions will be documented in the record at point of care. Contact with outside spiritual caregivers on behalf of the patient/family will also be documented in the client’s electronic medical record.
• Participates in IDG meetings per regulatory requirement.
• Provides spiritual counseling and services for patients, families and caregivers, in accordance with the patient’s and family’s acceptance of this service, and in a manner consistent with patient and family beliefs and desires.
• Participates in the Bereavement Program, as requested.
• Offers support and counsel to employees and IDG, as requested.
• Advising the patient and family of this service.
• Collaborating with other IDG members in the development of the plan of care.
• Supporting dignity of the dying patient.
• Performing religious rituals as requested by the family.
• Assisting with funerals and memorial services.
• Providing education to other IDG members about spirituality.
• In addition to the above, this Spiritual Care provider will possess knowledge in Halacha (Jewish law) and Jewish traditions and values at end of life

• Adheres to all Hospice policies.
• Exhibits Hospice philosophy in all job-related roles.
• Follow and utilize appropriate infection control and proper bag technique.
• Knowledgeable and compliant with all RVNAHealth financial, and regulatory procedures including but not limited to Corporate Compliance, HIPAA, Medicare and Medicaid
• Home Health and Certified Hospice COP’s, and payment for private pay services not covered under Hospice Benefit.
• Other duties as assigned by Manager of Support Services/designee.
• Quality documentation for all client visits, contacts, referral actions, and assessments, including comprehensive emotional and spiritual assessment clearly and concisely in a timely manner in the agency electronic medical record. RVNAHealth expects Point of Care (POC) documentation be completed within the required agency timeframe by midnight on day of visit.
• Attends staff meetings, IDG, case conferences, educational programs, and other meetings as assigned and appropriate and assigned.

Qualifications:

• Must be an Ordained Rabbi
• Graduate of an accredited seminary or school of theology, or proven experience in Pastoral Counseling. The position requires someone who can attend to spiritual needs and/or pastoral needs as required.
• Experience and ability in end-of-life client, bereavement and family assessment and care planning including but not limited to Advance Directive/Living Will/POA Care Planning, End of Life physical, emotional, and spiritual symptom control, and Client and caregiver advocacy and support skills.
• An appreciation of religious values, beliefs, and practices that allows for open and flexible communication with people of all faiths or none
• Compassion for the terminally ill and understanding of ministry to them and their families
• Demonstrated ability to assess and respond to the needs of patients and families in varied settings
• Must be self-directed; able to work without the presence of a supervisor
• Must have a strong sense of initiative and urgency in addressing unexpected patient crises
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner
• Demonstrated skill with general use and functions of the computer; internet, e-mail, navigation of the computer desktop

RVNAhealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. RVNAhealth is committed to building a workplace where inclusion is not only valued, but prioritized.