Chaplain

We're with you for life's journey. At Denver Health, purpose isn't just something we believe in-it's something we live every day, for life's journey.

Our Values

Respect | Belonging | Accountability | Transparency

Department

Job Summary

Under minimal supervision, functions as a Spiritual Care Specialist in assessing for, providing and administering clinical interfaith spiritual care to patients, family, and staff of Denver Health who are in spiritual and/or emotional distress in the midst of trauma, stress, crisis, illness and/or medical treatment.

Day/Evening shift, may include Saturdays.

Essential Functions:

• As a member of the multi-disciplinary health care team, provides appropriate interfaith spiritual care services to critical, chronic and terminally ill patients and their families to help alleviate the anxieties or spiritual distress in the midst of trauma, illness, hospitalization or crisis. Demonstrated by:
  * Participates as part of a team of chaplains in providing 24 hour, 7 day a week professional spiritual care.
  * Is visible, available and accessible to patients, family and staff on the floor.
  * Responds to all spiritual care consults and referrals by the interdisciplinary care team.
  * Does necessary follow-up.
  * Makes routine inpatient rounds on units to determine the spiritual needs of patients and families.
  * Actively participates in unit rounds and family conferences in areas and cases assigned.
  * Responds to out-patient visits when necessary or consulted by an out-patient clinic on the main campus.
  * Does proper spiritual assessment and documentation in the electronic medical record.
  * Attends and actively participates in all staff and department meetings.
  * Assists in the mentoring of student chaplain interns.
  * Participates, when asked, in continuing education to keep spiritual care competencies and skills current.
  * Participates in performance improvement and department initiatives that strive to implement the department's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values.
  * Demonstrates ability and conducts interfaith chapel, bedside rituals or ceremonies, as needed or assigned in accordance with the patient's spiritual preference.
  * Uses time, resources and other assets of Denver Health and the Chaplain Department responsibility and appropriately.
  * Participates in yearly performance and competency review. (75%)
• Participates in and provides, as appropriate, spiritual and emotional care to employees of Denver Health. Demonstrated by:
  * Is trained in and provides group intervention as a part of the RESTORE peer support team when necessary or requested.
  * Is trained in and provides psychological first aid as a response in providing care to the caregiver when staff experience stressful events.
  * Informally support staff who experience emotional, spiritual or moral distress. (25%)

Education:

• Completed Masters level degree from an accredited theological or divinity school required.
• Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) required.

Work Experience:

• 1-3 years pastoral experience in addition to CPE training or education-related internships preferred.
• Spiritual care experience in healthcare, clinical bioethics, trauma and disaster response, critical incident and peer support, palliative care or hospice care, preferred.

Licenses:

• BCC-Board Certified Chaplain - APC, SCA, NAJC, NACC, or equivalent preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Sufficient knowledge and ability to provide interfaith spiritual care and services.
• Sufficient knowledge of a diversity of spirituality and religion.
• Understands the difference between spirituality and religion and spiritual and religious care.
• Understands the dynamic and importance of inclusion and diversity.
• Understands spiritual needs around of end of life issues & decisions, advance directives.
• Understands the grief process.
• Understands the "second victim" phenomena.
• Understands faith and spiritual development.
• Has a working knowledge of Trauma Informed Care.
• Must be able to accurately assess patients' spiritual needs, sense of well-being, sense of meaning and purpose, spiritual resources, find appropriate solutions to meet patient and family needs and integrate objectives into a patient's plan of care.
• Able to practice active reflective listening and non-judgmental pastoral presence.
• Interact professionally and practice excellent verbal and written communication skills in relating with patients, family/visitors and community.
• Help others deal effectively with an antagonistic situation to minimize damage to the relationships and promote shared goals; using appropriate interpersonal methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people and facilitate agreement.
• Meet personal needs of individuals to build trust, encourage two-way communication, and strengthen relationships.
• Work collaboratively with others to help a team achieve objectives.
• Develop relationships within and across work groups to achieve results.
• Apply new job-related information and improvement in timely manner.
• Effectively managing one's time and resources to ensure that work is completed efficiently.
• Be flexible and adaptable and maintain effectiveness in an ever changing and fast-paced environment.
• Extend oneself to initiate, build and cultivate healthy, productive relationships with co-workers and colleagues.
• Exercise initiative, good decision making and problem-solving related to routine or emergent spiritual care.
• Manage stress and conflict.
• Stable performance and calm demeanor under pressure.
• Maintain professional boundaries.
• Provide good customer service.
• Establish and sustain trusting relationships by accurately perceiving and interpreting own and others' emotions and behavior; leveraging insights to effectively manage own responses so that one's behavior matches one's values and delivers intended results.
• Able to think strategically, triage, and work well under pressure and often stressful traumatic situations.
• Promote spiritual care through a strong compassionate pastoral presence based on values of confidently, dignity, respect, collaboration, stewardship, excellence and integrity.
• Spanish language skills preferred
• Computer skills required. Able to document in English in the electronic medical record using EPIC.

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future - with generous paid time off, fully paid parental leave, exceptional retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and nationally recognized well-being programs. We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development - while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions. When you join Denver Health, you're joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

Here is a small list of our benefit programs:

• Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, inclusive of vacation, personal/sick, and 7 Holidays

• 100% paid parental leave up to 6 weeks

• Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution up to 9.5%

• Generous medical, dental, vision plans in addition to employer paid disability and life insurance.

• Comprehensive well-being programs including on-site employee fitness center located on Denver Health main campus and nationally recognized RESTORE Center

• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)

• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more

• Tuition reimbursement & assistance

• Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center (WFDC) that support internal career growth and advancement pathways

• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program

• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic health care system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver's 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado's primary, and essential, safety-net health care system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.