# Hospice Chaplain

**Company:** [Heritage Healthcare Services](https://jobs.workable.com/companies/538LEZK9bKWQFTyMD54MBY.md)
**Location:** Albuquerque, United States
**Workplace:** on site
**Employment type:** Part-time
**Department:** Hospice

[Apply for this job](https://jobs.workable.com/view/67b131d2-ae1b-4cb1-b541-33a51f49bbb0)

## Description

![](https://workablehr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/photos/715775/2413e6a7df6fb59c191f23a1e0dbb3fe.png)

**Position Summary** 

The Hospice Chaplain provides spiritual, emotional, and cultural support to patients and families facing terminal illness. Working as an integral member of the interdisciplinary group (IDG), the chaplain offers non-denominational, patient-centered care respectful of diverse beliefs and cultural practices across New Mexico communities. This role supports patients and families through life review, coping, grief support, and end-of-life planning in accordance with CMS hospice standards and New Mexico hospice regulations.

**Key Responsibilities**

**Spiritual & Emotional Support**

-   Conduct spiritual assessments at admission and throughout care
-   Provide individualized spiritual counseling aligned with the patient’s beliefs, values, and traditions
-   Support families with anticipatory grief, emotional needs, and end-of-life discussions
-   Offer crisis support during periods of distress or transition

**Patient & Family Engagement**

-   Facilitate life review and meaning-centered conversations
-   Offer prayer or spiritual rituals when requested
-   Coordinate with community clergy or spiritual leaders as needed
-   Provide supportive presence during active dying and post-death moments

**Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration**

-   Participate in IDG meetings to collaborate on patient care plans
-   Communicate changes in patient or family needs to the team
-   Work closely with RNs, social workers, CNAs, bereavement team, and medical director
-   Document spiritual care visits and findings timely and accurately in the EMR

**Bereavement Support**

-   Assist with bereavement risk assessments
-   Provide follow-up support to families post-death according to hospice policy
-   Collaborate with bereavement coordinator on support groups, calls, and outreach

**Cultural Competency (New Mexico Focus)**

-   Provide care that honors diverse cultures, including Hispanic, Native American, and rural communities
-   Respect traditional practices, ceremonies, and language preferences
-   Partner with families and tribal/community leaders when appropriate

**Qualifications**

**Required:**

-   Ordination, commissioning, endorsement, or equivalent from a recognized faith tradition
-   At least one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) or equivalent experience
-   Valid New Mexico driver’s license and reliable transportation
-   Ability to provide non-judgmental, patient-centered spiritual support
-   Comfortable working with individuals of all belief systems, including non-religious patients

**Preferred:**

-   Two or more units of CPE
-   Hospice or palliative care experience
-   Bilingual (English/Spanish or English/Navajo)
-   Experience working with diverse cultural communities in New Mexico

**Work Environment & Expectations**

-   Travel to patient homes, nursing facilities, and assisted living communities
-   Flexible scheduling based on patient needs
-   Participation in IDG and clinical staff meetings
-   Occasional on-call rotation depending on agency structure
-   Professional representation of hospice mission and values