The work of the chaplain is ecumenical, inter-faith in practice, and is welcoming of all who desire to be included. Deerfield is a vibrant, growing campus of 650 residents and 350 staff and in the midst of a project that will expand our community and renovate our facilities as we seek to enrich the lives of those who live and work at Deerfield.
Position Overview
The PRN On-Call Chaplain provides compassionate, timely pastoral care to residents and families experiencing urgent spiritual or emotional needs within our senior living community. This position responds to emergency calls involving medical crises, hospitalization, end-of-life care, death, and other significant moments when spiritual support is needed.
The On-Call Chaplain offers a ministry of presence, prayer, comfort, and guidance to residents, families, and staff during times of crisis and transition. The ideal candidate is compassionate, dependable, and able to respond sensitively to people from diverse faith traditions and spiritual backgrounds.
This is an as-needed, hourly position intended to provide pastoral care outside the availability of the community’s regular chaplaincy staff.
What You’ll Do
Emergency Pastoral Care
- Respond to requests for urgent pastoral care, including medical emergencies, sudden changes in condition, hospitalization, and end-of-life situations.
- Provide prayer, spiritual support, and a compassionate presence to residents and families during times of crisis.
- Offer pastoral support following a resident’s death and assist grieving families as needed.
Resident and Family Support
- Provide short-term spiritual and emotional support to residents and families experiencing fear, grief, uncertainty, or significant life transitions.
- Respect residents’ individual beliefs, values, and spiritual practices, connecting them with their own clergy or faith community when appropriate.
- Communicate relevant care needs and follow-up recommendations to the appropriate members of the chaplaincy or care team.
Professional Collaboration
- Coordinate with nursing staff, social services, and other appropriate team members to ensure timely and compassionate care.
- Follow community policies and procedures regarding emergency response, resident privacy, documentation, and communication.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.
On-Call Responsibilities
- Maintain availability for assigned on-call periods, as agreed upon with the community.
- Respond to calls within the established response-time expectations.
- Document services provided and communicate any necessary follow-up needs to the designated chaplain or supervisor.
What We’re Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
- At least two years of experience as a pastoral care provider.
- Christian denominational endorsement from the candidate’s faith community.
- Strong pastoral care, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to respond calmly and compassionately in emotionally intense or urgent situations.
- Ability to work respectfully with people from diverse faith traditions and spiritual backgrounds.
- Dependability, sound judgment, and flexibility to respond to the needs of a senior living community.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master of Divinity degree from an accredited seminary.
- Professional chaplain certification.
- Three units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) through an Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE)-accredited program or facility.
- Experience in healthcare, hospice, geriatrics, or long-term care.
- Demonstrated experience providing end-of-life care, grief support, and crisis ministry.
Position Details
- Employment status: PRN (as needed)
- Compensation: Hourly, based on services performed, subject to the community’s compensation and timekeeping policies
- Schedule: As-needed emergency calls during designated on-call periods, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as assigned
- Work location: Senior living community campus, including independent living and skilled nursing settings
Additional details regarding on-call scheduling, response-time expectations, compensation, and required continuing education will be established by the community.
If you have a passion for the care of older adults, if you loved your CPE experience, or if you have been looking for a calling other than - or broader than - parish ministry exclusively, this may be just the position for you!
Deerfield is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need assistance with the application process, please reach out to askhr@deerfieldwnc.org.