BEREAVEMENT COORDINATOR
This is a full-time 32-hour per week position. The RN helps triage, coordinate, and administer hospice care for patients, families and caregivers through the utilization of hospice services and resources. The hospice RN is responsible for utilizing hospice and community resources to coordinate and drive services through a plan of care to meet the needs of patients and families.
Position Summary: The Bereavement Coordinator will be a responsible member of the interdisciplinary team to the Clinical Director and works closely with the Social Workers and the Chaplain. The Bereavement Coordinator will be responsible for planning, developing and implementing the bereavement program, to include facilitating support groups, community education, and other bereavement services in addition to providing direct support to bereaved family members of hospice patients, community members and to the interdisciplinary team.
Essential Job Functions
The primary duties of this position include but are not limited to the following. The employee will be accountable for and will be evaluated on the successful, and professional achievements of these responsibilities. The work is expected to be completed within the assigned schedule, hourly commitment, and budget. Compliance is expected with Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative Care’s Policies and Procedures, agency and professional standards of practice, ethics and to facilitate the mission of Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative Care.
- Complete bereavement coping assessment of primary caregivers following death of patient. Develop and implement a plan of care for primary caregiver.
- Plan, develop and implement the bereavement support services and the community bereavement services including but not limited to:
- Develop, coordinate and implement programs of grief support services for children, teens, and adults. This includes mailings at appropriate times.
- Facilitate groups with adult, children’s groups, high school support groups, support programs, parents of grieving children and any others as needs are identified.
- Assess, provide supportive interventions to high risk/special needs grievers.
- Assist in the training and supervision of Support Volunteers.
- Collaboratively plan and facilitate the volunteer component of bereavement services with the Volunteer Coordinator.
- Annual review of policies and procedures, update brochures, mailings and other items used for community education/support programs.
- Supportive framework for patient care related grief work of Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative staff members.
- Attend weekly Interdisciplinary Team meeting. Identify high risk grief issues in patients/families. Follow up with supportive visits as determined by IDT.
- Collaborate with Social Workers and provide occasional back up medical social work coverage for overflow visit/admission activity.
- Serve as consultant to the hospice team on grief issues, needs and interventions, at IDT meetings or as needed.
- Complete and submit documentation of clinical services in the electronic medical record according to state and federal regulations and Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative Care policies and standards.
- Attend meeting as directed. Including meetings with supervisor, required in services and trainings, and monthly staff meetings.
- Meet individual and program expectations and goals as identified through performance appraisals, the annual plan, or by supervisor.
- Effectively manage resources and funds.
- Teach the bereavement support services portion of the new volunteer training and provide at least one in service per year to volunteer group.
- Orient new employees and others (visitors, students, interns, etc..) to bereavement support in hospice.
- Plan and implement BSS programs (remembrance ceremonies, holiday coping program, grief support groups in contacted facilities, etc.)
- Participate in agency Quality Improvement process.
- Demonstrate advocacy for those we serve and facilitate the mission of Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative Care/Integritus Health Care.
- Participate as assigned in local, state and national hospice and community bereavement support providers networks. Demonstrate continuous growth in skills and knowledge to the highest standard of practice.
- Communicate effectively in writing, on the phone and in person.
- Able to complete reports and forms per standards.
- Other duties as assigned by the Clinical Director and or the Executive Director which may include messaging, marketing, fundraising, community outreach, and community work.
Qualifications
(Minimum qualifications will be considered required unless specifically stated otherwise)
Experience:
- Minimum of two (2) year's experience in grief counseling or support. Preferably in a healthcare setting.
- Work experience as part of an interdisciplinary team is highly desired. Clinical assessment, care planning and documentation experience desired.
- Volunteer experience in related program or filed (hospice, nursing home, hospital, etc) desired and may be counted as part of other requirements.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills. Sensitivity to diverse views and lifestyles. Non-judgmental acceptance of individual cultural, religious and spiritual beliefs and practices.
- Demonstrate skill in administrative performance including expertise with written and oral communication, supervision of staff and services, and program management.
- Understands hospice philosophy, and issues of death/dying.
Education and Training:
(Acquired through formal education, outside study, training on jobs of lesser degree, or by any combination of these. May be expressed in terms of formal educational equivalents):
- Master’s degree or greater in social work, counseling, or related field required.
- Training in impact of severe illness, death and bereavement of individuals/family systems desired.
License, Certification & Registration:
- Licensed by the state of Massachusetts as a clinical social worker, marriage, family and child counselor or psychologist. LICSW preferred.
- Possesses and maintains current CPR Certification.
- Valid driver’s license
Other Requirements:
- Demonstrates good verbal and written communication, and organization skills.
Working Relationships:
- Title of direct supervisor: Clinical Director
- Additional supervision received from: Executive Director, Clinical Supervisor
- Title of position(s) supervised: NA
- Contacts (external/ internal): RN Case Managers, Social Workers, Spiritual Counselors, Hospice Aides,
Working Conditions
- Uniform / Dress Requirements: None
Work Environment:
- Work space is assigned in the Greenfield office and is a busy, professional office with a moderate level of noise, activity and interaction with others.
- Significant travel is required using the employee’s personal vehicle. The majority of your hours will be spent attending meeting in the office, community, or in patient/family homes where space, climate, facilities may vary.
- The risk is moderate of exposure to infections or hazardous body fluids or materials.
- May be exposed to extremes of heat and cold in all weather conditions. Must drive in various weather conditions on roads of varying degrees and repair.
- OSHA exposure category: Category II
- Category I ? Position includes tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues.
- Category II ?Position includes tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues, but employment may require unplanned Category I tasks.
- Category III ? Position includes tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues; would not be required to perform Category I tasks.
Physical Demands: (See Attached)
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees within this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities.
