Recreation​/Music Therapy- Chaplain​/Pastoral Assistant; FSH

Recreation/Music Therapist
- Chaplain/Pastoral Assistant Job Location

Fulton State Hospital
Fulton, Missouri

Fulton State Hospital is a community of caring, skilled people, partnering with individuals challenged by mental illness to inspire healing and recovery. We are dedicated to supporting the needs of our clients.

The Assistant Chaplain is a full-time support position assisting the chaplain/pastor in providing safe, respectful, and coordinated spiritual and pastoral support to residents and staff at Fulton State Hospital. The position supports approved religious and spiritual services, responds to requests and inquiries within scope, coordinates coverage and referrals, works with treatment teams and hospital staff, organizes approved religious events and holiday meals, maintains assigned records, and communicates with volunteers and outside faith communities.

• Support chaplain/pastor-led services, visits, rites, and approved programs.
• Provide compassionate listening and a calm spiritual presence to residents and staff.
• Document, prioritize, and route spiritual-care inquiries and requests.
• Offer scheduled spiritual coverage only when authorized, without independent authority.
• Coordinate individual worship requests and outside clergy visits through established procedures.
• Work with hospital departments to schedule services without disrupting treatment or safety.
• Assist with weekly services, special observances, memorials, and approved rites.
• Help organize arrangements for approved religious feasts and holiday meals.
• Maintain respectful relationships with outside faith communities and approved advisors.
• Communicate with volunteers about scheduling, logistics, expectations, and training.
• Prepare requested service materials such as bulletins and notices.
• Maintain accurate spiritual-care records while protecting confidentiality.
• Assist with administrative tasks including calendars, correspondence, and reports.
• Support bereavement and end-of-life spiritual needs within authorized boundaries.
• Provide spiritual presence during emergencies without performing clinical duties.
• Lead or preach services only when specifically assigned and authorized.
• Follow all policies, safety rules, confidentiality requirements, and professional boundaries.
• Support residents of diverse beliefs without imposing personal views.
• Identify and refer safety, therapeutic, or role‑boundary concerns promptly.
• Assist with updates to forms, procedures, and workflows as requested.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree and 0-2 years of relevant experience. Substitutions may be allowed.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and in writing; maintain appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries; and follow hospital direction and safety and security requirements.
• Ability to complete facility orientation and role‑specific training required for the assigned duties and to seek guidance when a request is outside the position's scope.

• Experience in spiritual or pastoral care, behavioral health, psychiatric, forensic, hospital, residential, recreation therapy, human services, hospice, bereavement, or volunteer‑support settings.
• Coursework, training, or demonstrated experience in spirituality, religious studies, pastoral care, counseling, behavioral health, recreation therapy, peer support, or a related caring field.
• Experience coordinating religious volunteers, guest ministers, outside faith-community contacts, service schedules, religious celebrations, holiday meals, or community referrals.
• Familiarity with diverse traditions and communities, including Wiccan, Native American, Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Seventh‑day Adventist,…