Chaplain | Palatka Area

Posted Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 5:00 AM

Behind every award is a story, and ours is written every day by more than 900 dedicated employees and hundreds of compassionate volunteers who walk alongside patients and families when they need us most.

At Community Hospice & Palliative Care, we’re honored to once again be recognized with the Hospice Honors award, a testament not just to our clinical excellence, but to the compassion we bring to every bedside, every home, every conversation. Every day, we serve approximately 1,500 patients living with advanced illness, wherever they call home, be it a private residence, a long-term care or assisted living facility, a hospital, or in one of ournine inpatient care centers.

We’re here to improve quality of life, to ease pain and lift burdens, and to be the Compassionate Guide that families need when time matters most. And most importantly, as the only non‑profit hospice provider in the region, we never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay.

The Chaplain provides spiritual/pastoral services and counseling to patients and families/caregivers, in accordance with an established plan of care and acts as a liaison between patients/families and their identified faith community. In addition, s/he provides spiritual/pastoral counseling to Community Hospice and Palliative Care staff and volunteers as identified and appropriate.

• Compensation: $58,000 - $64,000 base salary plus paid driving mileage; full benefits package including 23 days of PTO annually 4 units of ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education
• Job Location: Palatka and surrounding areas as needed (Starke, Gainesville, Lake City):
  Hospital settings, patient homes, office locations, etc...
• Education/Certifications
  
  Required:
  
  Please see all requirements below before applying; must have a minimum of 4 units of ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education.

• Provides spiritual/pastoral assessment within organization established time frames and as indicated and appropriate.
• Provides spiritual/pastoral support in accordance with on-going wishes and needs of the patient/family including religious services, prayers, worship and/or rituals for patients/caregiver as indicated in the plan of care and in keeping with their beliefs.
• Develops individualized spiritual/pastoral plans of care which:
• Demonstrates an effort to work in close collaboration with local clergy whenever desired by the patient; and
• Provides spiritual support as needed and defined by the patient/family/caregiver.
• Conducts religious services of prayer, worship and rituals for patient/families, as appropriate.
• Offers patient/families/caregivers of different philosophies and religious beliefs opportunities to discuss and share their thoughts, feelings, beliefs and values.
• Documents counseling and all patient/caregiver interactions provided in the patient’s electronic medical record (EMR) according to Community Hospice and Palliative Care policy.
• Participates as an active member of the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) and assists in the development and updating of the plan of care.
• Participates in development of approaches to meet staff counseling needs and is available to staff for bereavement support.
• Meets with individual staff regarding personal spiritual/pastoral issues that may affect their ability to function effectively.
• Assists in the training, mentoring, utilization, and supervision of select volunteers as an extension of spiritual care services to Community Hospice and Palliative Care patients and caregivers.
• Serves as an advocate for patients and caregivers related to the expression of spiritual needs.
• Assists the patient caregiver with planning and/or conducting funerals or memorial services as requested and/or assigned.
• Provides education on spiritual and bereavement topics to staff, volunteers and other interested individuals/organizations in the community.
• Participates in the regular on-call rotation of the department to ensure the availability of spiritual care services 24/7.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Spiritual Care.

• Master of Divinity with at least 72 credit hours from a seminary accredited…