Hospice Volunteer & Bereavement Specialist - Full-Time - Hospice

Location: Hiawatha

Work Shift Day Scheduled  Weekly Hours
40

Summary This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care by recruiting, training and placing quality volunteers, which delivers competent volunteers who support the various departments and staff within Hospice of Mercy. These services are offered with a positive, caring spirit, compatible with the mission of Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Mercy. This position works with patients and their families to provide psychosocial support and resources needed to cope with family changes triggered by illness and death.

This position also may support patients by providing social work services.

Job Description

Job Duties Assists with extensive records/documentation, as well as a directory of community bereavement resources

Acquires and distributes appropriate grief education materials, while also providing training, supervision, support and education

Participates in collaborative, interdisciplinary development, implementation and updates to the bereavement plan of care as indicated

Represents Hospice of Mercy in state-wide and local bereavement organizations. Assures compliance with regulatory and best practice related to pre and post death bereavement care of hospice survivors

Assists in transfer, change in level of care and discharge planning by implementing and coordinating services required for discharge, as appropriate

Assists with determining patient's appropriateness for hospice services consistent with Hospice of Mercy policies and admission criteria and in conjunction with patient's physician, as appropriate

Provides information regarding Hospice's program of care and services to patients, physician and other sources of referrals

Makes scheduled home visits in accordance with department specific guidelines to assist patients/families with discipline specific needs (Bereavement and Social work)
Assists Hospice of Mercy events (i.e. Memorial Service, Love Lights, Support Groups)
Provides grief counseling to bereaved, as appropriate

Recruits volunteers to support and enhance interdisciplinary services related to patient care Interviews volunteer candidates

Conducts orientations for volunteers/non-paid interns

Assigns volunteers to departments matching their skills with department requests and patient needs

Evaluates volunteers who are the responsibility of Volunteer Services Assists the Hospice Volunteer and Community Coordinator in all phases of operation related to volunteer services in the department

Handles potential sensitive issues with volunteers as needed

Oversees screening, recruitment, orientation, training, retention, and evaluation of volunteers in accordance with Mercy Medical Center Policies, Medicare and ACHCParticipates in community and organizational events as needed to promote hospice volunteer programs

Assists with developing and maintaining job descriptions for volunteer positions

Coordinates all aspects of volunteer involvement with patients and families and facilitates process by which pertinent documentation is included in the patient's medical record

Provides orientation to new hospice staff regarding volunteer and bereavement services

Prepares and maintains volunteer reports and statistics as required

Oversees Social Workers as assigned

Follows Mercy's safety guidelines, carries out job-specific safety duties and responsibilities, and promptly reports any unsafe conditions, situations, incidents and injuries.

Knowledge,

Skills and Abilities

Requires basic office skills, knowledge of Microsoft Office:
Windows applications

Strong communication skills and proven leadership ability

Displays exceptional guest relations skills promoting a positive image of the volunteer department

Quick learner, displays initiative, able to accept responsibility

Quality conscious and detail orientated

Demonstrates creativity

Able to handle multiple tasks in a highly interruptible atmosphere

Demonstrate critical thinking when assessing and assisting patients and their families

Proficient at planning, implementing and leading a therapeutic group

Demonstrates an ability to deescalate patient situations using CPI techniques

Professional Experience Minimum of two…