At Houston Methodist, the Student Educator Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) position is responsible for participating in a multi-year training program towards achievement of certification as Educator Clinical Pastoral Education by Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). Under supervision of the Educator CPE and/or Manager CPE, this position performs activities towards the fulfillment of certification requirements to include facilitating and teaching CPE courses, participating in curriculum development, and providing individual and group student supervision. The Student Educator CPE position also performs the job of Chaplain, initially about 50% of the time and lessening as responsibilities associated with the Student training increase over time due to receiving candidate status by ACPE. This position assists leadership in carrying out the Houston Methodist mission, vision, and values, participating in activities in these efforts.
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Fosters and contributes to a dynamic, team focused work unit that helps to achieve optimal results. Promotes a supportive and positive environment for Houston Methodist CPE students, collaborating and communicating in a non-judgmental manner. Assists leadership in carrying out Houston Methodist mission, vision, and values.
- Provides group and individual mentoring of CPE students, after they receives candidate status by ACPE as they provide spiritual care support to patients, family members, and employees on assigned clinical units, when on call, when participating in patient rounds, discharge planning, support groups, sacred story groups and other interprofessional teams. Participates in CPE student selection.
- Exhibits and demonstrates healthy work relationships such as mitigation of conflict, leading problem-solving and resolution efforts. Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Recommends initiatives to improve department scores for employee engagement.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Provides spiritual care to meet the spiritual, religious, and emotional needs of patients and their family members of all faiths, during hospitalization and particularly for pre-operative, critically ill and dying patients. Enables others to utilize their own faith as a resource for health and healing.
- Makes pastoral visits, following patient care plans established by the coordinating chaplain, proactively identifying when a change in approach or intervention is necessary, taking appropriate action and involving others as needed.
- Provides crisis intervention for patients and family, visitors, employees, and physicians.
- Recommends initiatives/activities to meet/exceed department and organization targets for patient satisfaction measures.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Under supervision of Educator CPE and/or Manager CPE, plans and develops CPE curriculum, co-teaches, or independently teaches and facilitates CPE courses/units.
- Accurately and thoroughly documents patient visits and spiritual care provided in the patient's record. Ensures the accuracy and thoroughness of documentation performed by students in patient records.
- Consults with physicians, clinical management, hospital leadership and staff to assess quality and safety of services provided by CPE students. Identifies opportunities for corrective action and improvement, providing recommendations, contributing to achievement of hospital and department targets for quality and safety.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks to achieve maximum results in a timely manner. Utilizes time efficiently, demonstrating responsible financial stewardship, and proactively helps other team members.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Participates in and may plan and lead various department and/or hospital-wide activities such as, but not limited to worship services, I CARE values integration, accreditation readiness, bioethics, etc. Assists with special projects and serves on various hospital committees as identified.
- Progressively assumes increasing responsibilities associated with fulfilling the requirements for achieving ACPE certification as Educator CPE. Prepares and submits supervisory and theological theory papers, participates in video conferences with other Student Educators peer group.
- Seeks opportunities to expand competencies in facilitation/teaching skills supervising and leadership skills, with a focus on continual development. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
EDUCATION- Master's degree in theological studies from an institution accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or equivalency approved by the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC and only if prior to 2017), National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC), Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), or Spiritual Care Association (SCA)
- Four units of CPE from Association for Clinical Pastoral Educatio (ACPE) accredited center
WORK EXPERIENCE- Experience as a professional chaplain preferred
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED- Membership, ordination or commissioned to function by a religious authority
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES- Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
- Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
- Possesses basic computer knowledge; operates various computer systems to enter and maintain patient documents
- Ability to work independently; capable of effectively handling challenging / difficult interactions, patient care situations; demonstrates sound judgment and executes above average communication skills
- Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team
- Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision including organizing workflow and actively participating in problem-solving
- Very strong organization skills and detail-oriented nature
- Professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform No
- Scrubs No
- Business professional Yes
- Other (department approved) No
ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No
Company Profile:
Houston Methodist Hospital is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Texas (two-way tie) and one of America’s “Best Hospitals.” As a full-service, acute-care hospital located in the Texas Medical Center and the flagship hospital of Houston Methodist, it has evolved into one of the nation’s largest nonprofit teaching hospitals and a leader in innovative medical research with a comprehensive residency program. Two of Houston Methodist’s primary academic affiliates are among the nation’s leading health care organizations: Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Houston Methodist also has affiliations with Texas A&M University and the University of Houston. With 948 operating beds, 85 operating rooms and more than 8,400 employees, Houston Methodist Hospital offers unparalleled care for thousands of patients from around the world.
Houston Methodist is an equal opportunity employer inclusive of women, minorities, disabled persons and veterans.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor – priority referral Protected Veterans requested.
