Lead Chaplain

Founded more than a century ago by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, QueensCare continues the legacy of compassionate care through grants, scholarships, and support for inpatient healthcare.

In addition to the strategic philanthropy, QueensCare Health Alliance (QHA), an affiliate of QueensCare, delivers direct medical, dental, vision, mental, and spiritual care through mobile and community-based programs at schools, social service organizations, and places of worship, all at no cost to patients.

 By partnering with local nonprofits, healthcare providers, and community organizations through grantmaking and collaborative programs, QueensCare serves as a connector in the healthcare ecosystem, strengthening access to care and improving health outcomes across Los Angeles County.

As a faith-based organization, QueensCare provides, directly and in collaboration with others, accessible quality healthcare for low-income individuals and families residing in Los Angeles County.

QueensCare is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization originally founded by the Franciscan Sisters of Sacred Heart, whose mission of compassion and accessible healthcare continues today. QueensCare provides screening, treatment, education, and preventive and direct care to Los Angeles area residents in need. Beyond that, we also give charitable grants to other non-profits making a difference in the City of Angels and fund scholarships for those entering medical fields with an interest in working in underserved communities.

Under the supervision of the Mental and Spiritual Health Manager (MSHM), the Lead Chaplain provides spiritual guidance, emotional support, and pastoral care to patients, families, staff, and community members served by QueensCare, QueensCare Health Alliance (QHA), and Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC). The Lead Chaplain serves as a working member of the interdisciplinary care team while coordinating the day-to-day activities of the chaplain team to promote consistent service delivery, continuity of care, and operational effectiveness. Responsibilities include providing direct pastoral care, supporting staff development, coordinating daily operations, facilitating communication among interdisciplinary teams and community partners, and documenting services in accordance with organizational and regulatory standards.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Spiritual Care, Patient Support, and Community Engagement

• →Provides spiritual guidance, emotional support, and pastoral care to patients, families, staff, and community members.
• →Conducts spiritual assessments and develops individualized plans to address spiritual, emotional, and psychosocial needs.
• →Provides crisis intervention, grief and bereavement support, family support, staff support, and pre- and post-procedure spiritual care.
• →Provides sacramental support, assists with Advance Directives, and responds to patient requests for spiritual care.
• →Ensures holistic, person-centered spiritual care is integrated into the interdisciplinary care plan.
• →Documents spiritual care services accurately and timely within the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and other required systems.
• →Participates as a member of interdisciplinary care teams and committees to support coordinated patient care.
• →Conducts religious services, prayer, meditation, memorials, and other spiritual support activities as requested.
• →Facilitates spiritual support groups, educational workshops, and community outreach activities at partner sites.
• →Provides visitation and follow-up support for patients, families, caregivers, and staff.
• →Collaborates with internal programs and community partners to improve access to spiritual care services and coordinated support.
• →Participates in an on-call rotation to provide spiritual care services outside of normal business hours.
• →Travels regularly to partner locations to provide spiritual care and community-based services.
• → Performs other duties as assigned to support organizational goals and functionality.

Team Coordination and Supervision

• →Coordinates the daily work of Chaplains to ensure consistent, compassionate, and effective spiritual care services.
• →Prepares daily staff schedules, coordinates meal and rest break coverage, and adjusts assignments based on operational needs.
• →Reviews and approves timecards, manages day-to-day performance in accordance with organizational policies, and escalates performance concerns and exceptions to management.
• → Monitors performance, provides coaching and guidance, reinforces established pastoral care practices and organizational procedures, and communicates operational concerns to management.
• →Assists with onboarding, orientation, training, and ongoing competency development of Chaplains.
• →Facilitates communication between Chaplains, management, healthcare providers, and community partners to support coordinated service delivery.
• →Coordinates chaplain coverage, community outreach activities, special events, and operational readiness across assigned service locations.
• →Documents operational activities, service issues, staffing needs, and recommendations, and escalates significant concerns to management.

Policies and Performance:

• →Supports and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and values.
• →Complies with and promotes adherence to organizational policies and procedures.
• →Fosters and promotes a culture of service excellence and accountability.
• →Attends training and educational sessions as required.
• →Must be willing and able to work all business hours including evenings and weekends to attend health fairs/events as needed.  
• →Must be willing and able to work at all locations as needed.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree and advanced study in divinity, theology, religious studies, and behavior sciences or equivalent.
• Completion of clinical pastoral education (CPE) units at a medical center accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE).
• A minimum of two units of clinical pastoral education and/or eligible for certification by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Association of Professional Chaplains, National Association of Jewish Chaplains, or a similar group.
• Ordination, endorsement, or reference from a denomination or faith group.

EXPERIENCE:

• Experience working with adults, children, and families from diverse social, cultural, educational, and economic backgrounds.
• At least one year hospital staff chaplain or military chaplaincy experience.
• Experience in managing or responding to crisis situations.
• Experience working with faith communities and demonstrates spiritual maturity.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Understanding of various religious doctrines, beliefs, and practices.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to cultural, religious, and spiritual diversity among patients, families, and staff.
• Familiarity with counseling approaches and techniques tailored to diverse spiritual needs.
• Effectively work as part of an interdisciplinary team, including understanding other healthcare professionals' roles.
• Basic knowledge of the healthcare system and common medical procedures.
• Promotion of process improvement.
• Demonstrates proficiency in computer applications such as Microsoft Office, Outlook, and EHR.

SKILLS:

• Works well with children, adolescents, and adults.
• Demonstrates a self-directed mature, disciplined, and tactful approach to fulfilling job duties.
• Demonstrates ability and flexibility to work in other areas of the organization as needed. 
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, both oral and written, preferably bilingual (Spanish- oral).
• Ability to obtain CPR/First Aid certification and provide standard first aid care.
• Ability to celebrate Liturgy and administer sacraments, preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.  The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit.  The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or sit.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.  The employee is occasionally required to ascend and descend one flight of stairs.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is often low.  However, there are many times when there is a high ambient background noise of phones and multiple conversations.  Must be able to screen out the background noise to concentrate on the work at hand.

75,000- 80,000 USD per year (US)