Job Title: Spiritual Care Practitioner

Employee Group: Non – Union

Department: St. Joseph’s Lifecare / Stedman Community Hospice

Dually Reports To: Life Enrichment Manager- St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre, Director - Stedman Community Hospice

Type: Permanent, Full-Time (37.5 hours/week)

Wage: $35.36 - $38.67

JOB SUMMARY:

Grounded in the mission, vision, and values of St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford (SJLCB), the Spiritual Care Practitioner (SCP) functions as a shared role between the Long-Term Care and Hospice teams, supporting a holistic, person-centered approach to care across the campus and into the broader community. The SCP provides psychosocial and spiritual care to residents, clients, and families, addressing a wide range of needs related to serious illness, dying, and bereavement.

Key areas of focus include spiritual distress, existential meaning and purpose, legacy work, cultural and religious identity, adaptation to illness, self-esteem, dignity, grief and loss, social functioning, and interpersonal relationships. The SCP also provides support around practical concerns such as funeral planning, advocacy, communication, and emotional well-being.

In addition to direct care, the SCP supports the learning and wellness of SJLCB staff and volunteers through reflective practices, debriefings, and education. The practitioner is an active member of the St. Joseph’s Health System Spiritual Care Community of Practice and serves as a leader in grief and bereavement support. The role also fosters meaningful partnerships with community stakeholders including funeral homes, mental health providers, faith communities, and local healthcare organizations.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES & SUCCESS CRITERIA

Spiritual Care

Conduct comprehensive spiritual assessments for all new admissions, identifying individual spiritual, cultural, and emotional needs and preferences

• Provide ongoing spiritual and emotional support to residents who request or require assistance
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, committees, and care planning processes as required
• Collaborate with local clergy, faith leaders, and community partners to coordinate and deliver spiritual and religious services that reflect the diverse traditions and values of residents
• Facilitate memorial services, special observances, and spiritual events that honor the beliefs, preferences, and cultural backgrounds of residents and their families
• Support staff wellness through reflective practices, spiritual care initiatives, and resilience-building activities

Hospice and Palliative Care

• Conduct spiritual assessments for residents receiving hospice or palliative outreach services, addressing existential, cultural, and spiritual concerns related to life, illness, dying, and death
• Support residents, clients and families in exploring meaning, purpose, belief systems, spiritual distress, legacy work, and culturally sensitive end-of-life care
• Provide one-on-one and group bereavement support, and refer to internal or community-based grief resources when appropriate
• Act as a liaison to facilitate residents’ access to their own faith leaders and support their participation in meaningful spiritual or religious practices
• Offer practical spiritual guidance aligned with the individual’s goals of care and assist in integrating these into their overall care plans

Education & Professional Development

• With the support of the Director, Mission & Spiritual Care and the Clinical Practice & Learning Specialists, develop and deliver education and training for staff, students, volunteers, and community partners on topics related to spiritual care, cultural sensitivity, and end-of-life support
• Engage in ongoing professional development by participating in workshops, retreats, in-services, and continuing education focused on spiritual and palliative care
• Promote reflective practices, shared rituals, and facilitated debriefings to enhance well-being, team cohesion, and resilience among staff, students, and volunteers

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Participate actively in daily rounds, care conferences, and interdisciplinary assessments to support holistic, person-centered care
• Collaborate closely with healthcare team members to address the spiritual and psychosocial needs of residents and their families
• Contribute to policy development, quality improvement initiatives, and organizational committees to advance spiritual care integration across services

Documentation & Program Evaluation

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation of care interactions in accordance with professional and organizational standards
• Contribute to program evaluation, service metrics, and quality improvement initiatives to enhance the effectiveness and responsiveness of care services

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• Degree in a relevant field such as Divinity, Theology, Pastoral/Spiritual Care, or Psychotherapy
• Certification with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), or a demonstrated commitment to obtaining certification within an agreed-upon timeframe
• Membership or eligibility for membership with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), with authorization or eligibility to provide psychotherapy
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, preferably in long-term care, palliative, or healthcare settings
• Demonstrated experience providing grief and bereavement support to individuals and families coping with serious illness, dying, and loss
• Proven ability to offer inclusive, interfaith, and culturally sensitive care that honors diverse spiritual and cultural traditions
• Strong counseling, interpersonal, and active listening skills, with a trauma-informed and person-centered approach
• Strong commitment to principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous Reconciliation
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including accurate and professional documentation
• Valid Vulnerable Sector Police Check (completed within the past 6 months)
• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle for work-related travel

St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford recognizes the importance of immunization to protect our residents, staff, and others from COVID-19. As such, subject to any verified medical exemption or accommodation required by applicable human rights legislation, it will be a condition of employment that all new hires have received all required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada.

St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre appreciates all responses. However, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.

St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford is an equal opportunity employer and strives for equity, inclusiveness, and diversity in all programs, facilities, and people. St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford is committed to creating a barrier-free, accessible organization, utilizing a collaborative approach in supporting persons with disabilities during the recruitment, assessment, selection, hiring, and the ongoing employment life cycle. Upon individual request, the Lifecare Centre will endeavor to remove any barrier to the employment lifecycle to accommodate those employees with disabilities. Should any employee require accommodation through the employment lifecycle, please contact Human Resources