Spiritual Health Practitioner I

Located in N.E Calgary, the Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC) is an acute care hospital offering both inpatient and outpatient services. The Allied Health Department at the PLC is comprised of Spiritual Care and Rehabilitation Staff. These staff work as vital members of the interdisciplinary team to provide patient and family-centred care throughout the hospital. The role is in acute care, with the potential for coverage on any unit/service as required. This position may require evening and weekend on call shifts. As a Spiritual Health Practitioner (SHP) with the Allied Health team at Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC), the incumbent will support the spiritual and emotional health of patients and families across diverse beliefs, cultural perspectives, and practices. The incumbent will support a dynamic interfaith community that embodies AHS’ patient-first approach. The SHP responds with compassion and inclusiveness to the spiritual health needs identified by patients and families. Reflecting a holistic, compassionate methodology to care, the SHP advances an evidence-based spiritual health care approach. The successful candidate will rely on excellent interpersonal communication, prioritization, and self-awareness skills to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with interdisciplinary team members, community faith leaders and volunteers as well as navigate a constantly changing caseload. They will show proficiency in self-direction and independent decision making, sound clinical judgement and critical thinking skills. This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference with patients/families as well as support the staff/teams here at the PLC.

As a Spiritual Health Practitioner, you will provide patient-centered, strength-based spiritual care to patients and their families. Your role involves responding to emotional and psychospiritual needs across diverse spiritual, existential and religious beliefs, cultural perspectives, and practices. You will employ a range of spiritual care interventions appropriate to the practice setting, including screening, assessments, spiritually integrated counselling, psychospiritual therapy, end-of-life spiritual care, religious and non-religious rituals, and professional consultations. In addition, you will facilitate spiritual group therapy sessions to address spiritual distress and promote spiritual well-being. You will also provide spiritual care to staff, physicians and volunteers, individually or in groups, to foster resilience and support overall well-being within the organization.

Master¿s degree in theology and/or spirituality/religion or a clinically related field. 2nd Advanced Level, Clinical Psychospiritual Education.

Relevant experience in an adult acute care setting within the last two years. 2nd Advanced Level, with commitment toward certification as a spiritual health practitioner (CASC) within 3 years. Current membership or Associate membership of CASC/ACSS. Basic Life Support (BLS) Health Provider level C certification. Demonstrated skills in reflective and collaborative practice, active listening, negotiation, advocacy, and conflict resolution. Demonstrated ability to function effectively within an inter-professional team environment. Knowledge of and skills to address the needs of people encountering crisis, disability, loss, bereavement, and end-of-life care. Engages in self-reflective practice and assesses the impact of one’s own spirituality, beliefs, values, assumptions, and power dynamics in relationship with clients. Time management and prioritization skills, with a demonstrated ability to function effectively within a dynamic and challenging environment. Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills: demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively with various spiritual, religious, cultural groups and all levels of staff. Sound clinical judgment and critical thinking skills. Demonstrated knowledge of community resources and ability to establish external partnerships. Implementing effective strategies to resolve issues and problems, creating safe space, and building bridges.

Two years of relevant spiritual health care experience as a Spiritual Care Practitioner in an adult acute care setting. Experience facilitating education in spiritually informed care. Broad understanding of AHS and health care issues and patient service delivery models. Computer knowledge e.g. MS Office, Connect Care. Enhanced leadership skills to foster interdisciplinary capacity for spiritual care screening, history taking and support.