Hospice Chaplain – Hillcrest Hospice Care

Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa

Service Line: Hillcrest Hospice Care

Schedule: Part-time

Hillcrest Health & Living is looking for a compassionate, thoughtful, and relationship-focused Hospice Chaplain to join our Hillcrest Hospice Care team serving patients and families in Iowa.

Hospice care is about caring for the whole person. As a Hospice Chaplain, you will provide spiritual, emotional, and bereavement support to patients and families as they navigate end-of-life care. You will meet people where they are, respect their individual beliefs and preferences, and provide a calm, supportive presence during some of life’s most meaningful moments.

At Hillcrest, our mission is simple: Inspiring people to live their best lives. In hospice care, that means helping patients live each day with dignity, comfort, meaning, and connection while supporting the people who love them.

What You’ll Do

As a Hospice Chaplain, you will work closely with patients, families, caregivers, and the interdisciplinary hospice team to provide individualized spiritual and emotional support.

• Provide pastoral, spiritual, emotional, and bereavement support to hospice patients.
• Provide guidance and support to family members and caregivers throughout the hospice journey.
• Assess spiritual needs and incorporate those needs into the individualized plan of care.
• Respect and support each patient’s personal beliefs, values, traditions, and preferences.
• Respond to referrals and help families understand hospice services.
• Assist with hospice informational visits and the consent process for new patients as appropriate.
• Complete assessments, progress notes, care plans, social histories, and other required documentation accurately and on time.
• Participate actively in care planning and case conferences.
• Collaborate with nurses, social workers, physicians, aides, and other interdisciplinary team members.
• Identify and communicate spiritual or emotional concerns that may affect the patient or family.
• Coordinate support with outside clergy, faith leaders, or other spiritual resources when appropriate.
• Provide prayer, worship, or other spiritual services based on patient and family wishes.
• Assist with or officiate funeral and memorial services when requested.
• Provide education and consultation to team members and community partners.
• Build positive relationships with healthcare providers, community organizations, and other resources supporting hospice patients.
• Participate in required team meetings and contribute to the coordination of patient and family care.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who understands that spiritual care is deeply personal. The right candidate will know how to listen first, provide support without imposing personal beliefs, and create space for patients and families to process grief, fear, meaning, relationships, and end-of-life concerns in their own way. This role requires emotional maturity, compassion, flexibility, and the ability to remain steady when families are experiencing difficult moments.

Ideal candidates will have:

• A compassionate and nonjudgmental approach to spiritual care.
• Strong listening and relationship-building skills.
• Comfort supporting patients and families experiencing death, dying, grief, and loss.
• Ability to support individuals from a variety of spiritual, religious, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently while remaining closely connected to an interdisciplinary team.
• Strong organization and documentation skills.
• Ability to remain calm and supportive during emotional or stressful situations.
• Strong professional boundaries and respect for patient choice.
• Ability to collaborate with community clergy and spiritual resources.
• A genuine desire to support patients and families through the hospice journey.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Theology, Religious Studies, or a similar field required. Master’s degree preferred. At least two years of experience providing pastoral services through a church, parish, synagogue, healthcare setting, or similar environment required. At least one year of experience providing pastoral support related to death, dying, and bereavement in hospice or healthcare preferred. Four units of accredited Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) preferred.

Why Hillcrest Hospice Care?

Hospice chaplaincy is not about having the perfect words. Sometimes it means sitting quietly with a patient. Sometimes it means helping a family work through difficult emotions. Sometimes it is prayer, conversation, reflection, or simply being present when someone does not want to be alone. Those moments matter.

At Hillcrest Hospice Care, you will work alongside an interdisciplinary team that understands the importance of supporting the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of each patient and family. If you are looking for a role where your ability to listen, connect, and provide meaningful support can make a lasting difference, this may be the opportunity for you.

What Hillcrest Offers

• Benefits and insurance options for eligible team members.
• Supportive hospice leadership and an interdisciplinary care team.
• Professional development and continuing education opportunities.
• Dayforce Wallet, allowing you to choose when you get paid.
• Gym membership reimbursement and partner discounts.
• Meaningful, relationship-centered work with patients and families.
• Opportunities to build relationships with healthcare and community partners.
• Opportunities to grow within Hillcrest Hospice Care and Hillcrest Health & Living.

On-Call & Team Responsibilities

As part of the Patient and Family Services team, the Hospice Chaplain will also:

• Participate in required individual and team meetings.
• Provide professional communication regarding patient-care needs and concerns.
• Support education and relationship-building with internal and external partners.
• Participate in the Patient and Family Services on-call rotation.
• Be available on selected on-call days to assist with education, admission paperwork, and spiritual-care needs after hours and on weekends.

Physical & Other Requirements

Must be able to speak, read, and write English. Must be able to independently lift up to 35 pounds. Must be able to perform repetitive sitting, standing, walking, bending, and movement associated with patient visits. Must be flexible and calm when supporting patients and families during emotional or stressful situations. Must have strong attention to detail and be able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. Must be able to utilize technology and available resources efficiently and effectively. Must be able to travel to multiple patient and work locations. Must maintain a current driver’s license and required automobile insurance. Possible exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids. Other duties as assigned.

Ready to Provide Support That Truly Matters?

If you are an experienced Chaplain or pastoral-care professional who wants to support patients and families through end-of-life care with compassion, respect, and presence, we would love to meet you. Join Hillcrest Hospice Care – Iowa as a Hospice Chaplain and help us continue inspiring people to live their best lives by providing meaningful spiritual, emotional, and bereavement support when it matters most.