At Bon Secours Mercy Health, we are dedicated to continually improving health care quality, safety and cost effectiveness. Our hospitals, care sites and clinicians are recognized for clinical and operational excellence.
Summary of Primary Function/General Purpose of Position
The Bereavement Counselor is a member of the Interdisciplinary Team and will be responsible for the provision of supportive services to help meet patient/family, children, significant others, and the community at large in dealing with issues of grief and loss consistent with the policies of Mercy Health Lima.
Essential Job Functions
Demonstrates performance and maintenance of documentation in compliance with agency policies, regulations, and accreditation standards.
Demonstrates a working knowledge of the stages and manifestation of grief and appropriate therapeutic interventions. for uncomplicated and complicated grief. Recognizes signs and symptoms of chemical dependency, psychiatric illnesses, and pathological grief reactions and provides appropriate interventions or referrals.
Demonstrates professional counseling skills encompassing but not limited to active listening, reflecting, clarifying, affirming strengths, normalizing emotions, maintaining healthy interpersonal boundaries, setting goals and limits, involving clients in the plan of care, utilizing empathy as a therapeutic tool, and the ability to achieve closure in therapeutic relationships. Establishes therapeutic relationships with clients from a variety of cultural, religious, spiritual, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Collaborates effectively with the interdisciplinary team (IDT) to assess bereavement risk factors and establish the bereavement plan of care throughout the episode of care and continues the individualized bereavement plan of care for 13 months following the patient’s death.
Provides appropriate bereavement interventions including phone calls, support groups, counseling visits, and referrals to community resources.
Demonstrates effective public presentation skills and takes a leading role in planning, promoting, and conducting memorial services for families/caregivers and other community outreach programs as necessary.
Participates and/or leads educational activities including community education events and training of staff and volunteers.
Participates in quality assurance activities, data tracking, chart audits, policy reviews and other initiatives to promote positive outcomes.
Manages time effectively to encompass direct care visits, IDT and other meetings, volunteer training and supervision, community outreach activities, and documentation.
This document is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. Employees may be required to perform other job related duties as required by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.
Patient Population
The following must be included in all position descriptions that involve direct or indirect patient care. This is a Joint Commission requirement. Also, select the age of the patient population served:
Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.
Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age, specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.
Adolescents (13-17 years)
Adults (18-64 years).
Pediatrics (1-12 years)
Geriatrics (65 years and older)
Employment Qualifications
Required Minimum Education:
4 year/ Bachelors Degree
Specialty/Major:
Psychology, Social Work, or Counseling
Preferred Education:
Graduate Degree (Masters)
Specialty/Major:
Counseling, Social Work or Masters of Divinity
Licensing/ Certification
Licensure/Certification Required:
None
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Years and Type of Experience:
2 years experience in bereavement counseling, palliative or hospice clinical position
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
Strong communication and counseling skills, proficiency with Microsoft Office products
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:
Proficiency in EMR documentation, knowledge of hospice regulations
Many of our opportunities reward* your hard work with:
Comprehensive, affordable medical, dental and vision plans
Prescription drug coverage
Flexible spending accounts
Life insurance w/AD&D
Employer contributions to retirement savings plan when eligible
Paid time off
Educational Assistance
And much more
All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you'd like to view a copy of the affirmative action plan or policy statement for Mercy Health – Youngstown, Ohio or Bon Secours – Franklin, Virginia; Petersburg, Virginia; and Emporia, Virginia, which are Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employers, please email recruitment@mercy.com. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact The Talent Acquisition Team at recruitment@mercy.com
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