Community Chaplain-Bay Aging

This position is funded by a 3-year renewable grant from the Robert B. Lantz Foundation.  Preferred start date is June 1, 2025.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but not later than September 30, 2025.

The mission of the Chaplain is to develop and provide a preeminent comprehensive community-based program of spiritual presence and emotional support in the greater Lancaster County, Virginia area as part of the Bay Aging team. The ideal individual will be self-motivated and eager to engage in community outreach, with a strong ability to initiate relationships, set people at ease, and create working alliances. Position located in Lancaster County, VA. Reports to Statistician.   

Compensation: $75k/year

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Provide spiritual care and emotional support to Bay Aging clients, based on referrals as well as chaplain-led initiative. Interventions include on-site chaplaincy visits including home visits. Clients will include, but are not limited to, lower-income older adults, persons living with chronic conditions, caregivers, persons experiencing homelessness, and persons living with dementia.
• Develop a community chaplain program of spiritual care for the greater Lancaster County area. The Chaplain will engage in an extensive and thorough orientation to the region, become thoroughly acquainted with the people and resources within the County, and discern opportunities for spiritual care therein, including:
  • Community agencies and services (e.g. nursing homes, food banks, addiction treatment centers, criminal justice facilities, Social Services, and health facilities including Rappahannock General Hospital and the Northern Neck-Middlesex Free Health Clinic)
  • community clergy
  • local law enforcement
  • business and government leaders
  • and the various programs offered by Bay Aging (e.g. caregiver support, GUIDE Model for dementia care, service-enriched apartment communities, active lifestyle centers, Meals on Wheels, Bay Transit, Art in Transit, Artful Aging, Homeless Solutions, and Emergency Services)
• Participate in community outreach to increase awareness of Bay Aging’s services, including chaplaincy services.
• Consult with Bay Aging staff to identify clients who would like chaplaincy services. Contact clients and schedule telephonic, video conference, or in-person meetings. Document meetings in accordance with program guidelines. As needed, refer clients to other services such as meals or transportation.
• Consult with Bay Aging leadership in complex client care situations as needed.
• Participate in Bay Aging support groups, caregiver luncheons, and other events, and visit Bay Aging facilities such as the Lancaster Active Lifestyle Center.
• Provide bereavement care and support to clients’ families.
• Support staff following bereavement events.
• Participate in Leadership Team meetings and provide recommendations on spiritual care and emotional support.
• Participate in staff trainings relevant to the chaplaincy role, which may include the CMS GUIDE Model for dementia care.
• May participate in research and grant writing.
  • Other responsibilities as needed.                                                                                                                                                             

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES                                                                                                                                                  

• Spiritual care expertise including skills in crisis intervention, de-escalation of conflictual situations, grief support, and ministry to aging populations including working with dementia patients and their caregivers.
• Ability to function well in a non-sectarian, multi-faith environment.
• Strong staff/team support skills.
• Highly motivated self-starter.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and multitask.
• Expert written communication skills.

• Excellent verbal communication and public speaking.
• Strong record-keeping skills.
• Excellent ability to encourage people of all religious faiths, including agnostic and atheist, and to create supportive rituals in a multi-faith environment.
• Familiarity with beliefs across many different cultures, with ability to customize approach based on a client’s background, age, and medical condition.
• Strong ability to initiate relationships, set people at ease, and create working alliances.
• Outstanding emotional intelligence.
• Microsoft Office programs (e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), and ability to learn new software such as electronic medical record platforms.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Home-based office position with minimal physical requirements (ability to lift 20 pounds, walking and climbing stairs). Frequent travel within greater Lancaster County required. Occasional travel to Bay Aging’s headquarters in Urbanna, Virginia required.

• Master's Degree (72 hours) in Theology or equivalent (as determined by the Association of Professional Chaplains) from an accredited institution recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• Ordination as clergy.
• Completion of four units of clinical pastoral education (CPE) – preferably as certified by one of the following: the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE); National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC); or The Canadian Association for Spiritual Care/Association Canadienne des Soins Spirituels (CASC/ACSS).
• Ecclesiastical endorsement by an organization recognized by the United States Department of Defense (Armed Forces Chaplains Board).
• Board Certified, Provisionally Board Certified, or Board Eligible Chaplain preferably by one of the following: Association of Professional Chaplains (APC); National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC); Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC); or The Canadian Association for Spiritual Care/Association Canadienne des Soins Spirituels (CASC/ACSS). If the person is not Board Certified on hire, achieve full or provisional Board Certification within 2 years of hire. (Once board certification is achieved, it must be maintained for continuing employment.)
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Applicants should include a cover letter and resume/CV with their completed application.  

FLSA status: This is a full-time exempt position.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.  From time to time, the supervisor will ask job holder to perform additional duties related to the completion of the work.

Bay Aging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran or disability status.  Bay Aging is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact MaDena DuChemin, Human Resource Manager at (804) 758-2396, Ext. 1228 or mduchemin@bayaging.org.