Study Chaplain
Job Summary Duration will be for approximately six months; 10 hours per week.
Under general supervision, and as part of a federally funded multi-center pilot trial (the Chaplain Family Project), the Study Chaplain will provide spiritual care interventions to patients and their surrogate decision-makers in Adult Intensive Care Units at UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center, utilizing the Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention (SCAI) framework. The Study will test the effect of high-quality spiritual care for ICU family surrogates on outcomes of psychological and spiritual well-being and medical decision making. The Study Chaplain will be trained in the SCAI framework, and will follow all required research protocols and requirements. As specified by the Study aims and protocol, the Study Chaplain will provide proactive contact and spiritual care visits, spiritual care interventions, documentation, support for decision-making and family meetings, and additional follow-up contact with those surrogates enrolled in the study. The Study Chaplain will coordinate with members of the Spiritual Care & Chaplaincy Education as needed, to arrange for the spiritual, existential, and emotional care of patients and surrogates.
Key Responsibilities:
Spiritual Care Interventions, Documentation, and Follow-Up
* Provides spiritual care interventions to patients and their surrogate decision-makers in Adult Intensive Care Units at UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center, utilizing the Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention (SCAI) framework.
* As specified by the Study aims and protocol, provides proactive contact and spiritual care visits, spiritual care interventions, documentation, support for decision-making and family meetings, and additional follow-up contact with surrogates enrolled in the study.
Training and Fidelity Monitoring
* Participates in required virtual training workshop focused on research knowledge and skills and training in the SCAI framework, and required meetings with project Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators
* Attends to fidelity monitoring regarding adherence to all research protocols
Coordination with Spiritual Care & Chaplaincy Education
* Refers spiritual care needs outside the scope of Study Chaplain to members of Spiritual Care & Chaplaincy Education team The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.
To see the salary range for this position (we recommend that you make a note of the job code and use that to look up): TCS Non-Academic Titles Search (https://tcs.ucop.edu/non-academic-titles)
Please note: An offer will take into consideration the experience of the final candidate AND the current salary level of individuals working at UCSF in a similar role.
For roles covered by a bargaining unit agreement, there will be specific rules about where a new hire would be placed on the range.
To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html Department Description Spiritual Care & Chaplaincy Education provides multi-faith, emotional, intellectual, crisis, and spiritual support to the patients, parents/guardians, families, visitors, allied health learners and the interdisciplinary staff of UCSF by establishing and maintaining relationships that enable care for people in the context of their spiritual or existential needs and resources. Required Qualifications
- Master's degree in theology, divinity, religious studies, or its equivalent in relevant training and graduate level experience.
- Completion of at least 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education, accredited by the ACPE: the Standard for Spiritual Care and Education.
- Previous experience (1-3 years) as a healthcare chaplain or the equivalent.
- Full knowledge of principles and practices of delivering spiritual care and short term counseling to patients and families in a clinical environment. Skilled at providing spiritual support and guidance on the issues of death, dying, grief, loss, and disability.
- Thorough knowledge of a variety of religious and spiritual traditions, and of giving appropriate spiritual care in a multi-faith clinical setting.
- Thorough knowledge of the ethical and confidentiality issues involved with clinical chaplaincy.
- Flexibility and adaptability to remain calm, and deal effectively with changing situations involving crises and stress.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with and accept people of diverse beliefs, cultures, ethnicities, ages, and health conditions.
- Ability to work independently with patients and families, while also participating in the healthcare team providing coordinated care.
- Thorough organizational, prioritization, and decision-making skills.
- Thorough knowledge of spiritual assessment models, solid spiritual assessment skills, and the ability to communicate, verbally and in writing, spiritual assessments of patients / families to the health care team.
- Demonstrated ability to establish connections with key persons quickly and function well in crisis / trauma situations, demonstrating compassion, flexibility, sensitivity, and command when needed.
- Demonstrated skill in assessing and meeting the needs of an acute inpatient psychiatric setting-direct work with patients individually and groups; collaboration with interdisciplinary staff.
- Advanced chaplaincy judgment, triage and trauma informed skills.
- Excellent communication skills with patients, families, interdisciplinary colleagues and learners.
- Excellence in adherence to required protocols in documentation and ethics in the quaternary health care setting (including research protocols, IRB requirements)
Preferred Qualifications N/A License/Certification Provisional or Board Certification, or eligibility for such certification, with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), Neshama: the Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC), or the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC). Maintains good standing through service in Board Certification organization. About UCSF The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world's leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells. Pride Values UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence - also known as our PRIDE values.
In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity - both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available at diversity.ucsf.edu
Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide. Equal Employment Opportunity The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. Job Code and Payroll Title 004967 SPIRITUAL CARE HC SPEC 3 HX Job Category Spiritual / Religious, Temporary Employment Bargaining Unit University Professional and Technical Employees - Health Care Professionals Unit (UPTE-HX) Employee Class Temporary Employment Location San Francisco, CA Campus Parnassus Heights (SF) |
University of California - San Francisco Campus and Health
Oct 22, 2025