Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

Responsible to plan, implement, and maintain a bereavement program to meet the needs of families/caregivers from K. Hovnanian Children's hospital for twelve months following the death of the individual pediatric patient and yearly ongoing.

A day in the life of a Bereavement Coordinator at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

1. Coordinate the assessment and delivery of grief counseling needs and services (one-to-one, groups and ongoing follow-up) to ensure timely and appropriate services are provided to family/caregivers. Provide resources for parents, siblings, grandparents and extended family.
2. Coordinate PACT consults.
3. Meet with families in Labor and Delivery/ ED/Trauma Bay/PICU and NICU prior to and at time of death.
4. Provide pre-grieving and grief support to families and team members.
5. Calls and letters/cards for first year after loss then yearly.
6. Set up age specific bereavement support groups.
7. Interdisciplinary coordination with other social workers, pastoral care, child life and subspecialists.
8. Communicate with primary pediatricians and other providers regarding death.
9. Annually prepare a strategic plan for expansion of the Bereavement Program.  Evaluate services to see if they are effective, including coordinating support groups in emotional services.
10. Provide bereavement support to team members coping with work-related grief through one-to-one counseling, supervision of interns providing one-to-one counseling and referrals to community services.
11. Coordinate debriefs for team members  for each pediatric death or extremely difficult case.
12. Maintain a list of bereavement information and referral services in order to service the community and  families.  Expand and maintain community resource lists as needed.
13. Function independently.  Seek and accept guidance from other members of the interdisciplinary group, or from members of the community.  Report all bereavement activities to supervisor or organization administrator.
14. Participate in departmental activities such as in-service education, personnel meetings, staff meetings and relevant committees required by supervisor.
15. Identify learning needs and seek opportunities to meet these needs.
16. Coordinate the annual memorial service for bereaved families.
17. Other duties and/or projects as assigned. 
18. Adheres to HMH's Organizational and Managerial competencies and standards of behavior.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

1. Bachelor's Degree
2. 1-3 years of relevant experience.
3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
4. Proficient computer skills that include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

1. Master's Degree

Licenses and Certifications Required:

1. Social Worker (LSW or LCSW) or Other Professional with Documented Evidence of Experience or Education in Grief or Loss Counseling

Licenses and Certifications Preferred:

1. NJ Licensed Social Worker or NJ Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
2. Grief Counseling Certification

If you feel the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!