Job summary
The Chaplaincy Department is seeking to appoint an experienced and motivated multi-faith chaplain who sharesour passion for providing excellent spiritual, pastoral and religious care to patients, visitorsand staff.
Chaplains work closely with all professional healthcare teams, as well as with community colleagues and an active team of volunteers. The role is for a suitably qualified individual to work collaboratively with the Senior Chaplain and all members of the Chaplaincy Department to ensure the timely and appropriate response to referrals and requests for spiritual, religious and pastoral care support.
Main duties of the job
We aim to provide the best possible care for patients and staff, and the department has a spiritual calling to care for, support, encourage, nurture and provide for all patients across the Trust, especially in times of crisis and at the end of life.
As a Hospital Trust we respect and rejoice in diversity and difference as reflected in our immediate local community Chaplains support individual and corporate wellbeing through visiting, active listening, pastoral counselling, end of life care, bereavement counselling and, when appropriate, through particular rituals of the faith community to which a person belongs.
The candidate will demonstrate a creative approach to working as part of a multi-faith team and be willing to undertake an on call commitment shared between the team (with an 'on-site' response time of 30-45 minutes).
Any candidate applying for the posts should have sufficient experience to offer sensitive and safe religious, spiritual and pastoral care to patients, relatives, friends and carers, and to members of staff, whether these are persons of faith or not. There is also a commitment to weekend working, which is on a pro rata basis.
The role is demanding and fast paced and the successful candidate will have to demonstrate reliability, personal, physical, mental and spiritual resilience so as to be able to cope under pressure in difficult situations. The candidate will have a secure personal faith and the ability to work as a reflective practitioner.
About us
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To work with the Lead Chaplain and collaboratively with all members of the Spiritual andPastoral Care Team to ensure the timely and appropriate response to referrals and requestsfor spiritual, religious and pastoral care support, playing a full part on the On Call rota(minimum one day/night per week and one Sunday per month) as required by the serviceand taking responsibility for ward-based visiting.
2. To engage proactively and communicate effectively with colleagues to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to the provision of spiritual, religious and pastoral care to patients, theirfamilies and carers, and to staff, seeking to meet the needs of those of all faiths andphilosophies of life.
3. To develop understanding of End of Life and Bereavement Care and use active listeningand pastoral care skills to support those who are dying, their relatives and those who arebereaved.
4. To have pastoral responsibility for visiting all wards and clinical areas as well as for certainareas of the Hospital in relation to special projects (for example Co-ordinate and SuperviseVolunteers - A&E Pastoral Care Team, Maternity Care, Family Care Service, Weekday WardVisiting Team, Patient Experience, Staff Wellbeing) developing pastoral expertise in thoseareas and be able to share this learning with others. (Areas to be agreed with the LeadChaplain, depending on the candidates experience and interest, to include leading onresponsibility for volunteers).
5. To be committed and able to maintain the patient-facing nature of the chaplains role andpossess the personal physical, psychological and spiritual robustness to work in all clinicalareas including those of high infection risk and all Covid-19 secure environments.
6. To help with the planning, preparation and (where appropriate) the delivery of faith-basedservices and other significant festival celebrations in the world faith calendar, respecting thetraditions and beliefs of all who work in partnership with the Spiritual and Pastoral CareService.
7. To conduct pastoral care services, funerals and memorials, as requested, primarily inrelation to emergency weddings, infant deaths and adult funerals.
8. To maintain all records and data management in accordance with Information Governancepolicies and procedures, and to assist in project evaluation processes and preparation ofreports as required.
9. To be prepared to undertake evening and/or weekend activities in agreement with theLead Chaplain.
10. To be prepared to take part in Major Incident Response in accordance with Trust policiesand procedures.
11. To work in accordance with the Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust values, policiesand procedures, fulfilling statutory and mandatory Trust training requirements andundertaking any necessary training that supports the work in agreement with the Lead Chaplain. 12. To undertake other duties as may be requested by the Lead Chaplain to facilitate the smooth running of the Spiritual and Pastoral Care Team to ensure delivery of excellent spiritual, religious and pastoral care services to the Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To work with the Lead Chaplain and collaboratively with all members of the Spiritual andPastoral Care Team to ensure the timely and appropriate response to referrals and requestsfor spiritual, religious and pastoral care support, playing a full part on the On Call rota(minimum one day/night per week and one Sunday per month) as required by the serviceand taking responsibility for ward-based visiting.
2. To engage proactively and communicate effectively with colleagues to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to the provision of spiritual, religious and pastoral care to patients, theirfamilies and carers, and to staff, seeking to meet the needs of those of all faiths andphilosophies of life.
3. To develop understanding of End of Life and Bereavement Care and use active listeningand pastoral care skills to support those who are dying, their relatives and those who arebereaved.
4. To have pastoral responsibility for visiting all wards and clinical areas as well as for certainareas of the Hospital in relation to special projects (for example Co-ordinate and SuperviseVolunteers - A&E Pastoral Care Team, Maternity Care, Family Care Service, Weekday WardVisiting Team, Patient Experience, Staff Wellbeing) developing pastoral expertise in thoseareas and be able to share this learning with others. (Areas to be agreed with the LeadChaplain, depending on the candidates experience and interest, to include leading onresponsibility for volunteers).
5. To be committed and able to maintain the patient-facing nature of the chaplains role andpossess the personal physical, psychological and spiritual robustness to work in all clinicalareas including those of high infection risk and all Covid-19 secure environments.
6. To help with the planning, preparation and (where appropriate) the delivery of faith-basedservices and other significant festival celebrations in the world faith calendar, respecting thetraditions and beliefs of all who work in partnership with the Spiritual and Pastoral CareService.
7. To conduct pastoral care services, funerals and memorials, as requested, primarily inrelation to emergency weddings, infant deaths and adult funerals.
8. To maintain all records and data management in accordance with Information Governancepolicies and procedures, and to assist in project evaluation processes and preparation ofreports as required.
9. To be prepared to undertake evening and/or weekend activities in agreement with theLead Chaplain.
10. To be prepared to take part in Major Incident Response in accordance with Trust policiesand procedures.
11. To work in accordance with the Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust values, policiesand procedures, fulfilling statutory and mandatory Trust training requirements andundertaking any necessary training that supports the work in agreement with the Lead Chaplain. 12. To undertake other duties as may be requested by the Lead Chaplain to facilitate the smooth running of the Spiritual and Pastoral Care Team to ensure delivery of excellent spiritual, religious and pastoral care services to the Trust.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- First Degree in Theology/Religious Studies or Equivalent Professional Qualifications to Level 6 or above.
- The candidate should be in good standing with and formally endorsed by their relevant Faith Community or Association - (for example - ordained priest or lay minister in good standing with their faith community or authorising body and having permission to practice.) Evidence required.
- Evidence of continuing personal and professional development.
Desirable
- Membership of the United Kingdom Board for Health Care Chaplaincy (UKBHC)
Experience
Essential
- Currently working as a healthcare chaplain and/or spiritual and pastoral care in an hospital setting.
- Experience of successful team working.
- Experience of working on projects with targeted outcomes, deadlines and reporting processes.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a multi faith team and/or in an international setting with people of other faiths and beliefs than own.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent listening skills and ability to respond appropriately during in-depth one to one encounters.
- Ability to build rapport and develop trust.
- Ability to be calm, empathetic and compassionate in distressing situations
- High quality oral and written communication skills
- Computer and word processing skills
- Ability to prioritise tasks and manage a range of activities.
- Ability to provide Spiritual and Religious Care for the dying, critically ill and newly bereaved, including those experiencing sudden death or pregnancy loss.
- Pastoral or Counselling skills or other relevant training / certification
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- First Degree in Theology/Religious Studies or Equivalent Professional Qualifications to Level 6 or above.
- The candidate should be in good standing with and formally endorsed by their relevant Faith Community or Association - (for example - ordained priest or lay minister in good standing with their faith community or authorising body and having permission to practice.) Evidence required.
- Evidence of continuing personal and professional development.
Desirable
- Membership of the United Kingdom Board for Health Care Chaplaincy (UKBHC)
Experience
Essential
- Currently working as a healthcare chaplain and/or spiritual and pastoral care in an hospital setting.
- Experience of successful team working.
- Experience of working on projects with targeted outcomes, deadlines and reporting processes.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a multi faith team and/or in an international setting with people of other faiths and beliefs than own.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent listening skills and ability to respond appropriately during in-depth one to one encounters.
- Ability to build rapport and develop trust.
- Ability to be calm, empathetic and compassionate in distressing situations
- High quality oral and written communication skills
- Computer and word processing skills
- Ability to prioritise tasks and manage a range of activities.
- Ability to provide Spiritual and Religious Care for the dying, critically ill and newly bereaved, including those experiencing sudden death or pregnancy loss.
- Pastoral or Counselling skills or other relevant training / certification
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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