Job summary
At NHFT we hold the view that spiritual care begins with encouraging human contact in compassionate relationships. This entails creating safe and secure spaces for people to talk about the things that matter most to them, to explore what give their lives meaning and purpose in life. The service is highly regarded and its development with diverse and culturally aware practitioners continues to be a priority for the organisation.
Our Chaplains work in partnership with multidisciplinary healthcare colleagues to care for the spiritual and religious needs of patients, carers and staff across the Trust. This includes mental health and community inpatient hospitals, and prison settings (Healthcare Staff support), working with people across age groups and abilities, both in person and online. The role requires being a visible and supportive presence, working proactively to provide a listening ear for patients, carers, and staff (including our staff networks). Our Chaplains are therefore an essential resource for our staff in the areas of ethics and spiritual care.
At NHFT, we operate a model of chaplaincy where our Spiritual Wellbeing practitioners work inclusively to journey alongside people of all faith communities, belief systems and none. Sensitivity to a range of presenting needs and being person-centered is key. This role therefore requires passion and enthusiasm for working in this way.
Main duties of the job
Continually update knowledge of culture, diversity, spiritual and religious care, current policy, and research evidence relevant to spiritual care services. Use this to promote and develop safe, effective, and inclusive practice with multidisciplinary colleagues to support people of all backgrounds.
Provide spiritual wellbeing training and education to NHFT staff
Actively participate in Trust level groups, meetings and forums, as well as wider spiritual wellbeing activities
Hold and lead communal spaces with appropriate role authority in the context of issues and events that require bringing people together for connection, recognition and action (e.g. memorial services and incident planning for unexpected events).
Work alongside the Trust's Volunteer Manager to select, train and supervise Spiritual Wellbeing volunteers and Honorary Chaplains.
Maintain and develop external connections with a range of faith leaders and community support groups to better support the needs of our culturally diverse patients, servicer users, carers and staff.
Given the frequent exposure to distressing or emotional situations, engagement in regular reflective practice and supervision is an essential aspect of the role to support personal wellbeing as well as for informing professional practice
The post involves occasional outdoor work
About us
To meet these needs as part of care plans within the relevant service boundaries and supporting discharge pathways into the community. Needs may be complex in the context of mental health settings and may require onward referral or signposting to other care providers or community groups as appropriate.
To develop and maintain 1:1 and group spiritual wellbeing support offers. This includes facilitating creative spiritual care groups for inpatient wards and offering bereavement support for staff and service users.
Record contacts in relevant systems, ensuring that information is treated confidentially and with the utmost discretion to preserve dignity and safety.
NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
NHFT promotes a culture of learning to improve the care and safety of our patients and staff, which focuses on people who enable our Trust to be 'outstanding' by supporting opportunity, innovation, development and growth.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide 1-1 spiritual care for patients, service users, staff and carers including pastoral, religious, faith and non-faith spiritual care.
Use evidence-based tools to assess spiritual care needs and explore core values and beliefs for people of all faiths and none.
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide 1-1 spiritual care for patients, service users, staff and carers including pastoral, religious, faith and non-faith spiritual care.
Use evidence-based tools to assess spiritual care needs and explore core values and beliefs for people of all faiths and none.
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document.
Person Specification
Behaviours and Values
Essential
- oBe of a calm, caring and compassionate disposition.
- oCommitment to compassionate, non-judgmental and non-discriminatory practice that is inclusive and accessible to all
Desirable
- oValues collaborative working with peers and colleagues across the organisation
- oAbility to work in a flexible way and respond to change.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- oEducated to degree level, or equivalent learning experience, in an area relevant to pastoral, spiritual and religious care and healthcare chaplaincy.
- oRecognised or accredited, and in current good standing with faith or belief community.
- oSignificant knowledge and experience of providing pastoral and spiritual care in a healthcare setting. Experience of end -of-life palliative spiritual care provision.
- oIn depth knowledge of own faith or belief group teaching, tradition and practices, alongside a working knowledge of other faith and belief systems, with an ability to apply this as requested in a secular multi-cultural, multi-faith and belief context as requested.
Desirable
- oRegistered as a Chaplain with UKBHC or the Network for Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care in Health
- oFurther studies relating to chaplaincy i.e. PG Cert in healthcare chaplaincy/ pastoral, spiritual or religious care, clinical supervision, mentoring, or spiritual direction
- oExperience in creating and delivering teaching and training programs. Experience of managing volunteers
- oExperience of delivering digital chaplaincy services (e.g. video appointments)
Skills andAbilities
Essential
- oExcellent communication skills, with the ability to connect with individuals in a variety of complex spiritual care encounters, including empathetic conversations during traumatic events and handling difficult questions and strong emotions without collusion.
- oExcellent reflective practice skills. Ability to reflect theologically and or existentially
- oActive listening skills and an ability to respond to others' spiritual needs without proselytizing personal faith or belief.
Desirable
- Keyboard skills and computer literate e.g. ability to work with Microsoft Office (i.e. Excel, Word and Outlook).
- Excellent interpersonal skills to build relationships with local faith communities and other external organisations.
- Excellent organisational skills to prioritize and manage own workload.
Person Specification
Behaviours and Values
Essential
- oBe of a calm, caring and compassionate disposition.
- oCommitment to compassionate, non-judgmental and non-discriminatory practice that is inclusive and accessible to all
Desirable
- oValues collaborative working with peers and colleagues across the organisation
- oAbility to work in a flexible way and respond to change.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- oEducated to degree level, or equivalent learning experience, in an area relevant to pastoral, spiritual and religious care and healthcare chaplaincy.
- oRecognised or accredited, and in current good standing with faith or belief community.
- oSignificant knowledge and experience of providing pastoral and spiritual care in a healthcare setting. Experience of end -of-life palliative spiritual care provision.
- oIn depth knowledge of own faith or belief group teaching, tradition and practices, alongside a working knowledge of other faith and belief systems, with an ability to apply this as requested in a secular multi-cultural, multi-faith and belief context as requested.
Desirable
- oRegistered as a Chaplain with UKBHC or the Network for Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care in Health
- oFurther studies relating to chaplaincy i.e. PG Cert in healthcare chaplaincy/ pastoral, spiritual or religious care, clinical supervision, mentoring, or spiritual direction
- oExperience in creating and delivering teaching and training programs. Experience of managing volunteers
- oExperience of delivering digital chaplaincy services (e.g. video appointments)
Skills andAbilities
Essential
- oExcellent communication skills, with the ability to connect with individuals in a variety of complex spiritual care encounters, including empathetic conversations during traumatic events and handling difficult questions and strong emotions without collusion.
- oExcellent reflective practice skills. Ability to reflect theologically and or existentially
- oActive listening skills and an ability to respond to others' spiritual needs without proselytizing personal faith or belief.
Desirable
- Keyboard skills and computer literate e.g. ability to work with Microsoft Office (i.e. Excel, Word and Outlook).
- Excellent interpersonal skills to build relationships with local faith communities and other external organisations.
- Excellent organisational skills to prioritize and manage own workload.
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).
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).
