Job summary
At NHFT, we believe spiritual care begins with compassionate, human connection. It is about creating safe, welcoming spaces where people feel able to speak openly about what matters most to them, explore meaning and purpose, and be heard without judgement. Our Spiritual Wellbeing Service is highly regarded across the Trust, and the continued development of a diverse, culturally aware team remains a key priority.
Our Spiritual Wellbeing Practitioners/Chaplains work in close partnership with multidisciplinary colleagues to support the spiritual, religious & existential needs of patients, carers & staff. This role provides spiritual care across two hospices in the county -Cynthia Spencer Hospice & Cransley Hospice - and requires a visible, compassionate presence. You will work proactively, offering skilled listening, support and accompaniment to individuals and families at some of the most important moments of their lives, while also being a supportive resource for staff.
At NHFT, we operate an inclusive model of chaplaincy. Our practitioners journey alongside people of all faiths, beliefs and worldviews, including those of no religious affiliation. A person-centred approach, sensitivity to diverse needs, and the ability to respond with empathy and curiosity are central to the role. We are therefore seeking someone with genuine passion and enthusiasm for inclusive spiritual care, who values collaboration and is committed to supporting wellbeing in a hospice environment.
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 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 Service Manager and 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, service 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
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
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
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
- Be of a calm, caring and compassionate disposition.
- Commitment to compassionate, non-judgmental and non-discriminatory practice that is inclusive and accessible to all
Desirable
- Values collaborative working with peers and colleagues across the organisation
- Ability to work in a flexible way and respond to change.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Educated to degree level, or equivalent learning experience, in an area relevant to pastoral, spiritual and religious care and healthcare chaplaincy.
- Recognised or accredited, and in current good standing with faith or belief community.
- Significant knowledge and experience of providing pastoral and spiritual care in a healthcare setting. Experience of end -of-life palliative spiritual care provision.
- In 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.
- Significant practical experience in hospice/palliative care chaplaincy
Desirable
- Registered as a Chaplain with UKBHC or the Network for Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care in Health
- Further studies relating to chaplaincy i.e. PG Cert in healthcare chaplaincy/ pastoral, spiritual or religious care, clinical supervision, mentoring, or spiritual direction
- Experience in creating and delivering teaching and training programs. Experience of managing volunteers
- Experience of delivering digital chaplaincy services (e.g. video appointments)
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Excellent 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.
- Excellent reflective practice skills. Ability to reflect theologically and or existentially
- Active 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.
Specific Experience
Desirable
- Experience working in a Healthcare Enviroment (Please detail this further in your application)
Person Specification
Behaviours and Values
Essential
- Be of a calm, caring and compassionate disposition.
- Commitment to compassionate, non-judgmental and non-discriminatory practice that is inclusive and accessible to all
Desirable
- Values collaborative working with peers and colleagues across the organisation
- Ability to work in a flexible way and respond to change.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Educated to degree level, or equivalent learning experience, in an area relevant to pastoral, spiritual and religious care and healthcare chaplaincy.
- Recognised or accredited, and in current good standing with faith or belief community.
- Significant knowledge and experience of providing pastoral and spiritual care in a healthcare setting. Experience of end -of-life palliative spiritual care provision.
- In 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.
- Significant practical experience in hospice/palliative care chaplaincy
Desirable
- Registered as a Chaplain with UKBHC or the Network for Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care in Health
- Further studies relating to chaplaincy i.e. PG Cert in healthcare chaplaincy/ pastoral, spiritual or religious care, clinical supervision, mentoring, or spiritual direction
- Experience in creating and delivering teaching and training programs. Experience of managing volunteers
- Experience of delivering digital chaplaincy services (e.g. video appointments)
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Excellent 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.
- Excellent reflective practice skills. Ability to reflect theologically and or existentially
- Active 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.
Specific Experience
Desirable
- Experience working in a Healthcare Enviroment (Please detail this further in your application)
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address
Cynthia Spencer Hospice
Manfield Health Campus, Kettering Road
Northampton
NN3 6NP
Employer's website
https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
