Job responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY
To respond to patients, staff and relatives spiritual, pastoral, and religious/ritual needs associated with the experiences of illness and injury, life and death.
To provide experienced support to the Head of Chaplaincy Services in ensuring the delivery of the chaplaincy and spiritual care strategy throughout the Trust.
To be responsible for a range of management functions as directed by the Head of Chaplaincy Services in consultation with the post holder and related to the skill mix of the leadership team.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
This post incorporates management of the St James', Leeds General Infirmary and Chapel Allerton offices including the ordering of equipment and materials.
The post holder will exercise an advisory, and when required a supervisory role for other Chaplains, Bank Chaplains, Honorary Chaplains and volunteers, in practical, pastoral and spiritual terms.
This post incorporates a Trust-wide responsibility for the post holders faith or belief group, Additionally the post holder is expected to be work beyond the boundaries of their faith or belief group in collaborating with Chaplains, bank chaplains, honorary chaplains, and volunteers to ensure the provision of pastoral, spiritual, and religious care in a timely manner.
The postholder will be expected to contribute to on-call rota of their faith or belief group, currently a minimum on-call expectancy of 1 day in 4.
The post holder will expect to work some weekend days and bank holidays as service needs require.
The post holder will have responsibility for managing the Chaplaincy Volunteer programme and the on-call rota for their faith or belief group.
The post holder must be authorised or endorsed by the appropriate faith or belief group with at significant experience as a chaplain or pastoral care practitioner and with significant pastoral experience. They should have proven ability to lead, supervise and aid others in managing their workload. Proven capability to work in demanding and sensitive situations with effective pastoral skill is fundamental to this role.
The post holder must have a good working knowledge of the theories underpinning pastoral, religious and spiritual care from their own tradition, as well as an awareness of the beliefs and practices of other faith and belief groups within Leeds.
Able to be clear in articulating their own perspective, the post holder must also be able to develop and maintain constructive and supportive working relationships with other Chaplaincy and Trust staff.
It is essential that the post holder is aware of the wider policies in the NHS and able to engage with them as to their relevancy to Chaplaincy. It is also essential that the post holder can digest and apply key Trust policies that relate to the work of Chaplaincy and national chaplaincy standards and guidelines.
CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
The core behaviour and skills of a Chaplain or pastoral care practioner engaged with a demanding pastoral workload are essential to the role. In addition, the post holder needs to develop an awareness of the particular requirements of different areas of the Trust, and the expectations of NHS colleagues about effective core behaviours.
CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Professional
Familiarity with all aspects of the post holders faith or belief groups understanding and teaching relating to the care of the sick and the needs of staff working in a demanding environment. Advanced understanding of ethical dilemmas and working between faith and belief groups is desirable.
Organisational Understanding
On appointment a general understanding of the NHS, its structures and significance is deemed to be core knowledge. It is expected that this familiarity will be deepened and, in order for this to happen, the post holder needs the critical and intellectual abilities that will achieve this. The role of any chaplain can only be fully effective if a full and sensitive knowledge of NHS structures is acquired.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
To provide general pastoral, spiritual and religious care to individuals or areas of the hospitals as agreed with the Head of Chaplaincy Services within the overall strategy of the department.
To deputise for the Head of Service whenever required providing a continuity of management.
To support the Head of Chaplaincy Services in order to provide an integrated and co-ordinated Chaplaincy service for the Trust.
To deputise or represent the department in specialist multi-disciplinary groups as required.
To manage the primary responsibility for agreed areas and a subsidiary site while that is still the case.
To manage and supervise the recruitment, selection and training of chaplaincy/pastoral care volunteers. To liaise with chaplains or pastoral care practioners who have a specific support role for a designated number of chaplaincy/pastoral care volunteers.
To manage the on-call arrangements for the department and ensure that the system is equitable and fair to all the team. To take a full part in sharing the on-call arrangements. To ensure notification of the switchboards at all times especially when late changes occur.
To co-ordinate arrangements for student placements and ensure that the support they need is in place.
To be responsible for the annual Health and Safety risk assessment and when completed to agree it with the Head of Service prior to submission.
To manage site specific office resources (where located) including purchases, facilities, that enables the chaplains to fulfil their duties with the minimum of disruption.
To provide support for staff and those requiring support in specialist areas.
To keep accurate and up to date records of pastoral involvement, and to work with other chaplains in ensuring that the procedures and protocols of the department are well understood and communicated within the Trust.
To take a full part in Chaplaincy discussion about future developments and direction and enable colleagues to share their views with clarity and consideration.
To undertake specific work through referral and other means with patients and staff of the same faith or belief grouping as the post holder.
To prioritise need and respond with urgency to matters relating to bereavement and conduct funerals when required. Also to respond quickly to request for marriage where the patient has a life threatening condition and work when necessary, with the local Superintendent Registrar.
To take or facilitate, as appropriate, services within the Chapels, quiet spaces, and other ward areas, by agreement.
To work to ensure that local faith and belief communities understand the work of the Chaplaincy and know how to make referrals to the Chaplaincy.
To take part in leading training and induction programmes as requested.
To liaise at all times with ward staff about the role and involvement of Chaplaincy, and to provide care in a way that is sympathetic to the clinical demands and constraints of the ward environment.
To develop expertise in at least two aspects of Chaplaincy to support the overall aims of the department and undertake research when agreed with the Head of Chaplaincy Services.
To identify areas of personal spiritual growth or deepening personal understanding of belief group philosophy and professional development in conjunction with the Head of Chaplaincy Services and undertake training, study or other course of action as agreed.
