Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Free Church or Anglican Chaplain

The closing date is 18 September 2025

Job summary

The Christian Chaplain will work as part of the chaplaincy team to deliver a high standard of care. The cultural, spiritually and religiously diverse

patient and staff community within the hospital means that the team are required to respond to the pastoral needs of all those who may wish toaccess the service.

Main duties of the job

Previous experience as a hospital chaplain is desirable but not essential, as the role will include ward visitation to deliver general and specific

emotional /pastoral care depending on the request made. Are you a highly motivated, knowledgeable, compassionate, diplomatic and adaptable

individual who would like to be part of a dynamic team? Candidates must be able to demonstrate that they uphold the trust core values of CARE ( Compassionate, Accountability, respect & Excellence)

The chaplaincy service is 7 days a week 365 days a year and is covered both within contracted hours and an on call rota for the full 24 hour period. An emergency call out needs to be addressed straight away by the Chaplain on-call and the patient should get the visit within one hour from the phone call. As such we would be extremely appreciative if the successful candidate would be available to cover the service as required.

About us

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

Benefits we offer to you:

  • Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
  • NHS pension scheme membership
  • Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
  • NHS Staff discounts
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
  • Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice

Details

Date posted

04 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

362-A-25-7441025

Job locations

Stepping Hill Hospital

Stockport

SK2 7JE


Job description

Job responsibilities

The Chaplain is a member of the Chaplaincy team who provides pastoral, spiritual and religious support for staff, patients and visitors across a range of belief groups. The chaplain will provide and develop a service of religious, spiritual and pastoral care throughout the Trust by working with part-time chaplains, volunteers and other members of staff. The service covers Stepping Hill Hospitaland offsite at the Devonshire and The Meadows units.

Chaplains deliver a high standard of care in line with the National Chaplaincy Guidelines. The culturally, spiritually and religiously diverse community within the hospital means that the team must be able to respond to the pastoral needs of all those who may wish to access the service.

The purpose of Chaplaincy Service is to:

Respond to the spiritual, religious and pastoral needs of the staff, patients and visitors as part of the Trusts commitment to holistic care

Encourage understanding and learning about spirituality and the role the trust has to ensure the needs of the communities it serves are met

Affirm and nurture each individuals spirituality in response to ill health

Sustain and support those with religious practices to maintain observance as part of their daily lives

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trusts policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £54.90. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary

In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £16.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Chaplain is a member of the Chaplaincy team who provides pastoral, spiritual and religious support for staff, patients and visitors across a range of belief groups. The chaplain will provide and develop a service of religious, spiritual and pastoral care throughout the Trust by working with part-time chaplains, volunteers and other members of staff. The service covers Stepping Hill Hospitaland offsite at the Devonshire and The Meadows units.

Chaplains deliver a high standard of care in line with the National Chaplaincy Guidelines. The culturally, spiritually and religiously diverse community within the hospital means that the team must be able to respond to the pastoral needs of all those who may wish to access the service.

The purpose of Chaplaincy Service is to:

Respond to the spiritual, religious and pastoral needs of the staff, patients and visitors as part of the Trusts commitment to holistic care

Encourage understanding and learning about spirituality and the role the trust has to ensure the needs of the communities it serves are met

Affirm and nurture each individuals spirituality in response to ill health

Sustain and support those with religious practices to maintain observance as part of their daily lives

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trusts policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £54.90. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary

In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £16.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

  • oAccreditation / licencing with authority to practice as a religious / belief leader / representative / pastoral worker
  • oAccredited training / qualification in theology / pastoral care or other appropriate course (degree or equivalent)

Desirable

  • oAll other training pertinent to post i.e. counselling skills

Knowledge

Essential

  • oKnowledge of the ethos of healthcare in the NHS
  • oFamiliarity of the beliefs and practices of various faith traditions
  • oUnderstanding of current complex issues in health care

Desirable

  • oKnowledge of UKBHC Standards

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of providing pastoral care
  • oAble to provide high quality Pastoral & Spiritual care to any religion / belief

Desirable

  • oExperience in healthcare chaplaincy

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • oDisplay an ability & enthusiasm to work ecumenically and in a multi faith / belief setting
  • oEffective communication, listening & negotiation skills
  • oTo have an approachable & friendly demeanour
  • oTo provide non-judgemental, sensitive support at all times
Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

  • oAccreditation / licencing with authority to practice as a religious / belief leader / representative / pastoral worker
  • oAccredited training / qualification in theology / pastoral care or other appropriate course (degree or equivalent)

Desirable

  • oAll other training pertinent to post i.e. counselling skills

Knowledge

Essential

  • oKnowledge of the ethos of healthcare in the NHS
  • oFamiliarity of the beliefs and practices of various faith traditions
  • oUnderstanding of current complex issues in health care

Desirable

  • oKnowledge of UKBHC Standards

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of providing pastoral care
  • oAble to provide high quality Pastoral & Spiritual care to any religion / belief

Desirable

  • oExperience in healthcare chaplaincy

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • oDisplay an ability & enthusiasm to work ecumenically and in a multi faith / belief setting
  • oEffective communication, listening & negotiation skills
  • oTo have an approachable & friendly demeanour
  • oTo provide non-judgemental, sensitive support at all times

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Stepping Hill Hospital

Stockport

SK2 7JE


Employer's website

http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Stepping Hill Hospital

Stockport

SK2 7JE


Employer's website

http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Chaplain

Tracy Ward

Tracy.Ward@stockport.nhs.uk

01614195889

Details

Date posted

04 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

362-A-25-7441025

Job locations

Stepping Hill Hospital

Stockport

SK2 7JE


Supporting documents

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