Job summary
Team Chaplain (Bank)
Department: Chaplaincy
Band 6 Mon-Fri £1.50 Sat-Sun £1.75 Bank Holiday £2 PLUS hourly B6 Bank rate (£19.78 - £23.82)
Hours: on call role covering minimum of 1 night per week on call (to be agreed as part of the team rota with flexibility for holidays and other commitments.)
#TeamMKUH are looking for an additional member in our Bank pool for a Team Chaplain.
The successful candidate will be able to join the team for an additional three hours per week (until April 2026 with possibility of extension) for shadowing, training and getting familiar with the organisation.
You will be motivated and passionate about providing excellent pastoral, spiritual and religious care to patients, visitors and staff out of hours and in emergency situations. Additionally, you will be a caring highly skilled listener able to be responsive to people in distress and deliver ritual care which is culturally informed, and person centred.
You will work within the clear boundaries of the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy's code of conduct, respecting people of all faiths and worldviews, including non-religious beliefs, to provide compassionate support in collaboration with other members of the MKUH team.
This role can not be sponsored.
Interview date: 6th January 2026
Main duties of the job
We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute
''NHS Survey, 2024'' This team always knows what their work responsibilities are, scoring 93%.
To ensure that a chaplain is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
To contribute to the pastoral, spiritual and religious care of the hospital community as appropriate, ensuring that the pastoral, spiritual, religious, ritual and cultural needs of users are met wherever possible, and are appropriate and sensitive to a person's background and tradition, whatever their worldview.
To work collaboratively with the substantive Chaplaincy team and the wider Multi-disciplinary team.
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
General
- To participate in the Chaplaincy role in the Trusts major incident plans and response.
- To work within and foster a diverse chaplaincy team.
- To work within the NHS England Chaplaincy Guidelines, 2023.
- To be aware of the effects of changes within the NHS and to support staff as these changes are implemented and developed.
- To adhere to the Code of Conduct as laid down by the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy.
Governance
- As part of the Chaplaincy team, to ensure that all information is treated confidentially.
- To contribute to ensuring that the Chaplaincy team maintains records in accordance with Trust policies to ensure continuity and effectiveness of care and for audit purposes.
- As part of the Chaplaincy team, to ensure that the Chaplaincy team respects the dignity, culture, beliefs and spiritual needs of each person and complies with the Trusts requirements concerning equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Training and Education
- To provide an informed resource on ethical, theological and pastoral matters.
- To comply with Trust and other policies in relation to the safeguarding of adults and children.
On-call
- Respond within 15 minutes to a phone call from the switchboard. Assess the situation using flow charts for on-call, give advice over the phone and come into the hospital within an hour from the original call if necessary.
- Speak with patients and relatives, offer pastoral, spiritual and religious care as appropriate.
- Advise staff on appropriate religious/spiritual/cultural care.
- Accompany volunteer visitors from other faith groups when required. (If staff are not able to supervise.)
- Give a report of the incident to the substantive chaplains.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
General
- To participate in the Chaplaincy role in the Trusts major incident plans and response.
- To work within and foster a diverse chaplaincy team.
- To work within the NHS England Chaplaincy Guidelines, 2023.
- To be aware of the effects of changes within the NHS and to support staff as these changes are implemented and developed.
- To adhere to the Code of Conduct as laid down by the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy.
Governance
- As part of the Chaplaincy team, to ensure that all information is treated confidentially.
- To contribute to ensuring that the Chaplaincy team maintains records in accordance with Trust policies to ensure continuity and effectiveness of care and for audit purposes.
- As part of the Chaplaincy team, to ensure that the Chaplaincy team respects the dignity, culture, beliefs and spiritual needs of each person and complies with the Trusts requirements concerning equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Training and Education
- To provide an informed resource on ethical, theological and pastoral matters.
- To comply with Trust and other policies in relation to the safeguarding of adults and children.
On-call
- Respond within 15 minutes to a phone call from the switchboard. Assess the situation using flow charts for on-call, give advice over the phone and come into the hospital within an hour from the original call if necessary.
- Speak with patients and relatives, offer pastoral, spiritual and religious care as appropriate.
- Advise staff on appropriate religious/spiritual/cultural care.
- Accompany volunteer visitors from other faith groups when required. (If staff are not able to supervise.)
- Give a report of the incident to the substantive chaplains.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of faith and belief groups and specific religious needs.
Desirable
- Degree in theology, philosophy or another relevant discipline.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of complex pastoral work
- Evidence of ability to work collaboratively
- Experience of pastoral, spiritual and religious support in a faith and belief group or community setting.
Desirable
- Experience of Healthcare Chaplaincy
Skills
Essential
- Pastoral/spiritual/theological/philosophical understanding of health and wholeness
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Able to use own initiative and work independently.
- To be flexible, motivated, and able to work under pressure.
- To be able to organise and prioritise the workload.
- Ritual Skills which can be adapted for people of different worldviews.
- Experience of supporting people in crisis
Personal and people development
Essential
- To be flexible
- To work well within a team
- Reliable
- Willing to work with, and support, people of all faiths and worldviews
Communication
Essential
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Numerate/literate
- Able to offer gentle and supportive communication for a person or persons in distress.
- To respect and maintain patient confidentiality
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
- Driving license or access to a car
- Commitment to delivering spiritual care within the NHS
- Ability to work with people of all backgrounds in a way that is judgement aware and is not prejudiced.
Desirable
- Eligible and willing to be registered with the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of faith and belief groups and specific religious needs.
Desirable
- Degree in theology, philosophy or another relevant discipline.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of complex pastoral work
- Evidence of ability to work collaboratively
- Experience of pastoral, spiritual and religious support in a faith and belief group or community setting.
Desirable
- Experience of Healthcare Chaplaincy
Skills
Essential
- Pastoral/spiritual/theological/philosophical understanding of health and wholeness
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Able to use own initiative and work independently.
- To be flexible, motivated, and able to work under pressure.
- To be able to organise and prioritise the workload.
- Ritual Skills which can be adapted for people of different worldviews.
- Experience of supporting people in crisis
Personal and people development
Essential
- To be flexible
- To work well within a team
- Reliable
- Willing to work with, and support, people of all faiths and worldviews
Communication
Essential
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Numerate/literate
- Able to offer gentle and supportive communication for a person or persons in distress.
- To respect and maintain patient confidentiality
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
- Driving license or access to a car
- Commitment to delivering spiritual care within the NHS
- Ability to work with people of all backgrounds in a way that is judgement aware and is not prejudiced.
Desirable
- Eligible and willing to be registered with the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy
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.
