Health Care Chaplain

Job description

Job responsibilities

Follow chaplaincy policies and provide relevant faith-based perspectives which support the delivery of spiritual, religious and pastoral care strategies, policies, protocols, procedures and work plans

Observe national healthcare chaplains Codes of Conduct (UKBHC) and other professional codes of conduct, policies and guidelines relating to chaplaincy services

To maintain a professional, calm, empathic, sensitive and respectful approach when working in stressful and emotional situations within a busy environment

To provide support staff, patients and visitors as required in times of crisis, loss, or bereavement as part of the staff wellbeing and support offering

Provide support for staff and schedule time for staff as service users. Assessing and respond to staff pastoral and spiritual needs (individual or collective)

To support the chaplaincy manager and deputy manager when dealing with complex issues as they might arise within the chaplaincy and spiritual care team

To share in general visiting on the wards and departments to provide pastoral, spiritual and religious care to patients, relatives and staff of all faiths, beliefs and none

Maintain concentration and a calm consistent approach in the delivery of pastoral care despite unpredictable and unexpected work patterns or demands

To always respect and maintain service user confidentiality, only recording essential data within Trust systems subject to consent and within legal and Trust frameworks for Information Governance

Be responsible for patient record keeping and monitoring spiritual, religious and associated with care given to patients by the healthcare chaplaincy and spiritual care team using the appropriate systems subject to consent and within information governance regulations

Conduct contract funerals/baby funerals. Liaising with the relevant Funeral Directors and community leaders as required to facilitate faith-based burials

To work sensitively and collaboratively with the patients own Priest/Minister/Faith Leader to meet the holistic pastoral needs of their parishioners

To support, mentor and supervise chaplaincy volunteers, pastoral faith students and honorary chaplains

Fluent and effective communicator in speech and writing

Communicating with patients and their families/carers in complex and often sensitive situations

Demonstratable communication skills to communicate with individuals in a variety of complex encounters

Friendly and professional approach to working with colleagues, the capability to work independently and collaboratively

Participate in a range of cases supporting the manager to deliver effective pastoral and spiritual care

Participate in reflective practice which supports professional development and contributes to the delivery of spiritual, religious, and pastoral care

Active in the maintenance of the post holders own spiritual needs

Actively maintain and contribute to personal and departmental objectives including own appraisal, essential training, and continuing professional development (CPD)

To assist in preparing and conducting services of public worship, to facilitate private prayer as appropriate and to administer religious rites appropriate to the persons faith group or belief and those of no belief.

To participate in the provision of a 14hr a day chaplaincy on call cover, on a rota basis.

To support the chaplaincy and spiritual care team and volunteers in the performance of their duties, fostering productive and positive working relationships.

To build and maintain effective relationships with clinical teams, wards and departments assigned by the Chaplaincy Manager.

Participate in projects and operational groups as directed by the Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Faith/religious education to at least diploma level and or learning relevant to healthcare chaplaincy that includes study in any of the following fields: counselling, pastoral care, psychology, psychotherapy, religious studies or theology.
• Endorsement to practice as a healthcare chaplain by a recognised/established sponsoring faith community or belief group.

Desirable

• Counselling or a teaching qualification
• Ordained within faith community
• Registered with UKBHC
• Evidence of continued professional development relevant to healthcare chaplaincy to UKBHC standards.
• Meet the licencing requirements of the Diocesan Bishop or relevant faith leader

Experience

Essential

• Experience of healthcare chaplaincy within a hospital environment. A minimum of 2 years or transferable skills from previous employment
• Show a commitment to learning with demonstrable outcomes of learning relevant to healthcare chaplaincy.
• Experience in providing pastoral care
• Supervision of student chaplains and volunteers within the Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care team.

Desirable

• Experience of working within the NHS

Skills

Essential

• Ability to communicate with patients and staff in an empathetic manner
• Ability to maintain a professional, calm, empathic, sensitive and respectful approach when working in stressful and emotional situations within a busy environment
• Self-motivated with a positive attitude and able to work under supervision
• Good level of competence in administration, computer skills and time management, including keeping to deadlines and the ability to work flexibly
• Evidence of good written, verbal, interpersonal and communication skills including accuracy of reporting
• Able to recognise, respect and support the spiritual, religious and pastoral needs of people from diverse cultures and communities and to appreciate other beliefs and practice.
• Engagement with audit, service evaluation or research.
• Ability to reflect critically on the experience of self and others and find meaning through exploration of spiritual issues encountered in sickness, mental health, dying, death and bereavement.
• Able to maintain concentration and provide pastoral support in unpredictable and emotionally difficult situations including unexpected death or trauma
• Able to show respect and work with or support people of all faiths or beliefs and none without discrimination

Desirable

• Respond appropriately to complex spiritual and pastoral needs which arise within the organisation

Knowledge

Essential

• A knowledge of equality, inclusion & diversity issues surrounding faith and religion.
• A knowledge of safeguarding issues surrounding vulnerable patients and their families/carers
• To work to NHS standards in confidentiality

Additional

Essential

• Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation
• Flexibility to the needs of the service
• Must be able to travel across WWL NHS FT services as well as off site to attend meetings, engagement or funerals
• Ability to work on call and be part of a rota
• Emotional and spiritual resilience
• Able to represent professionally as an ambassador of the trust.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Albert Edward Infirmary

Wigan Lane

Wigan

WN1 2NN

Employer's website

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