Job summary
Join CPFT at an exciting time as we expand the Heart and Soul initiative. Your expertise, experience, energy, and creativity will help us achieve our ambitious goal of embedding Heart and Soul throughout the organization, benefiting staff, patients, families, and carers, in line with the CPFT Trust Strategy (2023-26). You will also have the opportunity to promote the Heart and Soul vision and its collaborative approach across the healthcare system, including working with those involved in the development of a new children's hospital in Cambridge, set to open in 2028.
As a CPFT employee, you will be part of the Patient and Carer Experience and Involvement team, reporting to the Associate Director for Patient and Carer Experience for operational matters. You will have the flexibility to seek professional support, both within and outside CPFT, as agreed with your manager.
In this role, you will inspire and lead a dedicated Heart and Soul team, which includes volunteers, NHS chaplains, and peer workers, primarily based at Fulbourn Hospital and The Cavell Centre in Peterborough. We are looking for a leader who can foster team growth and resilience by empowering team members with autonomy while maintaining high standards of accountability. You should have experience in--or be skilled at--leading a closely-knit team that navigates a wide range of commitments, opportunities, and complex demands.
Main duties of the job
This role requires a dynamic individual with energy, curiosity, openness, and a deep appreciation for the diverse ways people express their personal and collective spirituality.
You will serve as the public face of the Heart and Soul service across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust, acting as the chief advocate for its values and approach throughout the organization and the broader Integrated Care System. Your ability to effectively communicate the Heart and Soul message to a variety of audiences will be crucial.
You will collaborate with CPFT services, system partners, and community groups to enhance the impact of the Heart and Soul approach, raising its profile and adding value to initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for those receiving care or working within the healthcare and social care sectors.
Working closely with Trust leaders, you will integrate the Heart and Soul approach into key initiatives such as the Culture of Care program, ensuring that holistic, compassionate care is central to clinical and organizational practices.
Additionally, you will partner with CPFT's volunteering service, recognizing and supporting their essential contributions to the Heart and Soul service.
About us
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organization committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care that enhances the health and wellbeing of those we serve, while empowering them to lead fulfilling lives.
Our clinical teams deliver a wide range of NHS services across inpatient and primary care settings, as well as within the community. These services include mental health care for children, adults, and older adults, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disability support, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse treatment, social care, and research and development.
We are dedicated to achieving our mission by recruiting exceptional individuals who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups, including people with long-term conditions, and members of ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.
Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.
For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
- To lead the Heart and Soul Service. To serve as the public face of the Heart and Soul service across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust, advocating for its values and approach throughout the organisation and the wider Integrated Care System.
- To support and develop the team, to guide and strengthen them, ensuring that all individuals in contact with the service receive exceptional pastoral care, addressing their spiritual and emotional needs regardless of faith or belief.
- To offer personalized support to staff through one-on-one conversations, team support, and trust-wide initiatives such as Schwartz Rounds, bereavement care, and collaborations with the staff wellbeing service.
- To collaborate with leadership, working closely with Trust leaders to integrate the Heart and Soul approach into key initiatives like the Culture of Care program, embedding holistic, compassionate care into clinical and organisational practices.
- To embed Heart and Soul in training provision and partner with colleagues to ensure the Heart and Soul approach is included in CPFTs mainstream training programs. Champion volunteering and lead the development of volunteer involvement in the Heart and Soul service, ensuring their contributions remain central.
- Represent the service in professional networks, acting as the Heart and Soul representative at key professional gatherings, both within and beyond the NHS, including forums such as FENMHAN, PMAN, and CMHN, to advocate for the service and expand its reach.
- Expand the service in under-represented areas and develop business plans to grow the Heart and Soul service in areas like bereavement care, end-of-life care, and youth support, ensuring inclusivity and sustainable financial support.
- Lead the execution of the Heart and Soul Strategy for 2024-2026, track its progress, and collaborate with stakeholders to shape the next strategy for release in 2026.
- Oversee the Heart and Soul budget and staffing. Manage the Heart and Soul budget and ensure the continuity of services, including overseeing staffing plans and monthly rosters to maintain high service quality.
- Report on service impact, provide regular updates to the Associate Director for Patient and Carer Experience, the Patient and Carer Experience Committee, and, as needed, to the Board of Directors regarding the service's progress and impact.
- Support professional development. Facilitate professional growth for chaplains and team members by providing supervision, mentorship, and training to ensure the delivery of compassionate, responsive care.
- Maintain accurate records and reporting using the designated patient electronic record. Ensure thorough record-keeping and reporting, maintaining confidentiality and adhering to CPFT policies, while providing updates to demonstrate the services effectiveness.
- Stay informed on relevant developments. Keep up to date with advancements in spiritual care within holistic care, mental health, and chaplaincy, and lead professional development efforts for staff, including creating training opportunities and placements to deepen their understanding of holistic care in mental health settings.
- Support Chaplaincy in Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. Provide assistance to chaplains in the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, in accordance with the existing contract
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
- To lead the Heart and Soul Service. To serve as the public face of the Heart and Soul service across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust, advocating for its values and approach throughout the organisation and the wider Integrated Care System.
- To support and develop the team, to guide and strengthen them, ensuring that all individuals in contact with the service receive exceptional pastoral care, addressing their spiritual and emotional needs regardless of faith or belief.
- To offer personalized support to staff through one-on-one conversations, team support, and trust-wide initiatives such as Schwartz Rounds, bereavement care, and collaborations with the staff wellbeing service.
- To collaborate with leadership, working closely with Trust leaders to integrate the Heart and Soul approach into key initiatives like the Culture of Care program, embedding holistic, compassionate care into clinical and organisational practices.
- To embed Heart and Soul in training provision and partner with colleagues to ensure the Heart and Soul approach is included in CPFTs mainstream training programs. Champion volunteering and lead the development of volunteer involvement in the Heart and Soul service, ensuring their contributions remain central.
- Represent the service in professional networks, acting as the Heart and Soul representative at key professional gatherings, both within and beyond the NHS, including forums such as FENMHAN, PMAN, and CMHN, to advocate for the service and expand its reach.
- Expand the service in under-represented areas and develop business plans to grow the Heart and Soul service in areas like bereavement care, end-of-life care, and youth support, ensuring inclusivity and sustainable financial support.
- Lead the execution of the Heart and Soul Strategy for 2024-2026, track its progress, and collaborate with stakeholders to shape the next strategy for release in 2026.
- Oversee the Heart and Soul budget and staffing. Manage the Heart and Soul budget and ensure the continuity of services, including overseeing staffing plans and monthly rosters to maintain high service quality.
- Report on service impact, provide regular updates to the Associate Director for Patient and Carer Experience, the Patient and Carer Experience Committee, and, as needed, to the Board of Directors regarding the service's progress and impact.
- Support professional development. Facilitate professional growth for chaplains and team members by providing supervision, mentorship, and training to ensure the delivery of compassionate, responsive care.
- Maintain accurate records and reporting using the designated patient electronic record. Ensure thorough record-keeping and reporting, maintaining confidentiality and adhering to CPFT policies, while providing updates to demonstrate the services effectiveness.
- Stay informed on relevant developments. Keep up to date with advancements in spiritual care within holistic care, mental health, and chaplaincy, and lead professional development efforts for staff, including creating training opportunities and placements to deepen their understanding of holistic care in mental health settings.
- Support Chaplaincy in Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. Provide assistance to chaplains in the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, in accordance with the existing contract
Person Specification
Education/Qualification
Essential
- Master's degree in Theology, Existential pastoral care, Religious Studies, Counselling, applied Psychology, or a related field.
Desirable
- Certification in chaplaincy or pastoral care from a recognized accrediting body.
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in chaplaincy, with at least 3 years in a mental health setting.
- Proven leadership and management experience in a complex organisational environment.
- To have pastorally supported people with spiritual and/or existential problems in very complex life situations, particularly in times when their mental and emotional health is painfully broken.
Desirable
- To have your own experience of living with mental health challenges, either for yourself or someone you cared for
Person Specification
Education/Qualification
Essential
- Master's degree in Theology, Existential pastoral care, Religious Studies, Counselling, applied Psychology, or a related field.
Desirable
- Certification in chaplaincy or pastoral care from a recognized accrediting body.
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in chaplaincy, with at least 3 years in a mental health setting.
- Proven leadership and management experience in a complex organisational environment.
- To have pastorally supported people with spiritual and/or existential problems in very complex life situations, particularly in times when their mental and emotional health is painfully broken.
Desirable
- To have your own experience of living with mental health challenges, either for yourself or someone you cared for
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.
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.
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).
