Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Trust Chaplain, Band 6

The closing date is 27 November 2025

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen to join the spiritual care team at Gloucestershire Hospitals. Based mainly at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital the post-holder will lead a large multi-faith volunteer team delivering high-quality spiritual, pastoral and religious care to over 600 inpatients as well as staff and carers. You will be part of a paid team of 3.4 FTE chaplains working across the Trust to deliver a 24/7 service. As well as supporting staff and patients at times of need you will be an advocate for spiritual care, liaise with faith leaders in the community and lead teaching sessions for staff and volunteers.

Additional working pattern details: Plus on-call duties 1:3

The proposed interview date is: 10th December

Main duties of the job

You will lead the spiritual care team at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on a daily basis, including Sunday working, providing direction, support and accountability to the volunteer team. Within the department you will share responsibility for ensuring the provision of spiritual, pastoral and religious care across all trust sites including appropriate rites, ceremonies and events to support both staff and patients. You will be part of the 24/7 trust-wide on-call rota and expected to be on-site in response to out-of-hours calls within one hour. There will be opportunities to lead strategic projects to improve and develop the delivery of spiritual care to the hospitals.

About us

We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals. As well as generous annual leave allowance, access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Details

Date posted

13 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year (pa pro rata if part-time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

318-25-T0705

Job locations

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Great Western Road

Gloucester

GL1 3NN


Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Result Areas:

- To lead the Gloucester team with care and imagination.

- To provide spiritual care to those with or without formal religious faith.

- To support patients and their carers , especially at end of life

- To support families affected by baby-loss and miscarriage

- Provision of Christian rites and facilitation of religious practices for those of other faiths

- Devise and deliver events of a spiritual nature eg to support staff after colleague bereavement

- Providing training and teaching to other staff

- To be part of the 24/7 out of hours rota

- To instigate and lead projects across the Trust to improve spiritual care

- To be part of Trust-wide teams eg, Ethics Group, End of Life Group.

Essential Attributes:

- Educated to degree level

- In good standing with a member church of Churches Together

- Experience of working in a chaplaincy setting

- Good presentation and teaching skills

- Able to work with other faiths and with those of no faith

Desirable Attributes:

- Registration with UK Board of Healthcare chaplaincy

- Experience of working with volunteers

Please note: In accordance with the equality act 2010 there is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder is a practicing Christian.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Result Areas:

- To lead the Gloucester team with care and imagination.

- To provide spiritual care to those with or without formal religious faith.

- To support patients and their carers , especially at end of life

- To support families affected by baby-loss and miscarriage

- Provision of Christian rites and facilitation of religious practices for those of other faiths

- Devise and deliver events of a spiritual nature eg to support staff after colleague bereavement

- Providing training and teaching to other staff

- To be part of the 24/7 out of hours rota

- To instigate and lead projects across the Trust to improve spiritual care

- To be part of Trust-wide teams eg, Ethics Group, End of Life Group.

Essential Attributes:

- Educated to degree level

- In good standing with a member church of Churches Together

- Experience of working in a chaplaincy setting

- Good presentation and teaching skills

- Able to work with other faiths and with those of no faith

Desirable Attributes:

- Registration with UK Board of Healthcare chaplaincy

- Experience of working with volunteers

Please note: In accordance with the equality act 2010 there is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder is a practicing Christian.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • A member in good standing of a member church of Churches Together in England.
  • A degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject, along with evidence of theological education and continuing personal and professional development.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, able to communicate well with a range of people about challenging, distressing or sensitive matters in distressing situations.
  • Good presentation, training and teaching skills with an ability to engage others.
  • Ability to enable others from any faith and none to recognise and address their spiritual needs in line with their own culture, background, values and beliefs.
  • The preparation and leading of public and private worship, rites, ceremonies and rituals, sensitive to the hospital and individual pastoral context.
  • Can provide clear theological and pastoral perspectives on a wide range of issues including those of an ethical or social nature.
  • Competent to use computer-based systems for record keeping, etc. alongside good administrative and organisational skills.
  • Experience of working in a chaplaincy setting.
  • Can take the initiative and work on own whilst leading a team and remaining accountable to others.
  • An excellent team player committed to team working and the development of other people.
  • Demonstrable skills in personal and time management, keeping to deadlines and able to work flexibly with the need for rapid adaptability.
  • Evidence of sustaining own spirituality and spiritual life and ongoing engagement with a faith community.

Desirable

  • Qualifications, training, skills or experience in 'end of life' care, pastoral theology, healthcare chaplaincy or counselling.
  • Registration with UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy.
  • Experience of healthcare chaplaincy including delivery of 'end of life' care.
  • Working with and leading volunteers, including professional development, nurture and setting and maintaining expected standards.
Person Specification

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • A member in good standing of a member church of Churches Together in England.
  • A degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject, along with evidence of theological education and continuing personal and professional development.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, able to communicate well with a range of people about challenging, distressing or sensitive matters in distressing situations.
  • Good presentation, training and teaching skills with an ability to engage others.
  • Ability to enable others from any faith and none to recognise and address their spiritual needs in line with their own culture, background, values and beliefs.
  • The preparation and leading of public and private worship, rites, ceremonies and rituals, sensitive to the hospital and individual pastoral context.
  • Can provide clear theological and pastoral perspectives on a wide range of issues including those of an ethical or social nature.
  • Competent to use computer-based systems for record keeping, etc. alongside good administrative and organisational skills.
  • Experience of working in a chaplaincy setting.
  • Can take the initiative and work on own whilst leading a team and remaining accountable to others.
  • An excellent team player committed to team working and the development of other people.
  • Demonstrable skills in personal and time management, keeping to deadlines and able to work flexibly with the need for rapid adaptability.
  • Evidence of sustaining own spirituality and spiritual life and ongoing engagement with a faith community.

Desirable

  • Qualifications, training, skills or experience in 'end of life' care, pastoral theology, healthcare chaplaincy or counselling.
  • Registration with UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy.
  • Experience of healthcare chaplaincy including delivery of 'end of life' care.
  • Working with and leading volunteers, including professional development, nurture and setting and maintaining expected standards.

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

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Great Western Road

Gloucester

GL1 3NN


Employer's website

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Great Western Road

Gloucester

GL1 3NN


Employer's website

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Chaplain

John Thompson

john.thompson10@nhs.net

03004226200

Details

Date posted

13 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year (pa pro rata if part-time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

318-25-T0705

Job locations

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Great Western Road

Gloucester

GL1 3NN


Supporting documents

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