Job summary
The post holder will lead other chaplains and faith leaders, and faith leaders employed by the Trust. they will also liaise with community faith leaders to signpost discharged and community patients.
The post holder will facilitate access to chaplaincy and other faith services for service users and carers across AWP.
The post holder will ensure the Trust meets the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincystandards, develop a workplan plan, deliver and maintain a comprehensive chaplaincy service which provides for the religious, spiritual, and pastoral needs of service users, carers, and staff throughout AWP.
The role necessitates flexible working, and may necessitate working extended hours.
P.S: The proposed interview date is 5th September 2025.
Main duties of the job
Principal duties and responsibilities - in inpatient areas:
The Chaplain shall:
Line management, supervision and strategic management of the team
Developing a strategy
Reporting writing on activities
ensure, when requested to do so, that patients and their carers receive support from their own clergy/faith leaders appropriate to their particular needs
minister to those patients who are seriously physically ill, the dying and their carers
support the multi-disciplinary teams in the development of patient care plans, which involves participating in the assessment, planning and evaluation of patients, taking an active part in ensuring that their religious and spiritual needs are an integrated part of their care plan
act as a link between the Trust and local faith communities, both as a resource for the religious, spiritual and pastoral interests of patients and carers and as a point of contact for clergy, faith leaders and community organisations
supervise the chaplains, chaplaincy volunteers, and any other ministerial students in their work for the chaplaincy department of the Trust. Provide training for these staff where appropriate and supervise their development and training needs.
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust):a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence-based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Chaplain shall:
visit service users and/or their carers in the community to provide religious, spiritual and/or pastoral care and counselling (these service users and/or carers will be those people who are referred to the Chaplain)
make notes on each appointment with a service user except where the matter discussed is of a confidential nature e.g. a confessional situation; these notes to be entered onto RIO as appropriate.
be a part of the multi-disciplinary team involved with each of these service users and to attend all Care Plan Approach meetings wherever possible, which will necessarily include participating in the assessment, planning and evaluation of service users, and taking an active part in making sure that their spiritual needs are an integrated part of the Care Plan
liaise closely with the service user's key worker whenever the key worker or the Chaplain feel this to be appropriate
providereligious, spiritual and/or pastoral care and counselling to staff working in the community as requested, and be available to discuss personal/spiritual matters on a confidential basis
work closely with voluntary bodies and charitable organisations, such as housing providers and faith communities, in the support of service users
enable service users to make links with their local faith communities, which will include going with service users to worship of their choice
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Chaplain shall:
visit service users and/or their carers in the community to provide religious, spiritual and/or pastoral care and counselling (these service users and/or carers will be those people who are referred to the Chaplain)
make notes on each appointment with a service user except where the matter discussed is of a confidential nature e.g. a confessional situation; these notes to be entered onto RIO as appropriate.
be a part of the multi-disciplinary team involved with each of these service users and to attend all Care Plan Approach meetings wherever possible, which will necessarily include participating in the assessment, planning and evaluation of service users, and taking an active part in making sure that their spiritual needs are an integrated part of the Care Plan
liaise closely with the service user's key worker whenever the key worker or the Chaplain feel this to be appropriate
providereligious, spiritual and/or pastoral care and counselling to staff working in the community as requested, and be available to discuss personal/spiritual matters on a confidential basis
work closely with voluntary bodies and charitable organisations, such as housing providers and faith communities, in the support of service users
enable service users to make links with their local faith communities, which will include going with service users to worship of their choice
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- oDegree level ordination training, or faith community equivalent, authorisation by faith community, and significant experience (more than 3 years) of working in a recognised religious ministry
- oOrdained or authorised within an appropriate ecclesiastical authority
- oProven pastoral, spiritual and religious experience in emotional and distressing situations
- oExperience of working beyond the boundaries of a particular faith tradition
- Senior management experience
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- oDegree level ordination training, or faith community equivalent, authorisation by faith community, and significant experience (more than 3 years) of working in a recognised religious ministry
- oOrdained or authorised within an appropriate ecclesiastical authority
- oProven pastoral, spiritual and religious experience in emotional and distressing situations
- oExperience of working beyond the boundaries of a particular faith tradition
- Senior management experience
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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