Job summary
We are looking to appoint a Spiritual Support Lead to offer spiritual care in our hospitals and communities in East Sussex. This is a demanding but rewarding role as part of the Chaplaincy and Spirituality Team. Members of the team work closely together to support each other in the delivery of spiritual care in the Trust. Working alongside people in a mental health crisis demands wisdom, compassion, a sense of humour and a love of the people we are with. It is a huge privilege to do so and enormously rewarding.
To protect the health and safety of our staff/workers, patients, and those attending our sites, we encourage our workforce to get fully vaccinated against COVID
Main duties of the job
This full time (37.5 hour) permanent appointment will be based in the hospitals in East Sussex: Department of Psychiatry, Eastbourne; Hellingly Centre and Amberstone Hospital, Hellingly and Beechwood Dementia unit in Uckfield, and work will also involve supporting service users in the community and liaising with faith communities.
You will be: A person of patience, warmth and hope . A team player, capable of initiative and independence . Happy to work alongside people of all faiths and none to offer person-centred care. Able to undertake PMVA Breakway training. A champion of Equality and Human Rights. A person with lived experience of spirituality and mental health. Experience within mental healthcare, or a similar environment is not essential.
Training will be given to support the new chaplain in his or her work. You will be working with people across the age spectrum, some of whom will be in hospital for long periods. Please contact Fr James McMahon, Lead Chaplain, to discuss this post on 07471 031986 or by email at james.mcmahon@spft.nhs.uk.
About us
Members of the team support each other with regular meetings, away-days and supervision. The Trust values spirituality as part of recovery and a holistic approach to mental healthcare. The Trust supports flexible working and believes people should be able to achieve their full potential. The Trust actively encourages support for the wellbeing of its staff with a full programme of staff wellbeing support.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Your work will focus on our Sussex Partnership service users, carers and staff. The team also work in our communities providing support in local settings including patients homes.
As a Spiritual Support Lead, you will provide spiritual and religious care within our inpatient units, and you will also be involved in the transition of Amberstone, Beechwood and the Department of Psychiatry to the new site at Mount View Street, Bexhill, starting with the Department of Psychiatry in 2024.
You will receive referrals from community teams and visit service users in their homes or other community settings as appropriate. Working with our clinical multi-disciplinary teams in Sussex to developing a culture of care with a focus on equality, diversity and inclusion and embraces spirituality to promote recovery and autonomy.
You will also provide specialist and advice regarding religion, belief and spirituality to Trust staff and volunteers and occasional training and lectures to external partners. As well as advising and training faith community leaders, liaising with faith communities in the area as and when required and refering patients to their own or desired faith communities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Your work will focus on our Sussex Partnership service users, carers and staff. The team also work in our communities providing support in local settings including patients homes.
As a Spiritual Support Lead, you will provide spiritual and religious care within our inpatient units, and you will also be involved in the transition of Amberstone, Beechwood and the Department of Psychiatry to the new site at Mount View Street, Bexhill, starting with the Department of Psychiatry in 2024.
You will receive referrals from community teams and visit service users in their homes or other community settings as appropriate. Working with our clinical multi-disciplinary teams in Sussex to developing a culture of care with a focus on equality, diversity and inclusion and embraces spirituality to promote recovery and autonomy.
You will also provide specialist and advice regarding religion, belief and spirituality to Trust staff and volunteers and occasional training and lectures to external partners. As well as advising and training faith community leaders, liaising with faith communities in the area as and when required and refering patients to their own or desired faith communities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant degree or diploma level qualification or equivalent experience, e.g. Theology / Religious Studies / Spirituality Evidence of continuous personal and professional development
Desirable
- Mental health related (nursing / counselling / psychotherapy) qualification to diploma or higher level Registration as a leader with your own faith or spiritual community Training qualification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Mental health related (nursing / counselling / psychotherapy) qualification to diploma or higher level Registration as a leader with your own faith or spiritual community Training qualification
Desirable
- ived experience of mental health issues Experience within healthcare multi-disciplinary teams
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work in multi-faith situations Counselling/psychotherapy skills: empathy, congruence, warmth Excellent verbal communication Ability to adjust spiritual beliefs to a mental health context
- Ability to prioritise and keep perspective Flexible but clear thinking Plan and prioritise workload autonomously and deal with conflicting demands and works well under pressure
- Ability to plan presentations and teaching Punctuality and patience Ability to keep time sheets and data records Confidence and skills in Microsoft Office and using social media and digital meeting platforms Enthusiastic and committed to service
- Ability to deal with an unpredictable work pattern Ability to deal with distressing or emotionally-charged situations
Approach/Values
Essential
- Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the service and those of the Trust Actively embraces multi-faith and inter-faith working, values personal spiritual development
- To be able to work collaboratively as a member of a team Positive approach to problem solving Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
- Ability to travel within and across sites, and throughout the Trust catchment area, i.e., Sussex
- Ability to risk-assess and carry out home and community visits in accordance with the Trust's Lone Working Policy
- Ability to undertake PMVA Breakaway training Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant degree or diploma level qualification or equivalent experience, e.g. Theology / Religious Studies / Spirituality Evidence of continuous personal and professional development
Desirable
- Mental health related (nursing / counselling / psychotherapy) qualification to diploma or higher level Registration as a leader with your own faith or spiritual community Training qualification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Mental health related (nursing / counselling / psychotherapy) qualification to diploma or higher level Registration as a leader with your own faith or spiritual community Training qualification
Desirable
- ived experience of mental health issues Experience within healthcare multi-disciplinary teams
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work in multi-faith situations Counselling/psychotherapy skills: empathy, congruence, warmth Excellent verbal communication Ability to adjust spiritual beliefs to a mental health context
- Ability to prioritise and keep perspective Flexible but clear thinking Plan and prioritise workload autonomously and deal with conflicting demands and works well under pressure
- Ability to plan presentations and teaching Punctuality and patience Ability to keep time sheets and data records Confidence and skills in Microsoft Office and using social media and digital meeting platforms Enthusiastic and committed to service
- Ability to deal with an unpredictable work pattern Ability to deal with distressing or emotionally-charged situations
Approach/Values
Essential
- Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the service and those of the Trust Actively embraces multi-faith and inter-faith working, values personal spiritual development
- To be able to work collaboratively as a member of a team Positive approach to problem solving Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
- Ability to travel within and across sites, and throughout the Trust catchment area, i.e., Sussex
- Ability to risk-assess and carry out home and community visits in accordance with the Trust's Lone Working Policy
- Ability to undertake PMVA Breakaway training Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
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).
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).
