Job responsibilities
POST: Chaplain
REPORTS TO: Lead Chaplain
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Patient, Family and Carer Support Team Manager
JOB PURPOSE:
- To work as a member of the Phyllis Tuckwell (PT) multi-disciplinary team, to promote and provide high quality pastoral, spiritual, and where appropriate, religious care within Phyllis Tuckwell (on both Farnham and Guildford sites).
- To work closely with members of multi-professional team and volunteers within Phyllis Tuckwell, contributing to reflection about patient care as appropriate.
- To promote the spiritual wellbeing of patients within the PT philosophy, for meeting the holistic needs of people with advanced or terminal illnesses.
- To assist in the development of the Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy service in line with this provision.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.0 Ministry
1:1 To work as part of PT’s Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Team, which is made up of both staff and volunteers, offering pastoral, spiritual, and where appropriate, religious care, across IPU and Community services.
1:2 To transcend denominational and faith boundaries to understand and respond appropriately to the cultural, ethnic, life stance and religious influences of the patient and their family, in order to provide appropriate pastoral, spiritual and religious care.
1:3 To be a skilled practitioner who is able to work with spirituality across a full spectrum, from the secular to formal religious belief, by providing opportunities for sacramental and non-sacramental ministry, worship and reflection for individuals and groups.
1:4 To act as a reference point for information across a spectrum of ethical, theological, cultural, spiritual and religious issues within PT.
1:5 To offer spiritual care and pastoral support to patients, their families or carers, through the establishment of effective and supportive relationships based on a person-centred approach to listening.
1.6 To be able to lead group work to help patients and carers to explore their own resources and spirituality.
1:7 To ensure good communication with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) around issues relating to spiritual and religious needs, as part of PT’s holistic approach.
1:8 To be a professional and participating member of MDT meetings in order to support and enable the clinical team to develop the delivery of spiritual and pastoral care across both sites.
1:9 To liaise with, and be supportive of, leaders of all faiths and denominations who may be invited by patients and families to visit and support them whilst in the hospice.
1:10 To build relationships with leaders of all faiths and denominations, within PT catchment area, in order to ensure appropriate and ongoing support for patients, their families or carers.
1:11 To liaise with other Hospice and Hospital Chaplains in the local area.
1:12 To ensure that the PT has a reflective space that is welcoming and accessible to everyone.
2.0 Administration & Communication
2:1 To manage work and caseload flexibly so that, as far as possible, the Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Team is available Monday to Friday, providing cover at Christmas and Easter and as necessary for annual leave, training days etc.
2.2 To take an active role in supporting and encouraging others, regardless of faith or life stance.
2:3 To use electronic patient records and have relevant computer skills to undertake and maintain clear and concise records, which comply with PT policy and procedures on record keeping and information governance.
2:4 To take responsibility for being up to date with current policies and procedures particularly those relating to health and safety, risk management, clinical governance, and to adhere to these.
2:5 To maintain confidentiality of all information acquired regarding patients, carers, staff and volunteers.
2:6 To effectively communicate the services available from Phyllis Tuckwell and the Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Team, within community faith and secular groups.
3.0 Training, Development and Supervision
3:1 To actively contribute to PT education programme and share best practice in spiritual, religious, ethical and pastoral care with colleagues, peer groups and others.
3:2 To participate in own mandatory training and other education programmes relevant to the role.
3:3 To keep up to date with current knowledge and evidence-based practice in the area of spirituality and palliative care.
3.4 To acknowledge the potential for emotional overload in oneself and be actively engaged in nurturing your own spirituality and maintaining your wellbeing, with support in personal, spiritual and professional areas from both within and outside PT.
3.5 To be responsible for ensuring that personal supervision is in place.
3.6 Maintain own professional registration and update requirements, abiding by professional code of conduct.
3:7 To undertake an appraisal annually, and through self-development, continuously update and improve knowledge and competences.
4.0 Research
4.1 To develop robust mechanisms for the on-going evaluation of the effectiveness of patient care.
4.2 To participate in research and audit within PT encouraging staff participation and actions as part of quality improvement.
5.0 Equality opportunities/diversity
Role holders are required to ensure the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and that all legal requirements relating to Mental Capacity Act 2005, Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007), and Liberty Protection Safeguards (2020) are considered and adhered to in relation to patient care.
Phyllis Tuckwell is committed to equal opportunities and inclusivity, valuing and respecting everyone as individuals, with diverse opinions, cultures, lifestyles, and circumstances.
This job description is underpinned by Phyllis Tuckwell’s philosophy, culture, and core values, which actively embrace diversity and inclusion, and promotes total team spirit.
This job description is a broad reflection of current duties, but it is not exhaustive. It will be regularly reviewed to reflect priorities and developments during the year.
