Overview
We are excited to offer the opportunity for a motivated and passionate individual to lead our Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care Team. Working across our acute, forensic and rehabilitation mental health services, you will play a key role in developing and embedding this service across the organisation. In addition to supporting patients directly, you'll provide pastoral care to staff, students, and families, helping foster a compassionate and inclusive environment. You will also have operational oversight of our chaplaincy staff and support the coordination of our valued chaplaincy volunteers. We are looking for a forward-thinking individual, committed to strengthening the role of spiritual, religious and pastoral care in supporting recovery, wellbeing, and holistic care. If you're ready to lead and grow this vital service, we would love to hear from you - apply today. Please note there will be a requirement to travel across KMPT sites as part of this role.
Main duties
* Lead and develop the Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care service across acute, forensic and rehabilitation settings.
* Provide direct spiritual, religious and pastoral support to patients, respecting diverse beliefs and backgrounds.
* Offer pastoral care to staff, students, and the families of those under our care.
* Line manage chaplaincy staff and support the coordination and development of chaplaincy volunteers.
* Work collaboratively with clinical teams to embed spiritual and pastoral care into holistic patient support.
* Contribute to organisational priorities and objectives and promote a culture of compassion across the organisation.
* Support the organisation in responding to significant incidents and providing appropriate pastoral input.
* Develop and maintain partnerships with local faith and belief communities to enhance inclusive support.
About us
Come and work with us in the Garden of England where we combine exceptional professional development opportunities with a tremendous quality of life.
We are Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), providing mental health, learning disability and specialist services, serving 1.8 million people in Kent and Medway, as well as specialist services for adults in Sussex and Surrey. We are rated Good overall by the CQC.
Each year we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 people in the community.
We are proud to employ over 3,800 people from 66 nationalities, and to serve an increasingly diverse range of communities across rural and urban areas.
You will be joining friendly, passionate colleagues, rich in their diversity, who are committed to providing excellent care to our service users and their loved ones.
The nature of our work attracts kindness and compassion as standard and everyone from our cleaners and porters to the chief executive and chairman are recognised as playing a vital role in providing an exemplary service.
Our strategy
Our mission is what we set out to do every day We deliver brilliant care through brilliant people
Our vision is where we want to be in the future To provide outstanding care and to work in partnership to deliver this in the right place, for every service user, every time.
Details
Date posted: 01 September 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 380-SS0686
Job locations
Trustwide Role, Eastern and Coastal Area Offices, Canterbury, CT1 1TJ
Job description and qualifications
Essential
* Must be experienced in pastoral ministry, particularly with vulnerable people
* Must have knowledge and experience in supporting people with spiritual problems encountered in mental health crisis
* Must have a comprehensive theological education to at least degree level or equivalent
* Must have experience of leading and managing teams and developing staff and volunteers
Desirable
* Desirable to be accredited with the UK Board for Healthcare Chaplaincy
* Desirable to have experience in health care chaplaincy in an NHS or health care setting
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
* Comprehensive theological education to at least degree level or equivalent
Desirable
* Accredited with the UK Board for Healthcare Chaplaincy
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
* Knowledge and experience in supporting people with spiritual problems encountered in mental health crisis
* Experience in pastoral ministry, particularly with vulnerable people
* Experience of leading and managing teams and developing staff and volunteers
Desirable
* Experience in health care chaplaincy in NHS or healthcare setting
Disclosure and safeguarding
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
Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust
Trustwide Role
Eastern and Coastal Area Offices
Canterbury
CT1 1TJ
Employer's website: kmpt.nhs.uk
#J-18808-Ljbffr