Overview
At NHFT we hold the view that spiritual care begins with encouraging human contact in compassionate relationships. This entails creating safe and secure spaces for people to talk about the things that matter most to them, to explore what give their lives meaning and purpose in life. The service is highly regarded and its development with diverse and culturally aware practitioners continues to be a priority for the organisation.
Our Chaplains work in partnership with multidisciplinary healthcare colleagues to care for the spiritual and religious needs of patients, carers and staff across the Trust. This includes mental health and community inpatient hospitals, and prison settings (Healthcare Staff support), working with people across age groups and abilities, both in person and online. The role requires being a visible and supportive presence, working proactively to provide a listening ear for patients, carers, and staff (including our staff networks). Our Chaplains are therefore an essential resource for our staff in the areas of ethics and spiritual care.
At NHFT, we operate a model of chaplaincy where our Spiritual Wellbeing practitioners work inclusively to journey alongside people of all faith communities, belief systems and none. Sensitivity to a range of presenting needs and being person-centered is key. This role therefore requires passion and enthusiasm for working in this way.
Job responsibilities
* To provide 1-1 spiritual care for patients, service users, staff and carers including pastoral, religious, faith and non-faith spiritual care.
* Use evidence-based tools to assess spiritual care needs and explore core values and beliefs for people of all faiths and none.
Organisation context
Details relate to duties and accountabilities within NHFT and the Trust’s spiritual wellbeing services. The post involves occasional outdoor work. The role includes record-keeping in relevant systems, ensuring confidentiality and discretion to preserve dignity and safety.
Person Specification
Behaviours and Values
* Essential: Be of a calm, caring and compassionate disposition.
* Essential: Commitment to compassionate, non-judgmental and non-discriminatory practice that is inclusive and accessible to all.
* Desirable: Values collaborative working with peers and colleagues across the organisation.
* Desirable: Ability to work in a flexible way and respond to change.
Knowledge and Experience
* Essential: Educated to degree level, or equivalent learning experience, in an area relevant to pastoral, spiritual and religious care and healthcare chaplaincy.
* Essential: Recognised or accredited, and in current good standing with faith or belief community.
* Essential: Significant knowledge and experience of providing pastoral and spiritual care in a healthcare setting. Experience of end-of-life palliative spiritual care provision.
* Essential: In-depth knowledge of own faith or belief group teaching, tradition and practices, alongside a working knowledge of other faith and belief systems, with an ability to apply this as requested in a secular multi-cultural, multi-faith and belief context as requested.
Desirable
* Registered as a Chaplain with UKBHC or the Network for Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care in Health.
* Further studies relating to chaplaincy (e.g., PG Cert in healthcare chaplaincy/pastoral, spiritual or religious care, clinical supervision, mentoring, or spiritual direction).
* Experience in creating and delivering teaching and training programs. Experience of managing volunteers.
* Experience of delivering digital chaplaincy services (e.g. video appointments).
Skills and Abilities
* Essential: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to connect with individuals in a variety of complex spiritual care encounters, including empathetic conversations during traumatic events and handling difficult questions and strong emotions without collusion.
* Essential: Excellent reflective practice skills. Ability to reflect theologically and/or existentially.
* Essential: Active listening skills and an ability to respond to others' spiritual needs without proselytizing personal faith or belief.
Desirable
* Keyboard skills and computer literacy e.g. Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and Outlook).
* Excellent interpersonal skills to build relationships with local faith communities and other external organisations.
* Excellent organisational skills to prioritise and manage own workload.
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 DBS to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship: 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. Guidance for criminal records checks for overseas applicants is provided in official guidance.
Employer details: Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, St Mary’s Hospital, 77 London Road, Kettering, NN15 7PW. Employer website: nhft.nhs.uk
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