Job summary
- Main area
- Chaplaincy
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 360-E-11581
- Employer
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Cross Site
- Town
- Watford
- Salary
- £33,677 - £40,996 pa inc. HCA
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Band 5 - Staff Support Chaplain, Corporate Nursing
Band 5
Job overview
We are looking for a compassionate and experienced Staff Support Chaplain to join our Spiritual and Pastoral Care team, with a primary focus on supporting the wellbeing of staff across West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Spiritual and Pastoral Care department provides inclusive pastoral, spiritual, ethical and religious support to patients, staff, visitors and placement students.
As the Staff-Facing Chaplain, you will play a key role in leading and developing the chaplaincy staff support service while working collaboratively with a diverse multi-faith and belief chaplaincy team, religious visitors, placement students and Chaplaincy volunteers. You may also act as the faith lead for your own faith community where required, while providing inclusive chaplaincy support to people of all faiths and none.
The postholder will offer confidential, non-judgemental emotional, spiritual and pastoral support to staff, providing a compassionate listening ear during times of personal difficulty, workplace stress, ethical challenge and following traumatic or critical incidents. You will help promote staff wellbeing and resilience by responding sensitively to individual and team needs, arranging appropriate support, and providing ongoing pastoral care where required.
You will be required to work shifts covering 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, with weekend and Out of Hours On Call on a rota basis. Full details will be discussed at interview.
Main duties of the job
As the Staff-Facing Chaplain, you will play a central role in promoting the wellbeing of Trust staff by providing compassionate, inclusive and confidential pastoral, spiritual and emotional support. Working as part of the Spiritual and Pastoral Care Team, you will support staff of all faiths, beliefs and none, contributing to a culture of compassion, resilience and inclusion across the Trust.
The postholder will:
Provide confidential pastoral, spiritual and emotional support to individual staff members and teams, offering compassionate listening, guidance and accompaniment during personal, professional, ethical and workplace challenges.
Respond to critical incidents, traumatic events and other situations affecting staff, providing immediate pastoral support and coordinating appropriate follow-up where required.
Develop and deliver initiatives that promote staff wellbeing, resilience and reflective practice, including remembrance events, wellbeing activities, spiritual support and faith-based provision where appropriate.
Plan and lead acts of worship, memorial services and other ceremonies for staff, and provide religious rites and pastoral care in accordance with your faith tradition and the diverse needs of the Trust.
Support staff experiencing bereavement by providing pastoral care, spiritual support and guidance around remembrance and memorial services.
Working for our organisation
We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.
Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.
We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking
If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact [email protected]
If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a Staff-Facing Chaplain, you will play a vital role in promoting the wellbeing of colleagues across the Trust by providing compassionate, inclusive pastoral, spiritual and emotional support.
Working as part of the Spiritual and Pastoral Care Team, you will support staff of all faiths, beliefs and none, helping individuals and teams navigate personal challenges, ethical dilemmas, workplace stress and the impact of traumatic events.
You will work closely with the Lead Chaplain and the wider multi-faith and belief chaplaincy team to deliver a high-quality, accessible service that reflects the diverse communities we serve. You will also collaborate with colleagues across the Trust, including Wellbeing, Occupational Health, Human Resources and other multidisciplinary teams, to promote a culture of compassion, resilience and inclusion.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, valued and a genuine sense of belonging.
The successful candidate will be an experienced Healthcare Chaplain with a recognised qualification and a passion for supporting people in a busy healthcare environment. You will have the knowledge and skills to provide pastoral, spiritual and religious care to people from all faiths, beliefs and none, while respecting the diverse cultural and personal values of those you support.
Registration with the Council of Professional Chaplains and Pastoral Carers (CPCPC). or eligibility and willingness to obtain registration, is essential.
Core Hours
This is a full-time position, working 37.5 hours per week, primarily during normal business hours, Monday to Friday. Flexibility is required to meet the needs of the service, including responding to critical incidents and supporting staff outside normal working hours when necessary.
The postholder will participate in the Trust's out-of-hours on-call chaplaincy rota on a shared basis, providing emergency pastoral and spiritual support as required. Occasional evening, weekend and public holiday working will therefore be expected in line with service requirements
Person specification
Education and qualifications
Essential criteria
- A degree or recognised theological qualification, pastoral care, or related fields.
- Faith Leadership: Ordained or accredited as a leader in a recognized faith community.
- Authorisation/ licence to minister from an accountable agency/ organisation in the UK to operate in Healthcare Chaplaincy settings.
Desirable criteria
- Healthcare Chaplaincy Certification or working towards certification.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- To work independently in a high-pressure situation.
- To lead services of worship in differing situations.
- To face up to the challenges that health presents and liaise comfortably with other disciplines at all levels.
- To work collaboratively across denominational boundaries and have an interest in multi faith issues.
- Understanding of contemporary health care philosophy and environment
- To advise staff, patients and carers on spiritual and Multicultural issues, especially but not uniquely those relating to own denomination or faith/belief community.
- To co-operate with medical, nursing and management staff in departmental and multidisciplinary meetings and to assist with discussions on the spiritual care of patients as required.
- To provide support and supervision to members of multi-disciplinary teams engaged in spiritual needs assessment and referral.
Desirable criteria
- Ability to participate in Health Care Ethics debate.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Interfaith Capability: Ability to support people of all faiths and none
- Proven experience in pastoral care, counselling, or chaplaincy.
- Pastoral Care of people including bereavement issues (including children) or care of terminally ill people.
- Care of people bereaved through miscarriage, still birth and neo-natal death.
- An ability to communicate and work with staff, patients and visitors in sensitive, distressing and traumatic situations.
- Ordained with a minimum of three years’ experience of pastoral ministry.
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment
- Care and support of staff under pressure
- experience relevant to Healthcare Chaplaincy.
- Able to administer the Sacraments
Desirable criteria
- To be aware of/ discern various stress levels in Hospital Staff / Colleagues.
- To have an experience of counselling, pastoral and/ or bereavement care.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Revd Christian Damanka
- Job title
- Spiritual and Pastoral Care Team Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01923 217994
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Watford General Hospital
Vicarage Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0HB
- Telephone
- 01442 365234
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