Healthcare Chaplain; EG​/PP

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society. We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.

Please note:

we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

NHS Lothian seeks to establish itself as a centre of excellence in the delivery of, and training in, Bereavement Care and Spiritual Care. Following significant service development and investment in spiritual care an exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team of Registered Healthcare Chaplains.

We have a vacancy for a full time Registered Healthcare Chaplain to be based at Little France, Edinburgh and a part time Registered Healthcare Chaplain (3 days per week) n’s Hospital, Livingston. There will be a requirement to work across all acute sites across NHS Lothian and to take part in our 24/7 on call rota.

We are looking for an individual educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. theology, religious studies, spiritual care, healthcare) with experience of delivering specialist spiritual care within health care settings. In addition, the successful candidate will hold a Post-graduate qualification in Healthcare Chaplaincy (or willing to work towards such a qualification) and be registered with the UKBHC () or be working towards registration within two years.

Registered Healthcare Chaplains work with a high degree of autonomy making complex decisions and judgments and delivering appropriate spiritual care / interventions when faced with highly complex and contentious situations.

• Experience of delivering appropriate spiritual care (including religious, cultural and pastoral care) within health or social care settings regardless of a person’s faith or life stance.
• Experience of integration of spiritual care into healthcare working as part of the multidisciplinary team.
• The ability to act as a link to various community and belief groups, supporting and facilitating the care of their members.
• The ability to act as chaplain to the organisation through participating in the major incident plan and providing leadership in response to staff issues and events, which require communal recognition and action.
• Experience in making presentations, teaching or group facilitation.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of current theories, governance and policy in relation to Bereavement Care and demonstrate experience in supporting people who have experienced loss and bereavement.
• Have a detailed knowledge of the 2023 Scottish Government publication “Spiritual Care within Health and Social Care in Scotland: A National Framework” and NHS Lothian’s “Spiritual Care Policy”.
• Demonstrate continuous professional development and demonstrate personal resilience and habits of self-care that ensure sustainable working in a challenging role.
• A UK Driving License and be a car owner.

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