Chaplain

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 02 March 2026

Competent Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care Practitioners from any Religious Denomination or Psycho‑Social Pastoral Community are required to supplement the service of the Spiritual, Religious and Religious Care:
Chaplaincy Department to address and fulfil the delivery of Spiritual and Pastoral Care Services within this Acute Healthcare environment. We are looking for highly motivated and experienced ordained or accredited personnel to work with the Spiritual, Religious and Religious Care Team which includes trained volunteers. The selected candidate will be expected to relate pastorally to all levels of the organisation, whether patients' relatives or staff and to innovate and work flexibly to deliver the highest quality of Spiritual, Religious and Religious care in line with Clinical Governance Development Plans, protocols, guidelines and standards to which the Hospital complies.

Share the provision of a comprehensive Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care Service within the Trust that seeks to meet the spiritual, pastoral and religious needs of patients and those significant to them, service users, staff, and students. To be a reference point for spiritual, pastoral and religious care matters within the organisation and a link with spiritual, pastoral and religious community agencies outside the organisation.

Contribute to the Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care Team in the Chaplaincy department by providing specialist knowledge and expertise in matters relating to spiritual and religious beliefs, experiences, and practices.

Our STAR values - Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect - are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.

Ensure good communication and collaboration with all members of the Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care Team. Follow established procedures and policies. Contribute to the effective operation of a duty rota. Share in the provision of cover making decisions on own initiative about spiritual, pastoral and religious needs in crisis situations, responding to emergency calls while meeting the required response time. Participate in the Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care role in Major Incident.

Contribute to caseload planning within the Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care team and the allocation of patients to volunteers.

• Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent work or life experience) with demonstrable learning in a relevant field such as counselling, pastoral care, psychology, psychotherapy, religious studies or theology.
• Endorsement to practice as a healthcare chaplain by a recognized/established sponsoring faith community or belief group.
• Evidence of annual continued professional development relevant to healthcare chaplaincy to UKBHC standards.
• Postgraduate qualification (or equivalent life or work experience or working towards) with demonstrable outcomes of learning relevant to healthcare chaplaincy.
• It is not compulsory for Chaplains to be registered with the UKBHC, but the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care recommend choosing them from an Accredited register.
• Qualification (or working towards) in pastoral supervision (such as those recommended by The Association for Pastoral Supervision and Education), coaching, management, or leadership

• Approximately 1600 hours of professionally supervised clinical practice as a designated healthcare chaplain.
• Evidence that the candidate proactively practices Continuous Professional Development. Knowledge of current research in spirituality in healthcare.
• Experience of supervising volunteers or healthcare pastoral assistants/care workers

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.

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearper annum pro rata