Band 5 - Chaplain, Chaplaincy

To provide holistic support by offering comprehensive, pastoral, religious, spiritual, and emotional support to patients, their relatives/ carers, staff, volunteers, respecting diverse spiritual and cultural backgrounds.

To communicate clearly, empathetically and professionally with patients, relatives, staff, volunteers, placement students and visitors always.

To use effective communication and inter‑personal skills to provide and receive complex information in particularly sensitive circumstances, such as following the receipt of bad news where there may be barriers to understanding or acceptance.

To handle and document chaplaincy records in accordance with Data protection and information governance policies.

To positively cultivate and maintain good relationship with local faith and belief communities/spiritual groups to enhance the support network available to our service users.

To cooperate with staff at all levels of the Trust.

To offer advice on all aspects of bereavement both before and after death particularly per Faith‑specific tradition in supporting patients, relatives, and staff.

You will visit various wards consistently to be accessible to patients, staff, relatives and visitors in need of spiritual, religious, and pastoral support including End of Life care.

The post holder will ensure that the pastoral spiritual or religious needs of patients, their relatives or carers, staff, volunteers, and visitors are met compassionately, through their own ministry and/or that of the team (including volunteer chaplains).

Ensuring opportunities for prayer and worship are readily available for patients, relatives and staff, catering to diverse spiritual practices.

You will be expected to sensitively identify the needs of individuals from all faiths, beliefs and those with no faith and ensure everyone receives appropriate support.

You will be expected to uphold chaplaincy standards and quality of care in line with the new NHS Chaplaincy - guidelines for NHS managers on pastoral, spiritual and religious care 2023, and standards of professional practice agreed by the Trust.

To advise staff, patients, and carers on spiritual and Multicultural issues, especially but not uniquely those relating to own denomination or faith/belief community.

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award‑winning virtual hospital and re‑imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance.