Chaplaincy Manager, Head of Department

We encourage applications from all with protected characteristics and from those in the Armed Forces Community. Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted through the medium of Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications made in English.

If you are successful at interview for this post you will receive your conditional offer of appointment and information pack via email.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time. Therefore we encourage early applications to ensure consideration for this post. If you are short listed for this post, you will be contacted via your email account you used to apply for this post, therefore please check your account regularly.

Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board support flexible working.

Please note that this vacancy may be withdrawn at any time should it be filled via the internal redeployment process

Job overview

Lead Chaplain, Head of Department

The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is seeking to recruit a new Lead Chaplain to manage the spiritual care services for the organisation.

The chaplaincy Lead’s principal responsibility is to manage the effective delivery of pastoral and spiritual care to people of all faiths and those of no faith.

The spiritual care department is committed to provide a high quality of care and support to patients and our workforce and we constantly strive to find new and creative ways to offer spiritual and pastoral care.

Supporting staff in the workplace has been a regular feature of the chaplaincy service and the department is looking to build on our award-winning success.

Applicants should have relevant leadership and team management experience. You should be appropriately qualified and trained to work in the spiritual care arena at a senior level.

You will have a high degree of self-awareness and a real aptitude for sensitively coming alongside all those who use and provide our Health Board services.

We are looking for applicants who are enthusiastic and motivated, who are ready to learn new skills and develop your own knowledge and understanding of spirituality in a healthcare setting.

We welcome applications from all who are suitably qualified irrespective of belief tradition.

Main duties of the job

To act as the Operational Lead and Professional Head of Department and to provide direct line management of the chaplaincy and spiritual care team across all Health Board sites. You will provide support, supervision and direction, ensuring team consultation and inclusion.

To oversee and deliver high quality spiritual, pastoral and religious care to meet the needs of patients, staff and visitors to the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

This will involve reaching out to clients in a variety of challenging situations.

The post holder will develop a clear understanding of the lead chaplain role and a detailed awareness of the role and work of others within the team.

To identify and implement strategic development and service change to reflect the Welsh Government Standards for Spiritual and Religious Care in NHS Wales.

To ensure the department follows the Health Board policies, procedures and guidelines to maintain effective service provision and minimise risk.

To represent the service in a variety of settings, including membership of the All-Wales Lead Chaplains Forum.

To ensure that the UKBHC Code of Conduct is applied and adhered to.

Working for our organisation

The health board provides integrated acute, primary and community care serving a population of 650,000 and employing over 16,000 staff.

We offer flexible working and promote a healthy work life balance, provide occupational health support and an ambitious plan for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence to support you at work.

Our Clinical Futures strategy continues to enhance and promote care closer to home as well as high quality hospital care when needed. Join us on our journey to pioneer new ways of working and deliver a world-class healthcare service fit for the future.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be required to manage the chaplaincy team, but also support, mentor, supervise and resource the team. Collaboration and inclusion are essential to effective team working.

You will be responsible for appraisal and development reviews of team members and ensure staff have appropriate opportunities for learning and progression.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day management of staff and the effective operation of the department. You will ensure that staff pay returns are processed in a timely manner.

Additional to management and leadership responsibilities, the band 7 lead chaplain will also have their own caseload and chaplaincy duties.

All chaplains will normally share the responsibility of leading or facilitating prayers and services for patients when requested, this may include occasional Sunday morning work.

Additionally on a rotation basis, chaplains share the responsibility of officiating at hospital contract funerals, primarily the funerals arranged for families after a loss during pregnancy.

The work demands a great deal of pastoral skill and insight as chaplains will be dealing with extremely distressed families and relatives.

To ensure that spiritual care is administered by appropriately authorised personnel / practitioners, reflecting the traditions and wishes of the patient as far as possible, with clear lines of accountability.

To foster and develop links and co-operation with a range of belief groups and religious organisations for the benefit of patient care.

You will have the skills that enable the chaplaincy team to think creatively about new ways to provide the chaplaincy service to a wide range of people from many different backgrounds and cultures, promoting an open and inclusive response to people of faith and no faith.

To manage the chaplaincy budget and chaplaincy charitable funds.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification

• Masters in chaplaincy studies or related subject

Experience of working in healthcare chaplaincy

• Can demonstrate the application of chaplaincy knowledge in a management role

• Experience of leadership in a variety of contexts

Leadership and management experience

• Will provide evidence of relevant experience

• Leadership training and qualification

Good communication and relational skills

• Application form information based on previous experience

• Counselling experience / qualification
• Ability to speak the Welsh language

Eligible to be licenced, accredited or recognised for the role by sponsoring body

• Recognised by an authorising group in the UK

Good pastoral knowledge, insight and skill

• Will provide evidence of relevant experience/skill

If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.