21824 - Roman Catholic Chaplain

Ministry of Justice; Wilmslow; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice invites applications for a Roman Catholic Chaplain (Priest or Lay) to join our multi-faith chaplaincy team in a women’s prison. The post involves spiritual leadership, pastoral care and sacramental ministry to prisoners and staff, while collaborating with colleagues to serve people of all faiths and none.

We are seeking someone empathetic, resilient and committed to serving others with integrity, able to develop worship, study and religious programmes, mentor volunteers

Qualifications

• Experience in pastoral care and spiritual leadership.
• Ability to lead worship/meditation and faith-based meetings.
• Experience supporting prisoners, staff and volunteers within a chaplaincy setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance on faith/belief to prisoners, staff and families; liaise with FBA.
• Plan and lead worship, prayer and faith meetings; ensure chaplaincy care at all times.
• Deliver worship, study and religious programmes; collaborate with chaplains and volunteers.
• Contribute to local policy, procedures and practice in the chaplaincy.
• Provide pastoral care, mentoring and support for chaplains and volunteers; assist in crisis.
• Nurture chaplaincy volunteers and coordinate faith events and outreach.
• Promote faith awareness and liaise with external groups for worship facilities.
• Represent chaplaincy at meetings; support ACCT process and relevant boards.
• Build links with faith communities; support prisoners on release and their families.
• Assist in training staff and volunteers; ensure data collection and reporting.

Skills

Pastoral care

Empathy

Resilience

Worship leadership

Collaboration

Communication

Job description

Do you feel called to a ministry that brings hope, healing and transformation? We are seeking a compassionate and committed Roman Catholic Chaplain (Priest or Lay) to join our multi-faith chaplaincy team in a women's prison.

This is a unique opportunity to support women in custody and prison staff through spiritual leadership, pastoral care and sacramental ministry. Alongside providing faith-based care to Roman Catholic prisoners and staff, you will work collaboratively with colleagues to meet the pastoral needs of people of all faiths and none.

Through your ministry, you will help create an environment where women can rediscover dignity, purpose and hope. We are looking for someone who is empathetic, resilient and committed to serving others with respect and integrity. This role provides an opportunity to live out your vocation in a setting where your faith and pastoral gifts can have a profound and lasting impact.

If you are passionate about faith, compassionate service and helping people build brighter futures, we would love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• provide guidance on their faith/belief system in the establishment providing advice, pastoral care and spiritual welfare to prisoners, staff and their families as requested, liaising with their Faith and Belief Adviser (FBA) or other FBA as appropriate;
• plan and lead worship/meditation, prayer and faith/belief specific meetings. Be part of the provision of available and accessible chaplaincy care at all times;
• facilitate and deliver opportunities for worship/meditation, study and religious programmes. Work collaboratively with other Chaplains, the Managing Chaplain, volunteers andexternal groups on the maintenance and provision of facilities for worship/meditation and prayer;
• contribute towards the development of local policy, procedures and practice;
• provide pastoral care to prisoners and help to provide support and bring resolution to crisis situations where required. Provide mentoring and personal support for other chaplains and volunteers including following incidents;
• nurture Chaplaincy volunteers in their contribution;
• work with the Official Prison Visitor (OPV) Liaison Officer in promoting the scheme within the prison ensuring all prisoners are aware of it and to assist where required OPV volunteers;
• ensure their prison community is aware of relevant faith/belief events and coordinate establishment support for these. Acquire and distribute appropriate faith/belief literature, artefacts and materials;
• contribute to training programmes and materials for staff and volunteers. Be part of the organisation and delivery of Faith Awareness Training for staff;
• represent the chaplaincy team at establishment meetings, committees etc in the absence of the Managing Chaplain;
• actively support the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process;
• attend relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member;
• with the agreement of the Managing Chaplain and establishment senior management team and as required, take on additional roles; e.g. Family Liaison Officer, Family Services single point of contact, volunteer coordinator etc;
• be proactive in forging links with their local faith/belief communities and other agencies, as relevant and consider ways in which these communities/agencies may become involved in supporting prisoners on release;
• participate in developing ways for improving and achieving targets as required, undertake and ensure that all relevant administration, data collection and analysis including relevant targets are collated; and
• assist in Probation Approved Premises (APs), with offenders on release into the community, those serving community sentences or other HMPPS funded community initiatives by agreement.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.