Chaplain Managing Chaplain

Ministry of Justice; Wrexham; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the UK is seeking a multi-faith chaplaincy manager responsible for leading a team to provide spiritual and pastoral care. This managerial role requires formal qualifications in theology or religious studies and experience in pastoral leadership. The successful candidate will ensure effective chaplaincy administration and develop key relationships with support groups, thereby enhancing the welfare of prisoners and staff.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Pension scheme

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience of pastoral care and pastoral leadership, including crisis events.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a multi‑faith chaplaincy team.
• Provide training, development, mentoring and personal support for chaplains and volunteers.
• Provide pastoral care of prisoners and staff, supporting offenders on release.

Education

Formal recognised qualification in theology or religious studies

Endorsement from the faith/belief community

Job description

Overview

This is a non-operational job with line management responsibilities for leading and managing a multi-faith and belief chaplaincy team. Although a managerial role rather than being faith or belief specific, post holders must be endorsed by the respective HMPPS Faith and Belief Adviser. The job holder will provide for the religious and pastoral care of prisoners and staff in their own faith or belief tradition, and appropriate pastoral care for all irrespective of faith/belief tradition or of none. The job holder will work with colleagues to ensure the delivery of PSI 05/2016 Faith and Pastoral Care for Prisoners or its successor policy framework document and also the broader work of chaplaincy in delivering faith and non-faith based courses. The job holder will contribute to the process by which the Governor and Head of Chaplaincy/Profession at headquarters are assured that these policies are being delivered. Responsible for leading on developing relationships with various support and volunteer groups and, where appropriate, act as Official Prison Visitor Liaison Officer. Takes responsibility for one's own spiritual health and development, allowing time for private prayer/reflection, study and retreat.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

• Team and Personal Management
  • Lead and manage a multi‑faith chaplaincy team, ensuring chaplains are available and accessible to prisoners and that chaplaincy administration (prisoner lists, records, policy promotion) is effective.
  • Ensure prisoners’ complaints, including litigation claims, are handled in accordance with policy; carry out investigations of potential discrimination and report findings.
  • Provide training, development, mentoring and personal support for chaplains and volunteers.
  • Accountable for the performance of the team, verifying and signing off documentation, analysing data and acting on relevant information.
  • Attend boards and meetings, produce reports and respond to correspondence within agreed timescales.
• Pastoral Care & Worship / Meditation
  • Provide pastoral care and ensure the spiritual welfare of prisoners and staff, including supplying appropriate literature.
  • Arrange and lead worship or meditation for the job holder’s faith community; organise hospital visits, weddings, funerals and memorial services where appropriate.
  • Support offenders on release into the community and those serving community sentences, in line with HMPPS funded initiatives.
  • Give expert faith advice, support groups in observing holy days, and lead workshops and faith‑specific meetings.
  • Deliver awareness programmes (bereavement, leave, etc.) and local faith training for staff.
• Stakeholder Relationships & Management
  • Work closely with Safer Custody (e.g., deaths in custody procedures, ACCT, violence reduction) to meet HMPPS standards.
  • Coordinate bereavement support for prisoners, families and third parties (hospitals, coroners).
  • Engage the chaplaincy team in resettlement issues and build contacts with faith communities and outside agencies.
• Resource & Financial Management
  • Achieve budget and People Plan targets, leading local policy development and ensuring practice aligns with national policy.
  • Develop and deliver the medium‑to‑long‑term strategic and business plan for the establishment.
  • Ensure risk assessments and staff health & safety compliance.
  • Implement actions from Standard Audit, HMIP Action Plans, QuAD reports, MQPL surveys, local self‑audit action plans and Resettlement strategies.

Behaviours

• Communicating and influencing
• Managing a quality service
• Making effective decisions
• Leadership
• Working together

Qualifications

• Formal recognised qualification in theology or religious studies.
• Experience of pastoral care and pastoral leadership, including crisis events.
• Formal endorsements from the faith/belief community, where relevant.

Benefits and Working Arrangements

Hybrid working is offered where business needs allow, with arrangements discussed and reviewed with the successful candidate. Standard full‑time working hours are 37 hours per week (excluding unpaid breaks). Part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing patterns are considered where they meet role demands and business needs. Loan/secondment opportunities are available for current NPS employees for up to 2 years.

Annual leave – holiday year runs from 1 March, calculated on a pro‑rata basis. Bank, public and privilege holidays add 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes). Work on public and bank holidays may be required by shift pattern.

Pension – the Civil Service provides choice of two pension schemes.

Work‑life balance – HMPPS encourages flexible working, with provisions for season ticket advances after two months’ service and childcare vouchers where applicable.

Training & Development – staff receive security and diversity training and an induction programme. HMPPS offers various training opportunities in Equality, Diversity, Suicide Prevention, Anti‑bullying, etc.

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks, and external candidates are subject to a 6‑month probation (internal candidates: probation if no prior probation within HMPPS).

Disability Confident Employer – MoJ is committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Diversity & Inclusion – MoJ welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and supports veterans through a dedicated initiative.