Chaplain

Scottish Prison Service; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A public service organization is seeking a Prison Chaplain in Glasgow. You will provide essential religious and pastoral care to individuals in custody, lead regular worship services, and offer spiritual support across various faiths. The ideal candidate will be ordained, hold a relevant theology qualification, and have substantial experience in community pastoral care. This part-time role requires flexibility and a deep understanding of the challenges within the Scottish Criminal Justice System.

Qualifications

• Ordained Minister or Elder of the Reformed Tradition in good standing.
• Experience in leading worship and religious events in a community.
• Awareness of challenges within the prison setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead weekly religious services in relevant faith tradition.
• Provide pastoral care as part of the Integrated Care Pathway.
• Facilitate throughcare for prisoners upon release.

Skills

Leading worship and religious events

Providing pastoral care

Providing spiritual care

Knowledge of the Scottish Criminal Justice System

Education

Diploma in theology or pastoral studies (SCQF Level 8)

Job description

Vacancy Details

Vacancy Type: Permanent

Location: HMP Barlinnie

Pay Band: F

Hours of work: Part Time

Weekly Hours: 9

Closing Date: 29/01/2026, 17:00

Job Purpose

The Prison Chaplain (Reformed Tradition) carries out their duties in co-operation with members of an ecumenical and inter‑faith chaplaincy team. Together they are responsible for the provision of chaplaincy services to all persons in custody at HMP Barlinnie.

There are three important areas of work:

• Religious Care – offered to all wishing to practice their faith and includes leading regular services of prayers, Mass, worship, celebration of the sacraments, studies of religious texts, and faith‑based groups.
• Pastoral Care – provided, usually individually, to everyone and particularly those in most need – the bereaved and the distressed, those who are at risk of harm to self, and those most vulnerable including new admissions.
• Spiritual Care – accompanies and supports people of all faiths and none on their journey to discover purpose and meaning in life and to develop the resources to live a fulfilled life.

As part of your application, you will be required to provide a response to a question on each of these key areas.

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) Strategy Framework on Spiritual and Pastoral Care, Religion and Belief, is the foundational document for the delivery of chaplaincy across the SPS and the practice of prison chaplains should reflect this. This may be found at the Chaplaincy Framework: https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2022/02/vision-justice-scotland/documents/vision-justice-scotland-2022/vision-justice-scotland-2022/govscot%3Adocument/vision-justice-scotland-2022.pdf.

Key Responsibilities

• Arrange and lead weekly religious services in the relevant faith tradition, ensuring continuity of provision and coordinating with chaplains of other establishments or local churches and faith groups.
• Arrange access to representatives of other faith and belief traditions when requested, in line with SPS protocols.
• Arrange marriages when requested (where appropriate) and provide advice to local management and staff on religious issues.
• Make arrangements for religious teaching in the relevant faith tradition, including individual and group discussions, study of scripture and tradition, moral and ethical matters, and classes leading to religious confirmation or initiation.
• Recruit Chaplaincy Volunteers and provide monitoring and assurance in compliance with SPS Volunteering Protocols and liaison with other Chaplaincy Team members.
• Provide pastoral care to all as part of the Integrated Care Pathway (ICP), prioritising vulnerable groups, new admissions, those on the SPS prevention of suicide strategy (Talk to Me), and segregation units. Chaplains are also available to staff.
• Provide bereavement care, including immediate support for bereaved residents or staff, assistance with funeral arrangements, leading memorial services, and ongoing support or signposting.
• Facilitate throughcare by working with SPS colleagues, developing contact with external faith‑groups and organisations to benefit prisoners on release, and signposting to throughcare organisations with follow‑up after release.

Person Specification and Qualifications

Ordained Minister, Ordained Local Minister, Deacon, or Elder of the Reformed Tradition and in good standing.

Must hold a diploma level (SCQF Level 8) or above qualification in theology or pastoral studies (or equivalent).

Experience of leading worship and religious events in a community setting.

Significant experience of providing pastoral care to people from different backgrounds and in various situations.

Experience of providing spiritual care to people of all faiths and none, encouraging, role‑modeling, building self‑esteem and opportunities to belong.

Awareness of the Scottish Criminal Justice System and the pastoral challenges within a prison setting.

To be eligible, you must be in good standing with your denomination. Upon successful interview you will need to provide a letter of confirmation of your position and good standing from your leadership body on headed paper.

Assessment Questions

Experience of leading worship and religious events: Please briefly describe your experience of leading worship and religious events in a community setting?

Pastoral care experience: Please briefly describe your experience of providing pastoral care to a range of people?

Spiritual care experience: Please briefly describe your experience of providing spiritual care to people. Describe what you have done to support them on their journey.