Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Manager

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust in London seeks a Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Manager to provide Trust-wide leadership for inclusive chaplaincy and spiritual care across CNWL.

The post holder will lead development of services, policies and governance, ensuring access to support for patients, carers, families, staff and volunteers of all faiths and beliefs, while coordinating with clinical teams and external partners.

Qualifications

• Registration with the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy or equivalent
• Experience providing pastoral, spiritual or religious support in healthcare settings
• Experience in partnership working and service development
• Knowledge of safeguarding, data protection and equality, diversity and inclusion

Responsibilities

• Provide Trust-wide leadership for inclusive chaplaincy and spiritual care
• Develop and implement policies, governance and service standards
• Support staff, patients and volunteers with compassionate, professional care
• Build partnerships with faith communities, voluntary organisations and NHS networks
• Recruit, train and supervise Volunteer Support Chaplains and staff
• Ensure safeguarding, information governance and health and safety compliance
• Monitor activity, risks and reporting, and contribute to funding opportunities

Skills

Leadership

Pastoral care

Stakeholder engagement

Volunteer management

Education

Degree in chaplaincy/spiritual care

Professional registration in chaplaincy

Job description

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Manager

The closing date is 04 November 2026

We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Manager to lead and develop inclusive chaplaincy, spiritual, pastoral and religious care across CNWL.

The role will provide Trust-wide leadership, ensuring accessible and responsive support for patients, carers, families, staff, students and volunteers of all faiths, beliefs and non-religious beliefs.

Working with clinical teams, volunteers, faith and belief communities and external partners, the post holder will develop effective services, policies and governance arrangements that promote dignity, equality and person‑centred care.

We are looking for someone with strong leadership and partnership‑working skills who can provide compassionate support in complex and sensitive situations and help shape the future of chaplaincy and spiritual care across CNWL.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the development and delivery of a Trust‑wide, inclusive chaplaincy and spiritual care service. Provide professional leadership for high‑quality pastoral, spiritual and religious care across Trust services. Ensure equitable access to appropriate support for people of all faiths, beliefs and non‑religious beliefs. Support access to rites, rituals, observances and ceremonies where required. Develop and maintain policies, procedures and standards for assessing and responding to spiritual care needs. Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to support holistic patient care and complex pastoral or spiritual needs. Develop effective partnerships with Trust services, community organisations and faith and belief groups. Work with Volunteer Services to recruit, train, support and supervise Volunteer Support Chaplains. Develop and deliver training, awareness sessions, reflective practice and debriefing for staff, volunteers and students. Ensure the service operates in accordance with relevant safeguarding, confidentiality, information governance, infection control and health and safety requirements. Monitor service activity, risks and developments, producing quarterly and annual reports. Provide professional input into service developments, business cases and funding opportunities. Ensure chaplaincy resources and charitable contributions are managed appropriately and in line with Trust policies.

About us

At CNWL, our values of Compassion, Respect, Empowerment and Partnership guide how we work and how we care for those who use our services.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where diversity is valued and everyone is treated with dignity, kindness and respect.

Our SCARF Framework supports this by encouraging environments that are Safe, Compassionate, Accountable, Reflective and Fair. The successful candidate will demonstrate these values and behaviours, promoting inclusion, cultural humility and respect for people of all faiths, beliefs and non‑religious beliefs.

Job responsibilities

Please note: This vacancy does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship, unless you meet the criteria by temporary exemption from current changes to immigration rules put in force on 22/07/2025. Separate provisions are applied to workers who have been sponsored and continuously held a Skilled Worker visa since prior to 04/04/2024.

As such, if you dont meet the Transitional Provision (above) we are unable to consider your application unless you can provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the United Kingdom. If you believe you are eligible for sponsorship or already hold a valid right to work in the UK, please ensure you provide full details of your immigration status in the Pre‑Screening Immigration section of your application form.

Please note role eligibility also depends on whether the role meets the salary threshold for the relevant occupational code (SOC CODE).

For further info please visit: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK

The Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Manager will lead and develop an inclusive, Trust‑wide chaplaincy and spiritual care service, supporting patients, carers, families, staff, students and volunteers of all faiths, beliefs and non‑religious beliefs.

The post holder will:

• Provide visible leadership for chaplaincy, pastoral, spiritual and religious care across CNWL.
• Develop and improve Trust‑wide services, policies, procedures and governance arrangements.
• Provide compassionate support in complex situations, including distress, trauma, bereavement, loss and mental health difficulties.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to support holistic, person‑centred care and facilitate access to appropriate spiritual, religious and belief‑based support.
• Build effective partnerships with faith and belief communities, voluntary organisations, NHS chaplaincy networks and other external partners.
• Support the recruitment, induction, training, supervision and development of Volunteer Support Chaplains alongside Volunteer Services.
• Develop and deliver training, guidance and resources for staff and volunteers, including opportunities for reflective practice and learning.
• Ensure services meet requirements for safeguarding, confidentiality, information governance, data protection, health and safety and professional standards.
• Monitor service activity, risks and learning, contributing to reporting, evaluation, quality improvement and service development.
• Manage chaplaincy resources appropriately and contribute professional advice to service developments and funding opportunities.
• Work flexibly and travel across CNWL sites and community settings as required.

About you

We are looking for someone with significant experience of providing pastoral, spiritual or religious support, including experience within mental health, community health or specialist healthcare services

You will have:

• Relevant professional registration or recognised professional standing in chaplaincy, spiritual or pastoral care.
• Experience of supporting people from diverse faiths, beliefs and non‑religious beliefs.
• Experience of handling sensitive and complex situations with compassion and professionalism.
• Experience of partnership working, training and service development.
• Knowledge of NHS chaplaincy, safeguarding, confidentiality, information governance, equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Strong communication, leadership, influencing and relationship‑building skills.
• The ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and manage competing priorities.
• A commitment to compassionate, inclusive and person‑centred care

Person Specification

• Registration with the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy (UKBHC) or another relevant professional body, accredited register or recognised professional framework relevant to chaplaincy, spiritual care or pastoral care.
• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent experience relevant to chaplaincy, pastoral care, psychology, counselling, theology, religious studies, spirituality, mental health or a related field.
• Evidence of training or experience in pastoral, spiritual or religious support within health, social care, community or voluntary settings.
• Endorsement, authorisation or recognised standing within a faith, belief or pastoral care community, where applicable.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to chaplaincy, spiritual care, mental health, equality, diversity and inclusion, or leadership.
• Evidence of training in safeguarding, trauma‑informed practice, reflective practice, quality improvement or mental health.
• Postgraduate qualification relevant to chaplaincy, pastoral care, counselling, psychology, psychotherapy, spirituality, leadership or management.
• Qualification or training in coaching, mentoring, supervision, facilitation, leadership or management.

Values and behaviours

• Demonstrates CNWL values of Compassion, Respect, Empowerment and Partnership.
• Demonstrates SCARF behaviours by helping to create environments that are Safe, Compassionate, Accountable, Reflective and Fair.
• Communicates openly, honestly and professionally, including where issues are sensitive or complex.
• Treats all people with compassion, dignity and kindness.
• Values diversity and actively promotes inclusion, belonging and respect for individual choice.
• Listens respectfully to different perspectives and supports others to contribute and take initiative.
• Demonstrates cultural humility and respect for people of all faiths, beliefs and non‑religious beliefs.

Experience & Knowledge

• Significant experience of providing pastoral, spiritual or religious support within healthcare, social care, community, voluntary or comparable settings.
• Experience of working in mental health, community health or specialist healthcare services.
• Experience of supporting people from diverse faiths, beliefs and non‑religious beliefs.
• Experience of working collaboratively with volunteers, community organisations, faith and belief communities or partner agencies.
• Experience of managing sensitive and complex conversations involving distress, trauma, bereavement, loss, wellbeing or mental health.
• Experience of delivering training, awareness raising, education or group facilitation.
• Experience of developing partnerships and influencing a range of stakeholders without relying on direct line management authority.
• Experience of service development, quality improvement, audit, evaluation or governance activity.
• Experience of developing or leading chaplaincy, spiritual care, pastoral care or wellbeing initiatives.
• Experience of supporting, supervising or developing volunteers, students or trainees.
• Experience of contributing to organisational policy, guidance or procedure development.
• Experience of working across large, complex or multi‑site organisations.

Attitudes, aptitudes and personal characteristics

• Flexible and responsive to service needs.
• Emotionally and spiritually resilient and able to work with highly sensitive situations.
• Demonstrates compassion, integrity, humility and professional credibility.
• Able to balance differing perspectives and manage sensitive issues constructively.
• Committed to equality, inclusion, anti‑discriminatory, anti‑racist practice and person‑centred care.
• Able to travel across CNWL sites and community settings as required.
• Able to represent CNWL professionally as an ambassador for the Trust and its values.
• Interest in research, innovation and service development.
• Commitment to developing others through coaching, mentoring, supervision or reflective practice.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

£58,133 to £65,261 a yearPer annum incl. HCAS