Deputy Head of Pastoral Care

Integrated Care System; Chertsey; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust is seeking a Deputy Head of Pastoral Care to lead spiritual care initiatives for individuals with mental health and learning disabilities. This role involves overseeing a team, providing high-quality pastoral support, and working within a diverse multidisciplinary team. The ideal candidate will hold a degree in Theology and possess significant experience in the field of mental health and spiritual care.

Benefits

Flexible working

Free parking

Health and wellbeing support

Opportunities for development

Qualifications

• Degree in Theology/Religious Studies or equivalent to Level 6 or above.
• Experience in mental healthcare and spiritual care.
• Recognised qualification in counselling or psychotherapy.

Responsibilities

• Provide pastoral care to mental health wards and community teams.
• Work autonomously and collaboratively with other professionals.
• Oversee spiritual and pastoral needs of clients.

Skills

Pastoral Care

Spiritual Care

Counselling

Multi-faith Understanding

Education

Degree in Theology/Religious Studies

Job description

Go back Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Deputy Head of Pastoral Care

The closing date is 20 July 2025

We are looking for a highly driven and innovative experienced person to fill the position of deputy in the department of spiritual care. The successful candidate will work with the head of pastoral care and the team to lead the department's strategic direction and ensure the provision of an excellent pastoral, spiritual, religious, and cultural service. The post holder will work as both a practitioner and a deputy manager to care for people who use our service, their carers, and staff. This is a fantastic opportunity to join an excellent team, and we hope you will be inspired to join us.

Main duties of the job

The post holder would join a team of practitioners to oversee the spiritual, pastoral, and religious needs of people who use our services, carers, and Trust staff in a multidisciplinary mental and learning disability healthcare context. The practitioner must have specialised knowledge and skills in pastoral and spiritual care in mental health and learning disabilities. Their responsibilities include providing pastoral care to our mental health hospital wards, community mental health teams, learning disability residential homes, and responding to urgent and routine referrals within the Trust's coverage area.

The post holder will work autonomously as well as collaboratively with other spiritual and pastoral professionals to create a high-quality pastoral and spiritual care service for individuals using our services, their caregivers, and Trust employees throughout the organisation. The goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and easily accessible pastoral and spiritual care service for those with mental health issues and learning disabilities.

About us

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of mental health, learning disability, neurodevelopmental and drug and alcohol services in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We support people of all ages and are passionate about providing high quality care that is delivered at the right time as close to home as possible to help people recover and stay well.

We are one of the top 10 mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Trust to work for nationwide. Our Trust is an inclusive and supportive employer that offers a wide range of staff networks, flexible working, free parking and excellent health and wellbeing support. We also provide a wide range of opportunities to help staff develop and progress.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast. Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach. For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Job responsibilities

Please check the job description for more information on the requirements for this job. If you have further questions about the role which the advert and job description do not answer, please contact us.

Person specification

Qualifications required.

Degree in Theology/Religious Studies or equivalent to Level 6 or above.

• Must be an experienced and specialist pastoral and spiritual care practitioner with a suitable pastoral and spiritual / theological training or equivalent learning experience, in an area relevant to pastoral, spiritual and religious care in health or an equivalent professional qualification.
• Must be a practitioner with considerable experience in mental healthcare (Band 6 or higher) and/or spiritual and pastoral care in a hospital setting, as well as the ability to demonstrate practice to Band 7 of the UKBHC Spiritual and Religious Care Capabilities and Competences for Healthcare Chaplains (UKBHC, 2015b).
• Evidence of continuing personal and professional development CPD Summary required.
• Must have a recognised appropriate faith community license or an endorsement and must be in good standing with their current faith or belief community.

Other Essential Criteria

Be registered or eligible to hold the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy (UKBHC) registration. If a member of the United Kingdom Board for Health Care Chaplaincy (UKHBC). Evidence is required.

Possess a recognised qualification in counselling or psychotherapy or have completed specific training courses in relevant practice areas.

Holder must be accredited by a national body. (BACP, BPS, UKCP)

Experience of working in a multi faith team and/or in an international setting with people of other faiths and beliefs than own.

Knowledge required.

The post holder will need to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the fields of theology, psychology, and psychiatry and multiculturalism.

The post holder will need to have an in-depth knowledge of the Diversity agenda within the NHS.

Extensive knowledge and insight into pastoral, spiritual and religious care in mental health.

Working knowledge of faith and belief systems other than ones own, and the ability to apply this knowledge in a secular, multi-cultural, multi-faith, and belief context.

Committed to working on behalf of people with Learning Disabilities and mental health needs.

• Theoretical knowledge of ethical issues relating to health care.
• Knowledge and insight into the work of pastoral and spiritual care in mental health and learning disability.
• Knowledge and understanding of national policies and procedures relevant to pastoral and spiritual care in mental health and learning disability.
• Conversant knowledge of the UKBHC Code of Conduct

Experience required.

• Experience in building pastorally supportive relationships
• Mush have substantial experience of providing pastoral, spiritual and religious care on mental hospital wards, community mental health teams and learning disabilities.
• Experience working with diverse cultures/faith traditions within multi-faith or belief context.
• Experience in creating and delivering teaching and training programmes.
• Experience of supporting people through difficult and/or distressing circumstances.
• Experience working with and supervising volunteers.
• You must have a UK driving license and access to a car for work purposes.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Achieved grades /year of experience
• Achieved grades /year of experience

Qualifications

• Degree in Theology/Religious Studies or equivalent to Level 6 or above, must be a practitioner with considerable experience in mental healthcare , (see JD on qualification requirements
• Experience , Knowledge & Skill
• Achieved grades/Years of experience and others

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.

Employer name

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust