HMP Nottingham - Chaplain - Roman Catholic Ordained Priest/Deacon, Religious Brother, Sister, L[...]

HM Prison and Probation Service; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental agency in the UK is seeking a dedicated Chaplain to provide spiritual support and guidance to prisoners, their families, and staff. The role includes leading worship services, conducting faith-based programs, and working collaboratively with community members to assist in the resettlement of offenders. Candidates must have a formal theological qualification and the ability to communicate effectively in English. This position promotes diversity and inclusion within a challenging environment.

Benefits

Access to learning and development

Flexible working options

Civil Service pension with employer contribution

Annual leave

Public holidays

Qualifications

• Ability to advise and provide pastoral care to prisoners, staff, and their families.
• Experience in leading worship and faith-specific meetings.
• Capability to engage with the local faith/belief community for resettlement support.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and pastoral care to prisoners.
• Plan and lead worship and meditation sessions.
• Contribute to the development of local policies and assist in training programs.

Skills

Communication

Counseling

Spiritual Care

Community Engagement

Education

Formal theological qualification

Job description

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 and also the broader work of chaplaincy in delivering faith and non-faith-based courses. The role contributes to the process by which the Governor and Chaplain General/Head of Faith Services are assured that these policies are being delivered. The job holder will engage with and build contacts with their own faith/belief community towards aiding the resettlement of offenders. The role requires the holder to take responsibility for their own spiritual health and development, allowing time for private prayer, reflection, study and retreat. This is a non‑rotational, non‑operational position with no line management or supervisory responsibilities.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

• Provide guidance on their faith/belief system in the establishment, offering 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, working collaboratively with other chaplains, the Managing Chaplain, volunteers and external groups on the maintenance and provision of facilities for worship 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 to promote the scheme within the prison, ensuring all prisoners are aware of it and assisting OPV volunteers where required.
• Ensure the 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 ACCT process.
• Attend relevant boards or meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member.
• Take on additional roles, such as Family Liaison Officer or volunteer coordinator, with the agreement of the Managing Chaplain and establishment senior management.
• Proactively forge links with local faith/belief communities and other agencies, considering ways in which these communities or agencies may become involved in supporting prisoners on release.
• Participate in developing ways for improving and achieving targets, undertaking and ensuring that all relevant administration, data collection and analysis including relevant targets are collated.
• Assist in Probation Approved Premises (APs) for offenders on release into the community, those serving community sentences or other HMPPS funded community initiatives by agreement.

Assessment Criteria

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Security

• Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
• Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed; the level of security needed is counter‑terrorist check.
• See our vetting charter.
• People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the EUSS
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria, and the Civil Service offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants at risk of redundancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. Learn more about the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Essential Experience

• Chaplains are required to meet the faith/belief eligibility requirements for their chosen faith/belief as outlined within the Group Profile.
• Ability to fulfil all spoken and written aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or, where specified in Wales, Welsh.
• Must complete specific training to hold the qualifications required for area of specialism outlined on the relevant job description.

Faith/Belief Eligibility Requirements (January 2023)

Roman Catholic:

• Ordained Priest: Be an ordained priest in the Roman Catholic Church; formal endorsement from the appropriate Diocesan Bishop or Religious Superior and formal agreement to work in a specific diocese by the local Diocesan Bishop (Evidence required before appointment).
• Or Ordained Deacon, Religious Brother/Sister/Lay Person: Be an ordained Permanent Deacon, a Religious Brother or Sister or a suitably qualified lay person; formal endorsement from the appropriate Diocesan Bishop or Religious Superior and formal agreement to work in a specific diocese by the local Diocesan Bishop (Evidence required before appointment).
• All must have completed formally recognised theological formation; for a Priest or Deacon in a major seminary or equivalent as prescribed by The Code of Canon Law and for a religious or lay person a theological qualification that, as the minimum, equates to the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS); formal agreement from the local diocesan bishop to minister in prisons within his Diocese; and formal endorsement from the HMPPS Roman Catholic Faith and Belief Adviser confirming eligibility and suitability.

Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances

• If part‑time, hours to be confirmed.

Benefits

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work‑life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual leave
• Public holidays
• Season ticket advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please visit our Candidate Information Page.