Lead Chaplain

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A large acute hospital in London seeks an experienced Healthcare Chaplain to lead a team of spiritual care practitioners. You will manage both employed and voluntary chaplains, ensuring effective and supportive care for patients and staff. The ideal candidate will have an accredited practice and experience in spiritual care with a focus on a person-centred approach. This role offers the opportunity to work in a diverse and dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Accredited to practice as a religion or belief leader/representative in line with NHS chaplaincy Guidelines.
• Experienced spiritual care practitioner with a person-centred approach.

Responsibilities

• Manage and support a team of employed and voluntary chaplains.
• Lead by example as a healthcare chaplain, providing spiritual, pastoral, and faith-based care.
• Use active listening and interpersonal skills to support patients, visitors, and staff.
• Collaborate with clinical and pastoral staff across the hospital.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Active listening

Person-centred approach

Education

Accredited or licensed authority to practice as a religion or belief leader

Job description

Job Overview

Do you want to lead a team of spiritual care practitioners who are compassionate, mutually supportive and committed to developing best practice and who deliver effective, supportive care for the healthcare community of University College London Hospitals?

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Healthcare Chaplain who wants to broaden the horizons of their experience of managing the delivery of effective spiritual, pastoral, and faith‑based care in a large, acute hospital setting in central London. You will manage a team of employed and voluntary chaplains from diverse faith/belief backgrounds, and you yourself will lead by example as a healthcare chaplain.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and support a team of employed and voluntary chaplains.
• Lead by example as a healthcare chaplain, providing spiritual, pastoral, and faith‑based care.
• Use active listening and high‑level interpersonal skills to support patients, visitors, and staff.
• Collaborate with clinical and pastoral staff across the hospital’s sites.

Qualifications and Accreditation

• Accredited or licensed with authority to practice as a religion or belief leader/representative and/or pastoral worker in line with NHS chaplaincy Guidelines.
• Experienced spiritual care practitioner with a person‑centred approach.

Hospitals and Sites

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

About UCLH

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, and are committed to sustainability, aiming for net zero emissions by 2031.

Contact

For further information, please contact Lisa Anderton, Head of Patient Experience, via [e-mail].