Orthodox Chaplain - Part time

Sodexo Group; Ashford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking an Orthodox Chaplain for HMP Bronzefield to provide faith-specific care and spiritual support to prisoners and staff. The role involves working collaboratively within a multi-faith team, delivering services that focus on personal growth and community engagement. The ideal candidate is an ordained priest with excellent communication skills and experience in diverse environments, contributing meaningfully to rehabilitation efforts.

Benefits

Inclusive workplace

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Disability Confident Leader employer

Qualifications

• Strong planning and organisational skills.
• Ability to produce regular written reports.
• Experience with diverse communities.
• Previous experience in a prison or chaplaincy environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide spiritual support and pastoral care to prisoners and staff.
• Facilitate worship, study, and prayer opportunities.
• Liaise with local faith groups for community engagement.
• Create a supportive prison culture and promote rehabilitation.

Skills

Communication

Organisational skills

Problem-solving

Relationship building

Education

Ordained Orthodox priest

Job description

• Please see our attached benefits guide for everything we have to offer.

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Your Role as an Orthodox Chaplain

As an Orthodox Chaplain at HMP Bronzefield, you will play a key role in providing faith-specific care, spiritual support, and pastoral guidance to prisoners and staff alike.You will work closely with a multi-faith Chaplaincy Team to ensure the spiritual needs of the Orthodox faith community are met while fostering an atmosphere of inclusivity and respect for all traditions.

This role involves facilitating opportunities for worship, study, and prayer, alongside delivering faith-based and non-faith-based programmes that contribute to rehabilitation and personal growth.You will work collaboratively to help create a supportive prison culture, promote rehabilitation, and encourage offenders to embrace self-improvement and reformation.

With a strong focus on community engagement, you will also liaise with local Orthodox faith groups and other agencies, nurturing relationships that can aid in the resettlement of offenders upon release.As part of your role, you’ll provide advice, deliver services, and contribute to the wider work of the Chaplaincy Team, making a tangible difference in the lives of those you support.

Please see the attached job description for a more detailed list of the main responsibilities.

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The Ideal Candidate

• Ordained Orthodox priest with formal endorsement from the Prison Service Orthodox Adviser at Chaplaincy HQ (evidence required before appointment).
• Ability to work creatively and flexibly, demonstrating strong planning, organisational, and record-keeping skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to produce regular written reports.
• Confident in public speaking, leading group programmes, and corporate acts of worship.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships with diverse communities, colleagues, and external faith groups.
• A good level of computer literacy and decision-making/problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with diverse faith and social community groups.
• Previous experience in a prison, chaplaincy, or similar environment.
• Familiarity with fundraising activities.
• Experience working independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Whilst the ideal candidate would fit into the above points, we would implore applicants with the relevant transferrable skills to apply for this role, as you may still be a great fit!

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Why Join Us?

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all.As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity.We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be natural, and be the best versions of themselves.We recognise that we’re on a journey with regards to diversity and inclusion and would therefore welcome applications for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer.We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.

To be considered for an interview you must:

• provide evidence in your application that you meet the minimum criteria in the job description
• meet all of the qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential.