Pastoral and Spiritual Care Practitioner / Chaplain (Mental Health)

NHS; Chertsey; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Pastoral and Spiritual Care Practitioner/Chaplain to deliver high-quality spiritual care in a mental health setting. The role involves working with diverse communities and ensuring accessible pastoral services. Candidates should possess relevant qualifications and experience in mental health pastoral care.

Qualifications

• Must have previous pastoral experience in a mental health context.
• Experience of providing pastoral, spiritual, and religious care on mental health wards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee spiritual, pastoral, and religious needs of service users and staff.
• Provide pastoral care to mental health hospital wards and community teams.

Skills

Pastoral Care

Spiritual Care

Multi-faith Knowledge

Counseling

Education

First-degree or equivalent professional qualifications

Pastoral and spiritual/theological training

Job description

Go back Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Pastoral and Spiritual Care Practitioner / Chaplain (Mental Health)

The closing date is 18 May 2025

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated and imaginative individual experienced practitioner or chaplain with specialist knowledge and expertise in pastoral and spiritual care in mental healthcare. This is an excellent opportunity to join a team of very experienced pastoral and spiritual care practitioners/ chaplains at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

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 healthcare context. We are looking for someone who can work independently alongside other spiritual and pastoral practitioners and chaplains to develop a high standard of pastoral and spiritual care for people who use our services, carers, and Trust staff across the Trust.

To ensure a safe, supportive, and easily accessible pastoral and spiritual care service for mental health. The post holder's responsibilities include providing pastoral care to our mental health hospital wards and community mental health teams and respond to urgent and routine referrals within the Trust's coverage area.

About us

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of health and social care services for people of all ages with mental ill-health and learning disabilities in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We also provide social care services for people with a learning disability in Croydon and ASD and ADHD assessment services in Hampshire.

We actively seek to engage people who use our services and our communities in improving the mental wellbeing of the local population. We work closely with other NHS and voluntary sector organisations who provide services and support people who use services and carers.

Surrey is a beautiful county, 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 withing easy reach. For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Job responsibilities

Please see the job description/person specification for the full details on the job role and responsibilities

Person Specification

Experience

• Must have previous pastoral experience in a mental health context. Experience of providing pastoral, spiritual and religious care on mental health wards/ community mental health teams
• Experience working with different cultures/faith traditions within multi-faith or belief context
• Experience in building pastorally supportive relationships
• 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

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge and insight into pastoral, spiritual and religious care in mental health
• In depth knowledge of own faith or belief group teaching, tradition and practices, and an ability to apply this knowledge in a health care context - particularly in relation the interface between mental health and spirituality
• Working knowledge of faith and belief systems other than one's own, and the ability to apply this knowledge working in a secular multi-cultural, multi-faith and belief context
• Demonstrable knowledge and a commitment to working in an ecumenical, multi-faith or belief, and multi-cultural way, with an openness to the views and doubts of others
• Knowledge of how to care for people of all faiths and beliefs
• Theoretical knowledge of ethical issues relating to health care
• Knowledge and insight into the work of healthcare chaplaincy
• Knowledge and understanding of national policies and procedures relevant to healthcare Chaplaincy
• Conversant knowledge of the UKBHC Code of Conduct
• Knowledge and understanding of workings of the NHS to enable the post holder to work as part of a chaplaincy team and play an active part in the life of the Trust in a multi-disciplinary context

Qualifications

• First-degree or equivalent professional qualifications
• Must hold a suitable pastoral and spiritual / theological training or equivalent learning experience, in an area relevant to pastoral, spiritual and religious care and healthcare chaplaincy
• Applicants must have a recognised or endorsement and in good standing with their current faith or belief community
• Be registered or eligible to hold the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy (UKBHC) registration
• Possess a recognised qualification in counselling or psychotherapy or have completed specific training courses in relevant practice areas

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

£39,205 to £47,084 a yearIncl 5% Fringe HCAS, pa, pro rata