Roman Catholic Chaplain

NHS; Oxford; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health organization in Oxford is seeking a Roman Catholic Chaplain to provide high-standard spiritual and pastoral care for patients, relatives, and staff. The role involves collaboration with the chaplaincy team, conducting religious services, and supporting patients in complex situations. A degree in theology or equivalent and experience in healthcare settings are essential. The position offers a salary range of £38,682 to £46,580 yearly.

Qualifications

• Achieved experience in spiritual and pastoral care.
• Rooted in a faith or belief community.
• Experience of healthcare settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide religious and spiritual care for patients and families.
• Collaborate with the chaplaincy team and attend meetings.
• Conduct religious services and administer sacraments.
• Support dying patients and their families during losses.
• Prepare training for clinical colleagues on spiritual care.

Skills

Counselling

Spiritual Care Knowledge

Team Collaboration

Education

Degree in theology/pastoral studies

Job description

Roman Catholic Chaplain

The closing date is 29 October 2025

The post holder will be responsible for the continuing development of a high standard of religious, pastoral and spiritual care for Roman Catholic patients, their relatives, Roman Catholic staff and visitors in OUH NHS Foundation Trust.

The post holder will work with the Lead Chaplain in the provision of chaplaincy services. The duties and responsibilities of the post holder require a substantial commitment to an on‑call rota (on a 1:3 basis) and to ensure continuity of service during periods of leave.

The Chaplaincy Team are made up of different denominations and faith communities. We are deeply committed to the spiritual and pastoral wellbeing of one another and those who access the hospitals and hospices as well as those who work across the Trust. We laugh and cry together.

Main duties of the job

• To be responsible to the Lead Chaplain for the day‑to‑day provision and development of Roman Catholic pastoral, religious and spiritual care for patients, staff, visitors in complex situations and to confidentially record activities in the chaplaincy data system.
• To work collaboratively with other members of the chaplaincy team, attending regular team meetings and playing a full part in the development of chaplaincy policies and implementation across the Trust.
• To conduct services of Roman Catholic public worship regularly in the hospital chapels and other places of worship and to assist in the administration of the sacraments.
• To ensure appropriate sacramental and pastoral support for dying Roman Catholic patients and their families and to respond, when requested, to the need of the recently bereaved.
• To prepare and deliver high‑quality training, development and information for clinical colleagues on the nature of spiritual care of Roman Catholic patients and the contribution of the chaplaincy services.
• To be fully conversant with NHS and professional protocols, guidelines and competencies for NHS chaplaincy services.
• To advise the Lead Chaplain on resources required to ensure that the spiritual, pastoral and religious needs of Roman Catholic patients are met.
• To promote understanding and application of spiritual care of Roman Catholic patients across all ages within OUH NHS Foundation Trust and maintain a stock of religious resources.
• To provide pastoral (and spiritual resources when requested) for Roman Catholic parents and families experiencing the expected and unexpected loss of a child.
• To participate fully in the 24‑hour chaplaincy on‑call service; on‑call duties will be irregular and require holding a pager and mobile phone.
• To provide pastoral and spiritual support for Roman Catholic relatives visiting the mortuary.
• To provide staff support following very complex and demanding clinical situations.
• To be available to church and faith community leaders in hospital settings, respecting NHS and professional confidentiality guidelines.
• To work collaboratively with key allied professionals to develop learning and working practice together.
• To commit to ongoing professional and spiritual growth and development.
• To be accountable to the Lead Chaplain and team colleagues managing the Chaplaincy charitable funds.

About us

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals – the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. For more information on OUH please view OUH At a Glance by OUHospitals – Issuu.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family.

Person Specification

• Achieved experience.
• Rooted in a faith or belief community.
• Degree in theology/pastoral studies or equivalent.
• Knowledge of all aspects of spiritual care and how this is applied in diverse faith and cultural traditions.
• Counselling qualification.
• Experience of healthcare settings.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and therefore requires Disclosure and Barring Service (CRB) check for any previous convictions.

Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year (pro rata)