Roman Catholic Part-Time

Ministry of Justice; Oakham; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in Oakham is seeking a Chaplain to provide pastoral care and support for prisoners and staff. The role involves planning worship services, facilitating religious programs, and collaborating with volunteers. Candidates must have formal theological training and meet faith eligibility requirements. This position offers hybrid working arrangements and requires working unsocial hours. Successful applicants will help foster connections between local faith communities and the prison system.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Training and development opportunities

Payment for unsocial hours

Qualifications

• Ability to work with faith/belief communities.
• Experience in pastoral care and mentoring.
• Strong communication skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Provide pastoral care to prisoners and staff.
• Plan and lead worship and meditation.
• Facilitate religious programs and activities.

Skills

Communication

Pastoral care

Conflict resolution

Education

Formal theological education

Job description

Overview

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 the broader work of chaplaincy in delivering faith and non-faith-based courses. They will contribute 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. They will 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 role with no line management or supervisory responsibilities.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

• Provide guidance on their faith/belief system in the establishment, providing 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. Work collaboratively with other Chaplains, the Managing Chaplain, volunteers and external groups on the maintenance and provision of facilities for worship/meditation 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 in promoting the scheme within the prison, ensuring all prisoners are aware of it and to assist where required OPV volunteers.
• 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 Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process.
• Attend relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member.
• With the agreement of the Managing Chaplain and establishment senior management team and as required, take on additional roles (e.g. Family Liaison Officer, Family Services single point of contact, volunteer coordinator, etc.).
• Be proactive in forging links with local faith/belief communities and other agencies, and consider ways in which these communities/agencies may become involved in supporting prisoners on release.
• Participate in developing ways for improving and achieving targets as required, undertake and ensure that all relevant administration, data collection and analysis including relevant targets are collated.
• Assist in Probation Approved Premises (APs), with offenders on release into the community, those serving community sentences or other HMPPS funded community initiatives by agreement.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and are not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing

Working Arrangements

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and are subject to regular review.

Location and Employment Terms

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. Details will be discussed and agreed on completion of pre-employment checks. Hours of Work are 37 hours per week (excluding breaks). Unsocial hours may be required; a 20% payment will be paid in addition to basic pay to recognise unsocial hours (outside 0700–1900 Monday to Friday and including evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays).

Essential Experience

• Chaplains are required to meet the faith/belief eligibility requirements for their chosen faith/belief as outlined within the Group Profile.
• An ability to fulfil all spoken and written aspects of the role with confidence through English (or Welsh where specified).

Faith/Belief Eligibility Requirements

(January 2023) Roman Catholic: Ordained Priest

• Be an ordained priest in the Roman Catholic Church, with 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 with similar endorsement requirements and formed theological qualifications (minimum level equivalent to CCRS for lay persons).
• All must have completed formally recognised theological formation; have 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 and Allowances

• If part time, hours to be confirmed. Unsocial hours working as described above.
• Role requires working regular unsocial hours; a payment at the current approved organisation rate will be made in addition to basic pay.

Additional Information

Staff benefits and policies include: security and diversity training, induction, flexible working where possible, probation for new starters, Civil Service Code standards, disclosure and identity checks, and Equal Employment Opportunity statements. See relevant sections of the job description for full details.