Spiritual Care Workers

NHS; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospice in Ipswich seeks an enthusiastic Spiritual Care Worker to provide spiritual and pastoral care. This role involves working with patients, families, and volunteers across various settings, ensuring emotional support and conducting services as needed. Join a dedicated team committed to making a difference in people's lives during critical times.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

Life Cover

Cycle to Work Scheme

Car Leasing Scheme

Health Service Discounts

Occupational Sick Pay

Blue Light Card

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Experience in providing spiritual and pastoral care.
• Knowledge of NHS NICE and other guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Provide spiritual, religious, and emotional support to patients and families.
• Manage and support referrals within the Emotional & Spiritual Wellbeing Team.

Skills

Multi-faith issues

Emotional support

Effective communication

Education

Theological qualification

Adult teaching qualification

Counselling qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Job description

Are you an enthusiastic Spiritual Care Worker with demonstrable experience and knowledge of providing spiritual and pastoral care?

St Elizabeth Hospice continues to drive forward innovation and development of services, both in the Ipswich and East Suffolk area and further up the coast to the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area. In 2019, NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board awarded the specialist palliative and end-of-life care contract to East Coast Community Healthcare. The contract includes a specialist palliative care service delivered in partnership with St Elizabeth Hospice. Our most recent Care Quality Commission report rated the hospice as Outstanding.

Based at: Post 1 - St Elizabeth Hospice - Ipswich and East Suffolk area I&E S

Post 2 - Beccles Hospital - Great Yarmouth and Waveney area GY&W

Please clearly indicate in your application form your preferred post.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for experienced Spiritual Care Workers with a theological qualification to work within the Therapy Team, providing spiritual, religious, and emotional support to patients, relatives, and carers in various settings - community, community care units, outpatients, and inpatient units. This is a chance to make a real difference in people's lives.

To thrive in this role, you will need to demonstrate knowledge and experience in multi-faith issues and conducting religious and non-religious services according to the wishes of the patient and/or family.

If you would like to find out more about working at the hospice and how it can fit your career aspirations, we recommend an informal visit/discussion before completing your application.

Interview Date: 22nd May 2025

In March 2023, St Elizabeth Hospice merged with East Coast Hospice to form St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice, with all service provision in Great Yarmouth and Waveney under this new name.

This is an exciting time for St Elizabeth Hospice as we develop a sustainable palliative and end-of-life care service for residents in Ipswich, East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth, and Waveney. It is a time of expansion, development, and investment in the Hospice Team.

About us

St Elizabeth Hospice is committed to safeguarding and protecting adults and young people we work with, with a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, neglect, and discrimination. All posts are subject to rigorous safer recruitment processes, including criminal record disclosures and vetting checks. We have robust safeguarding policies, and staff are expected to undertake regular, mandatory safeguarding training.

The hospice offers a generous benefits package, including:

• 27 days annual leave
• Life Cover
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Car Leasing Scheme
• Health Service Discounts
• Occupational Sick Pay
• Blue Light Card
• Employee Assistance Programme

Job responsibilities

Job Summary: To work with the multi-professional team providing spiritual and pastoral care to patients and families. To work within the Emotional & Spiritual Wellbeing Team to manage and support referrals. To support spiritual care/emotional wellbeing volunteers. Provide cover for Spiritual Care, including some weekend work.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

Demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding adults and young people. Report disclosures and concerns appropriately. Maintain awareness of hospice safeguarding policies.

Overall Responsibilities

Provide spiritual, religious, and emotional support across various settings; attend referrals meetings; liaise with the team; manage telephone support and referrals; support inpatient spiritual care; document records; organize faith rituals and remembrance services; establish links with faith leaders and organizations.

Pastoral Responsibilities

Be present and listen; help explore emotions; support through serious illness, loss, change, and death; work with all faith groups.

Priestly Responsibilities

Pray with and read scriptures; support communion; prepare for funeral and remembrance services across faiths.

Management Responsibilities

Supervise and support spiritual care volunteers, acting as line manager if required.

Educational Responsibilities

Promote knowledge of faith and spiritual care; stay updated with research; participate in education programs; provide feedback.

Personal Development

Develop personal growth plans; maintain and enhance skills.

Organizational Responsibilities

Work within hospice policies; uphold values; use resources effectively; attend meetings; promote the hospice; maintain confidentiality; embody hospice philosophy; perform other duties as needed.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Theological qualification
• Adult teaching qualification
• Counselling qualification

Experience

• Providing spiritual and pastoral care
• Multi-faith issues and conducting services
• Knowledge of NHS NICE and other guidelines
• Membership of AHPCC
• Teamwork experience

Specific Skills

• Establish links with faith communities
• Assess spiritual care needs and write care plans
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Outlook
• Own vehicle for travel

Personal Qualities

• Commitment to personal and spiritual growth
• Resilience in stress
• Perceptive, innovative, approachable, effective communicator

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post requires a DBS check due to the sensitive nature of the work.