Our dedicated Spiritual and Pastoral Care Team is seeking chaplains to join us in enhancing and developing the pastoral, spiritual, and religious care services we provide. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a supportive and diverse environment. We work in a variety of contexts covering all age groups including mental-health inpatient units, general (community) hospitals, and community mental-health teams.
We welcome applications from people of all faiths and belief backgrounds who hold the appropriate qualifications. We are actively looking to foster inclusivity and broaden the diversity of our team.
All applications will be considered based only on the essential and desirable criteria listed in the Person Specification attached. In collaboration with our existing chaplains, you will provide spiritual and pastoral support to patients, carers and staff from various backgrounds, delivering religious care as applicable to your own faith or belief tradition.
We offer flexible part-time or full-time positions, with negotiable working hours to suit your schedule. The primary base for this role will be the Littlemore Mental Health Centre in Oxford but with additional travel required across the Trust including Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and further afield.
If you are a compassionate, qualified professional eager to make a difference and be part of an inspiring team, we would love to hear from you!
The primary duty of the chaplain is to offer spiritual and pastoral care to inpatients, community service users, families, carers and Trust staff in coordination with the rest of the Spiritual and Pastoral Care team. Chaplains are expected to assess spiritual, pastoral and religious needs and either to offer religious care where appropriate or to make onward referrals to ensure these needs are provided for.
Please refer to the job description attached for a comprehensive list of duties
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application you are encouraged to read the “candidate guide to making an application” which is attached to all roles. Please include details around qualifications (including years these were gained particularly if we need to assess for clinical roles that these are still valid) and ensure that the supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses the essential criteria found in the JD.
As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”
Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”
At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
Excellent opportunities for career progression
Individual and Trust wide learning and development
27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
NHS Discount
Pension scheme
Lease car scheme
Employee Assistance Programme
Mental Health First Aiders
Staff accommodation (waiting lists may apply)
Staff networking and support groups
Specific duties and responsibilities include:
Visit inpatient units and community service users as required to provide spiritual, pastoral and emotional support and make provision for appropriate religious support where required
Support staff wellbeing and be available to staff for spiritual, pastoral and religious support where appropriate
Establish good working relationships with clinical and other staff including community mental health teams
Assess spiritual and religious needs where appropriate and communicate with the multi-disciplinary team as part of a holistic care plan
Assist in the provision, maintenance and care of spiritual and religious resources including multi-faith spaces, prayer rooms and sanctuaries
Lead spiritual and/or religious rituals or practices as appropriate or arrange for these to be provided
Contribute towards chaplaincy service innovation and development
Encourage an interest in spiritual and pastoral care among other health professionals and assist in the provision of training
Encourage an interest in mental health and wellbeing among faith and belief communities
Contribute to the implementation of spiritual, pastoral and religious care by service managers as an integral aspect of standard service delivery and support the development and dissemination of an integrated and holistic model of patient care that is inclusive of psychospiritual care
Promote spirituality as a quality of organisational life through personal integrity in attitude and behaviour
Serve as a resource to the Trust on spiritual, ethical and religious matters and provide guidance in areas of specialist knowledge
Actively challenge societal stigma and social exclusion in promoting mental and emotional wellbeing for all people and communities
Proactively undertake professional, personal and spiritual development
Ensure that the health and welfare of patients is at the centre of all Trust activities
Promote quality of care and safety of patients, visitors and staff and strive for continuous quality improvement
Appropriately document encounters and support provided in Trust systems
Preserve appropriate confidentiality regarding patients, families, carers and staff
Please refer to the job description and guidance notes attached for further information on this role
