The post holder will assist in the delivery of spiritual, religious, and pastoral care to patients, their families and staff within the hospital at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching NHS Foundation Trust (WWL NHS FT). The post holder will be required to work flexibly and supportively alongside chaplaincy colleagues to advise, enable and ensure that the needs of the hospital are addressed.
Please note that this vacancy may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received. We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly to avoid disappointment.
THIS ROLE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SPONSORSHIP.
To provide, as part of the chaplaincy and spiritual care team, the pastoral, spiritual and religious needs of patients, visitors, carers and staff of WWL NHS FT respecting their diversity and the equality of the individual.
To uphold and act in accordance with Trust policies, NHS chaplaincy guidance and UKBHC code of conduct.
Follow protocols and procedures for the recording of relevant information on the assessment of spiritual needs and the delivery of spiritual care in the patient information systems.
Awareness of their role within the team.
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is proud to provide high‑quality acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, our staff are central to everything we do — we believe that happy staff make for happy patients , and this ethos underpins our culture and our success.
We have a strong, recognised track record in staff engagement and in living our values:
People at the Heart
Listen and Involve
Kind and Respectful
ONE Team
We are committed to placing patients at the heart of every decision and delivering safe, effective care that protects dignity and enhances experience. We seek to recruit people who share our values, our passion for high‑quality care, and our belief in working together as One Team.
At WWL, we recognise the strength that comes from a rich and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from all sections of society and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.
- To provide, as part of the chaplaincy and spiritual care team, the pastoral, spiritual and religious needs of patients, visitors, carers and staff of WWL NHS FT respecting their diversity and the equality of the individual.
- To uphold and act in accordance with Trust policies, NHS chaplaincy guidance and UKBHC code of conduct.
- Follow protocols and procedures for the recording of relevant information on the assessment of spiritual needs and the delivery of spiritual care in the patient information systems.
- Awareness of their role within the team.
Communications and Key Working Relationships
- Follow chaplaincy policies and provide relevant faith-based perspectives which support the delivery of spiritual, religious and pastoral care strategies, policies, protocols, procedures and work plans
- Observe national healthcare chaplains’ Codes of Conduct (cscsc) and other professional codes of conduct, policies and guidelines relating to chaplaincy services
- To maintain a professional, calm, empathic, sensitive and respectful approach when working in stressful and emotional situations within a busy environment
- To provide support staff, patients and visitors as required in times of crisis, loss, or bereavement as part of the staff wellbeing and support offering
Provide support for staff and schedule time for staff as service users. Assessing and respond to staff pastoral and spiritual needs (individual or collective)
- To support the chaplaincy manager and deputy manager when dealing with complex issues as they might arise within the chaplaincy and spiritual care team
- To share in general visiting on the wards and departments to provide pastoral, spiritual and religious care to patients, relatives and staff of all faiths, beliefs and none
- Maintain concentration and a calm consistent approach in the delivery of pastoral care despite unpredictable and unexpected work patterns or demands
- To always respect and maintain service user confidentiality, only recording essential data within Trust systems subject to consent and within legal and Trust frameworks for Information Governance
- Be responsible for patient record keeping and monitoring spiritual, religious and associated with care given to patients by the healthcare chaplaincy and spiritual care team using the appropriate systems subject to consent and within information governance regulations
- Conduct contract funerals/baby funerals. Liaising with the relevant Funeral Directors and community leaders as required to facilitate faith-based burials
- To work sensitively and collaboratively with the patient’s own Priest/Minister/Faith Leader to meet the holistic pastoral needs of their parishioners
- To support, mentor and supervise chaplaincy volunteers, pastoral faith students and honorary chaplains
- Fluent and effective communicator in speech and writing
- Communicating with patients and their families/carers in complex and often sensitive situations
- Demonstratable communication skills to communicate with individuals in a variety of complex encounters
- Friendly and professional approach to working with colleagues, the capability to work independently and collaboratively
- Participate in a range of cases supporting the manager to deliver effective pastoral and spiritual care
- Participate in reflective practice which supports professional development and contributes to the delivery of spiritual, religious, and pastoral care
- Active in the maintenance of the post holder’s own spiritual needs
- Actively maintain and contribute to personal and departmental objectives including own appraisal, essential training, and continuing professional development (CPD)
- To assist in preparing and conducting services of public worship, to facilitate private prayer as appropriate and to administer religious rites/sacraments appropriate to the persons faith group or belief and those of no belief.
- To participate in the provision of a 14hr a day chaplaincy on call cover, on a rota basis.
- To support the chaplaincy and spiritual care team and volunteers in the performance of their duties, fostering productive and positive working relationships.
- To build and maintain effective relationships with clinical teams, wards and departments assigned by the Chaplaincy Manager.
Participate in projects and operational groups as directed by the Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care Manager.
Work Circumstances & on call
- Full time 12 hrs
- Ability to travel independently across Trust sites in accordance with organisation policies and service need.
- Ability to attend an urgent on-call referral
Standard Duties & Responsibilities
- The Trust operates a No Smoking Policy.
- As a chaplain you are to have an enhanced DBS to work with vulnerable adults and vulnerable children.
- All Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust staff employed within Clinical Environments and have contact with children, vulnerable adults; service users and their families must familiarise themselves, be aware of their responsibilities and adhere to Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, Local Safeguarding Adult Board and WWL Procedures for Safeguarding and Protecting Children which are available on the Trust Policy Library.
- In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, employees who are required to interact regularly with the public, both face to face, and by telephone, are required to be able to speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.
- Compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations 2016, Data Protection Act 2018 and Information Governance Principles – the postholder is not entitled to use for their own benefit or gain, or to divulge to any persons, firm or other organisation whatsoever, any confidential information belonging to the Trust or relating to the Trust’s affairs or dealings which may come to their knowledge during employment.
- Compliance with the Health & Social Care Act 2008 – Code of Practice on the Prevention and Control of Infections and related guidance – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the reduction and management of healthcare related infection in all their actions. This entails compliance with Trust Infection Prevention and Control policy and related Standard Operating Procedure (SOP’s); along with risk assessment of all situations as staff have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Staff must be fully compliant with Trust Infection prevention and Control eLearning policy.
- All applicants to any post within the Trust are required to declare any involvement either directly or indirectly with any firm, company, relevant person or organisation which has any interest with the Trust, the services provided by the Trust or any element of patient care. Failure to do so may result in an employment application being rejected, or if it is discovered after appointment the omission of such information could lead to dismissal. This includes any form of private practice relating to medical care.
- Compliance with Trust Policies and Procedures including the Code of Conduct.
- Responsibility for all records (including patient health, financial, personal and administrative) that they gather or use as part of their work within the trust. The records may be paper, electronic, microfiche, audio or videotapes, x-ray images.
- Any other duties appropriate to the grade. The range of duties and responsibilities outlined above are indicative only and are intended to give a broad flavour of the range and type of duties that will be allocated. They are subject to modification in the light of changing service demands and the development requirements of the postholder.
