About this role
Job summary
LeadChaplain- Multi-Faith Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care
Leads the strategic and daily operations of the Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Team across the Northern Care Alliance, ensuring inclusive, compassionate support, and highly-quality spiritual and religious carefor patients, families, and staff.
The LeadChaplainwill:
Provideexpert guidance on spiritual and religious matters.
Lead a diverse team of Chaplains across faiths and beliefssystems represented in the in-patient population for the Northern Care Alliance Trust.
Managestaff andoversee daily service operations.
Integrate spiritual care into holistic healthcare.
Offer direct support in complex emotional and spiritual situations.
Participate in on-call and holiday cover, with emphasis on Christian (ChurchofEngland/Free Church) needs.
Champion equality, equity, and inclusion
Ensureadherencewith national standards, NHS guidelines,Trustpoliciesand UKBHC code of conduct.
Occupational requirement:
Due toidentifiedservice needs, the post holder must be of Christian faith (Church of England or Free Church), aspermitted under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
Main duties of the job
Please see full job description for more detail:
Professional Duties
Deliver spiritual, pastoral, and religious care--including rites--to patients, families, staff, and students.
Serve as lead contact for spiritual, ethical, and interfaith matters across the Northern Care Alliance.
Manage a personal caseload with diverse and complex care needs.
Participate actively in care delivery, including on-call cover.
Manage referrals across disciplines, offering expert support in sensitive situations.
UpholdUKBHCprofessional standards andregistration requirements.
Responsibilities for Patient Care
Respond to referrals with empathetic spiritual assessments and support.
Provide tailored care for Anglican and Free Church patients.
Collaborate with clinical teams to deliver integrated spiritual care.
Ensure regular ward visits and consistent pastoral presence.
Lead care in complex settings (e.g.ICU, trauma, palliative care).
Continuously evaluate and adapt tospiritualneeds of patients, families, and staff.
Lead Christian services and inclusive gatherings (e.g.memorials).
Conduct Trust funerals and remembrance events across age groups.
Advocate for patients, relatives, and staff in spiritual matters.
Coordinate Chaplaincyresponseduring Major Incidents per Trust proto
About us
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.
As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.
In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.
Learn more about us in our Candidate Information Pack.
Job description Job responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
A degree or equivalent in in subject relevant to chaplaincy Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in a chaplaincy-related discipline Evidence of counselling skills. Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
Eligible for registration with UK BHC
Professional Registration Essential
Ordained or accredited person and in good standing the Anglican Church or a part of the Free Churches Group of Churches Together in England.
Desirable
To be registered, or to be able to register as a chaplain with UKBHC
Knowledge Essential
Working knowledge of major faith communities and belief groups in relation to the acute hospital context Specialist knowledge of a range of faith/ belief traditions beyond candidate's own, with particular reference to practices around birth, sickness, death and bereavement. Understanding of the structures and working practices of the NHS and how to work within them. Understanding of acute healthcare chaplaincy and the ability to articulate service needs and advocate the spiritual needs of service users as required. Knowledge of national policy and guidance relating to the managing of an effective chaplaincy service Knowledge and experience of the implementation of service evaluation in relation to national and local guidance
Experience Essential
Demonstrable experience of working as a healthcare Chaplain (minimum 5 years) with additional experience of providing formal pastoral care in a recognised, professional capacity. Experience of caring for the sick and or bereaved patients and their loved ones. Experience of the multi-cultural, religious and spiritual dimensions of health care. Experience of complex ethical, theological and pastoral issues that may arise in a healthcare setting. Experience of leading and managing teams
Desirable
Experience of working with excluded and marginalised groups and individuals discriminated against due to mental health issues, race or culture, faith, disability, gender or sexual orientation.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Address Royal Oldham Hospital
Rochdale Road
Oldham
OL1 2JH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)