About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced Chaplaincy practitioner to lead our Bereavement Care Follow-Up service.
This is an opportunity to lead an important hospital service at a time when new initiatives and opportunities are emerging to develop and further integrate bereavement care across the organisation.
You will bring experience of supporting bereaved families, a collaborative approach to working with clinical colleagues, and the ability to establish clear protocols and effective working practices. You will provide operational leadership for the service, helping to ensure that bereaved families receive compassionate, appropriate and consistent support.
As part of the wider Chaplaincy team, you will support and equip fellow chaplains to contribute effectively to bereavement care follow-up, while also contributing to the team's wider work and participating in on-call duties as required.
You will join a supportive team delivering an important service within the hospital, with the opportunity to bring your experience and ideas to its ongoing development.
Main duties of the job
Provide professional leadership for the Bereavement Care Follow-Up (BCFU) service, promoting good practice and supporting its ongoing development.
Oversee the delivery of the BCFU service through professional guidance, advice, training and education, and the development and promotion of appropriate standards.
Develop and implement service standards, protocols and working practices, and undertake service evaluation and audit to support quality improvement.
Work in accordance with the policies, protocols and practices of the Chaplaincy Department.
Promote the integration of the BCFU service within Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), working collaboratively with colleagues across departments and services to establish clear roles, responsibilities and effective working relationships.
Participate in regular reflective practice to support professional development and the quality of service delivery.
Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to promote coordinated and compassionate care for bereaved families.
Advocate for the voices and experiences of bereaved families within the organisation, helping to inform practice and support the ongoing development of bereavement care.
Contribute flexibly and responsively to the wider delivery of the Chaplaincy service, as required.
Participate in the Chaplaincy on-call rota.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.
As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 5th November 2026
Interviews are due to be held on 16th November 2026
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Ordained or accredited lay minister with a church recognised by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, or equivalent for their faith/belief group.
- Educated to degree level in theology
- Hold post-graduate qualification in a discipline relevant to the role
- Registered Chaplain with the Council of Professional Chaplains and Pastoral Carers (CPCPC) or willing to work towards
Desirable
- Teaching qualification
- Management qualification
- Reflective Pastoral Supervision/counselling qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of supporting families in grief and providing structured support within a framework of pastoral care
- Demonstrable, significant experience of providing pastoral, spiritual, and religious care (including sacramental ministry) to a diverse population
- Experience of leading in the delivery of pastoral, spiritual and religious care in an NHS setting
- Experience of writing and leading funeral services for adults, children and babies
- Leading and develop NHS service through governance, policies, process improvement and stakeholder engagement.
- Experience of responding creatively to the pastoral, religious, and spiritual, needs of patients, relatives, staff and volunteers
Desirable
- Writing and reviewing policies and procedures
- NHS Experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of audit, service evaluation, and/or research
- Able to act as an informed resource on bereavement theory and care, complex grief/bereavement, and guiding the appropriate care of the bereaved
- Develop and deliver specialist education with the NHS to enhance BCFU and Chaplaincy service delivery
- In-depth knowledge of pastoral, spiritual, religious, cultural and ethical aspects of NHS care and able to offer confidently and competently in a professional context such advice within CUH and Royal Papworth Hospital.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work autonomously and within a multidisciplinary team
- Lead acts of worship using formal, established liturgies
- Able to write and deliver liturgies unique to the needs of patient, relative, colleague in a variety of complex pastoral contexts
- Demonstrate advanced communication skills
- Prioritisation of workload for self and others
- Ability to enthuse and motivate others
- Lead on service assessment, development and change implementation
- Ability to assess, develop and advance competency in others
- Ability to act independently and be decisive in critical situations
- Ability to cope with new and changing demands
- Contribute to multidisciplinary teams representing BCFU Service
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The self-awareness and ability to understand and behave at all times in accordance with the Trust Values of Together, Safe, Kind, Excellent
- Participate in the on-call rota
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
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)