About this role
Job summary
The Lead Chaplain is responsible for the provision and further development of the Chaplaincy Service within Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals.
The Lead Chaplain is responsible, with ordained and lay colleagues in the Chaplaincy Team, for the religious, spiritual and pastoral care of all patients, visitors, staff, volunteers and students in the Trust Hospitals. Working with other Faith Leaders, the Team has a duty for all people who access and use our services whatever their faith or belief.
Main duties of the job
The Lead Chaplain will lead the Trust's Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Service, providing strategic, professional, and operational leadership to ensure the delivery of high-quality pastoral, spiritual, and religious care for patients, families, carers, and staff. The postholder will oversee a responsive multi-faith service, working closely with clinical teams and community faith leaders to support people of all faiths and beliefs, including those with no faith.
The role includes managing chaplaincy staff and volunteers, developing policies and service standards, supporting staff wellbeing, advising on matters relating to faith, belief, spirituality, and culturally sensitive care, and ensuring the service contributes effectively to patient experience, end of life care, bereavement support, and organisational wellbeing. The Lead Chaplain will also provide expert support in complex and sensitive situations, including serious illness, trauma, sudden death, and major incidents.
This is an important leadership role requiring compassion, emotional resilience, strong partnership working, and a commitment to inclusive, high-quality spiritual care within a busy acute hospital environment.
About us
Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM). They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation
Our mission is to be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other
Our vision is to be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn
Our approach to healthcare is founded on our four core values:
Kind - we are caring, supporting and respectful to everyone
Open - we are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
Fair - we listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
One team - we work well together and with our communities
We employ almost 6,500 people from more than 80 nationalities and are fully committed to being an equal, diverse and inclusive employer. Our culture and values ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and that no job applicant or employee is disadvantaged at any stage of their journey.
We are also proud to be an Armed Forces Friendly organisation and welcome applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists and families.
Working at NCM means becoming part of a dedicated team of clinical and support staff who are passionate about keeping people well and supporting wellbeing. If you share our values and are motivated by making a difference for our patients, we'd be delighted to receive your application
Job description Job responsibilities
For full details of roles and responsibilities, please see the attached job description.
FULL JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHED
Person Specification
Experience Essential
To have served an extensive period in ministry providing pastoral care. Substantial experience in Healthcare Chaplaincy. Leadership experience Experience of collaborative working in a multi faith/belief setting.
Desirable
Experience of working with those who are bereaved
Qualifications Essential
Priest/minister of a church in membership of Churches Together in England and eligible for authorisation by the appropriate church authority. Accreditation/licensing with authority to practice as a Christian leader/representative and/or pastoral worker.
Desirable
Post-graduate diploma/degree in Health-Care Chaplaincy. Counselling qualification. Eligible to be registered for UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy
Skills, knowledge and competence Essential
Understanding of ethical issues in health care Knowledge and understanding of other faith traditions. Knowledge of equality and diversity issues. A working knowledge of Chaplaincy standards. Ability to write and deliver training Excellent pastoral and communication skills. Demonstrate a deep spirituality and ability to relate personal beliefs to pastoral situations. Good organisational skills and ability to manage own workload. Able to set priorities, make decisions, solve problems effectively and delegate tasks appropriately. Demonstrate the ability to lead the Chaplaincy Team, conduct annual appraisals and monthly 1:1's. The ability to recognise and pursue own training needs. Ability to facilitate opportunities for prayer, reflection and worship in a wide variety of settings. The ability to develop rapport with people from all walks of life, meet them at their point of need and respond in meaningful and appropriate ways. Able to express oneself clearly both verbally and in writing and communicate thoughts and ideas easily. The ability to listen to and interpret complex needs, working in highly stressful and emotive situations. The ability to cope with the suffering of others and to recognise the personal need for support. Be an encourager, enabler and team builder and have the ability to facilitate others. Awareness and respect for colleagues, patients and relatives cultural, religious and emotional needs and beliefs Willing to work with all religions and beliefs with both staff and volunteers including offering spiritual care beyond own religious boundaries with commitment to inclusive approach to chaplaincy. Willing to liaise with other agencies and network within the local communities. A willingness to learn and accept new challenges Be of a calm, caring and compassionate disposition. Have a wholehearted commitment to the innovative development of Spiritual care and Chaplaincy Services throughout the Trust. Be prepared to work across sites and live sufficiently close to the hospitals to be able to respond within one hour of a call-out.
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 North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (WHH)
Address Warrington and Halton Hospitals
Warrington
WA5 1QG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://northcheshireandmersey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)