JOB DESCRIPTION Position: Location: Chaplain / Spiritual Care Lead All bases throughout ellenor Office base at Northfleet. Responsible to: Head of Wellbeing JOB SUMMARY The post holder will lead and develop the spiritual aspects of the hospice s work and offer pastoral support to patients of all ages, carers, staff and volunteers as required. The post holder will work as a key member of the multidisciplinary team as part of the overall holistic care provision for both the adult s and children s services. The post holder will manage and oversee a team of multifaith volunteer Chaplains and chaplaincy / spiritual visitors, and will seek to develop close links with local faith leaders and their congregations. This is a role which requires great resilience and sensitivity in dealing with all aspects of death and dying. RESPONSIBILITIES: Pastoral To provide leadership and support to the multifaith chaplaincy team and other staff / volunteers in the provision of spiritual care for patients and families. To provide spiritual, religious and pastoral care to all patients, visitors, staff and volunteers in the healthcare setting regardless of the faith or life stance of the recipient.
To establish systems, which ensure good communication around issues relating to spiritual and religious need as part of total patient care. To advise, train and support staff throughout the organisation and beyond, in identifying the spiritual needs of patients and their families. Where appropriate to support staff in meeting spiritual needs, to refer to local places of worship or visit patients as Chaplain to ellenor. To encourage, when appropriate, continuing spiritual care of families and carers through local community groups and faith groups. To lead services for patients, families, staff and volunteers as required, including at weekends and at significant times. To participate in meetings of the various multi-disciplinary teams to ensure spiritual needs are identified and addressed. To co-ordinate and participate in the out of hours on-call arrangements for the Chaplaincy Team. To work collaboratively with colleagues in the Wellbeing Service in identifying the spiritual needs of the patients. To build and maintain good relationships with clergy, ministers and other faith leaders in the local community, looking for opportunities for partnership work where appropriate. To raise the profile of ellenor and its work with local Churches and congregations, and other faith groups and religious bodies. To maintain good links with local Hospital and Hospice Chaplains and attend any relevant joint networking meetings as appropriate. To support staff of all faiths or none To provide line management support for members of the Chaplaincy Team and chaplaincy visitors, including regular reviews and appraisals. To play a key role in the provision of after death and bereavement care as necessary. To be available to conduct funerals and interment of ashes if required by those of any faith or none. This would be in agreement and conjunction with your line manager.
Managerial To abide to the Health Care Chaplains Code of Conduct. To be a member of the Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains (AHPCC) and to work within its ethical and professional framework To co-ordinate the work undertaken by any visiting Chaplains, both ordained and lay. To ensure that, as far as possible, a Chaplaincy service is available at all times, arranging cover as necessary when away on annual leave, training days etc. To liase with ministers and clergy of all denominations and other faiths who may be invited by patients and families to visit and support them whilst in the hospice. To co-ordinate arrangements for the memorial services. To use electronic patients records, and have relevant computer skills to undertake and maintain clear and concise records which comply with the hospice policy and procedures on record keeping. To promote awareness of the role of the Chaplain within the hospice and in the community, within faith groups, churches and secular philosophical groups i.e. humanists. To act as a representative of ellenor when required in both the media and social media. Training and Development To share best practice in matters pertaining to spiritual care with colleagues, especially in relation to new approaches to work. To actively contribute and suggest on how improvements could be made to the work flow if necessary.
To participate, in education programmes and assist in the development of new areas. To provide an informed ethical, theological, spiritual, religious and pastoral resource for individuals and as part of the Hospice s education, training and research programme. To be able to provide evidence that they have been regularly and carefully involved in their own spiritual involvement. To actively look for new opportunities and areas for selfdevelopment using the hospice annual performance review system to ensure skills are kept relevant and up to date. To seek to maintain own spiritual life, development and training so as to be able to speak with authority. To acknowledge the potential for professional isolation, and both promote and attend regular clinical supervision and support in personal, spiritual and professional areas both within and outside the hospice. Audit and Research To actively contribute and take part in any quality measuring systems that the hospice may put in place with regard to the area of your expertise. To be aware of new developments in palliative care. To participate in nursing and inter-disciplinary audit projects. To participate in the hospice Clinical Governance programme. GENERAL To be aware of the philosophy of ellenor and to behave as a fit representative To abide by the organisations general confidentiality policy To be aware of guidelines stated in staff handbook and all relevant policies and procedures To undertake bi-annual performance review when personal development plan will be discussed To attend statutory and specialised training when required.
At ellenor we are committed to creating and managing a safe working environment for all our staff, visitors, volunteers and patients. All ellenor employees are expected to know, understand and deliver their Safety Responsibilities. All ellenor employees may be set at least one Safety Objective by their manager or supervisor which must be delivered if they are to meet their objectives. Postholder s Name.. Postholder s Signature Date. Manager s Name Manager s Signature.. Date This Job Description will be regularly reviewed
PERSON SPECIFICATION Chaplain / Spiritual Care Lead Factor Essential Desirable How Assessed Qualification s An ordained minister, authorised member of a Christian denomination or a registered faith leader with substantial experience in pastoral care, with a role that is recognised by a national faith or belief community. Member of the United Kingdom Board of Healthcare Chaplains (UKBHC) Educated to degree level qualification related to hospice work Medical/psychological/ clinical/therapeutic/ theological/ counselling qualification Application form Documents Experience Knowledge Skills Able to organise and manage own time Experience of working within a team Experience of working with families. Confident public speaker Experienced in setting and managing professional boundaries Experience in ministry/parish chaplaincy, working with people of other faiths or none Experience of supervising and supporting pastoral workers Providing education both formally and informally Commitment to multi-disciplinary, patient centred working Knowledge and identification with the philosophy of the hospice movement An understanding of family dynamics and the potential effects of bereavement on different members of the family Teaching and supervision skills Communicating with people of different ages and cultures, both verbal and written Able to advocate and empower others An understanding of the application of listening and counselling skills in pastoral care Experience of managing a team Experience of working in a hospice Experience in healthcare chaplaincy Experience of implementing spiritual care competencies Knowledge of specialist palliative care Research interests Knowledge of death practices in other faiths Application form Documents Interview Application form Interview Application form Interview
Personal Attributes Other Assertive IT skills Qualities of tact and diplomacy Able to manage emotional demands of post, using support and supervision appropriately Creative and flexible Open to new ideas Ability to inspire others Sense of humour Able to manage pressures of the post Flexible and positive in managing team of volunteers with varying knowledge, experience and views Ability to maintain confidentiality Enhanced DBS disclosure Car driver/ability to travel around area Innovative Self awareness Interview Application