Hospital Chaplain | Mersey and West Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

An opportunity has arisen to join the Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy team at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The post-holder will contribute to delivering high-quality spiritual, pastoral and religious care over five hospital sites to patients, carers, families and staff often dealing with highly emotive situations. You will be part of a team of chaplains working across the Trust to deliver a 24/7 on‑call service. As well as supporting staff and patients at times of need you will also be an advocate for spiritual care, liaise with faith leaders, supervise chaplaincy volunteers/students and contribute to educational opportunities to teaching sessions for staff and volunteers.

• Work as part of the spiritual care and chaplaincy team at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on a daily basis.
• Share responsibility for ensuring the provision of spiritual, pastoral and religious care across all trust sites including appropriate rites, ceremonies and events to support both staff and patients.
• Be part of the 24/7 trust‑wide on‑call rota and be able to respond within the Trust standard.
• Contribute to service projects to improve and develop the delivery of spiritual care and chaplaincy within the Trust.
• Support parents, and those important to them, following a pregnancy or baby loss and offer ongoing support where appropriate.
• Provide routine pastoral, religious and spiritual care to patients, their families, volunteers and staff during normal working hours.
• Respond to urgent calls during normal working hours. This will often involve offering support in emotionally difficult and challenging situations.
• Offer support to patients and their families as they approach the end of life and offer bereavement support as required.
• Work flexibly and be part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
• Lead the “Our Babies” month service for early pregnancy loss when required.
• Plan and lead funerals the Trust is responsible for providing.
• Participate in the planning and leading of annual services and events such as adult, baby and child memorial services.
• Be a key part of the spiritual care and chaplaincy team and support other team members.
• Represent the chaplaincy and spiritual care service at various meetings within the Trust (e.g., End‑of‑Life Steering Group, Patient Experience Council, Faith Consultation Group, Dementia and Delirium Steering Group, Organ Donation Group) and present reports as required.
• Provide supervision to spiritual care and chaplaincy volunteers and bank/on‑call chaplains in their day‑to‑day duties.
• Provide and receive complex and sensitive information.
• Liaise with representatives of local faith communities where appropriate.
• Ensure all referrals are supported by a person‑centred approach and support is offered in a timely and dignified manner, regardless of personal beliefs.
• Treat information gained through the role in accordance with Trust policy with absolute confidentiality unless a lawful requirement to inform other agencies exists.
• Work in accordance with the UK Board of Health Care Chaplaincy Professional Code of Conduct.
• Assess urgent and non‑urgent referrals and respond appropriately.
• Keep detailed records securely of patient contact and information.
• Attend, support and plan service meetings and other meetings as required.
• Participate in activities of the chaplaincy and spiritual care service under guidance of the Spiritual Care Lead.
• Contribute to the maintenance and provision of Trust sanctuaries and public areas set aside for spiritual, religious or pastoral practice and expression.
• Participate in 24/7 on‑call across all hospital sites.
• Support ongoing developments of the spiritual care and chaplaincy service.
• Contribute to the development of underpinning policies, standard operational procedures and service information.
• Keep accurate records of work done, call‑out times and travel claims, submitting these in a timely manner for approval.
• Maintain own responsibility in keeping mandatory training up to date.
• Contribute to the education and training of healthcare professionals and volunteers in spiritual care practices.
• Actively maintain and contribute to own…