Chaplain - Church of England

Role Responsibility:

Chaplain - Church of England (Part-Time)

HMP Rye Hill, Rugby

£19,351.33 per annum

Permanent - Part-Time (20 hours per week)

Excellent Company benefits including Contributory Pension

This is a great opportunity to be a part of something exciting!

Within Care and Rehabilitation Services, the philosophy of our prisons is to rehabilitate offenders and equip them to re-integrate into mainstream society on release. We seek to normalise prison conditions as far as possible to reflect life in the outside community. Our aim is to create an environment in which staff and prisoners feel safe and causes of prison stress are minimised. Central to our philosophy is the relationship between staff and prisoners. Our training and operational practices emphasise the need to treat prisoners with dignity and respect and staff build positive and supportive relationships with the prisoners in their care.

HMP Rye Hill is a category 'B' training prison situated in the village of Willoughby, near Rugby in Warwickshire, holding approximately 664 sentenced male adults.

HMP Rye Hill is seeking to appoint a Church of England Chaplain to work as part of their Multi-Faith team.

The successful candidate, who will be accredited as a lay or ordained minister within their denomination, will be involved in providing Faith and Pastoral Care services for all who live and work in HMP Rye Hill.

For this particular role, an interest in bereavement work, and pastoral care of the elderly and frail would be of assistance. Some flexibility in weekly hours is possible, and Sunday working is not necessarily required.

They will be expected to take a lead on Faith issues relating to the needs of those from all Church of England backgrounds and will be involved in leading Christian ecumenical Sunday services.

The job holder will provide for the religious care of prisoners and staff in the Church of England faith tradition including sacramental provision as appropriate and pastoral care for all as required, irrespective of faith or tradition.

They will work with colleagues to ensure the delivery of Prison Service Specifications as required and also the broader work of Chaplaincy in delivering faith and non-faith-based courses. Will contribute to the process by which the Director is assured that relevant specifications are being delivered. 

The job holder will engage with, and build contacts with their own faith community towards aiding the resettlement of offenders.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as faith advisor in the establishment providing advice, pastoral care and spiritual welfare to prisoners, staff and their families as requested
• Facilitate and deliver opportunities for worship, study and religious programmes
• Contribute towards the development of local policy, procedures and practice
• Provide mentoring and personal support for other Chaplains and volunteers including following incidents
• Be part of the provision of available and accessible Chaplaincy care at all times
• Plan and lead worship and prayer / faith specific meetings
• Provide pastoral care to prisoners and help to provide support and bring resolution to crisis situations where required
• Nurture Chaplaincy volunteers in their contribution
• Facilitate services provided by contractors and volunteers
• Work collaboratively with other Chaplains on the maintenance and provision of facilities for worship and prayer
• Ensure your prison community is aware of relevant religious events and coordinate establishment support for these
• Acquire and distribute appropriate religious literature, supplies and materials
• Contribute to training programmes and materials for staff and volunteers
• Proactive in forging links with their local faith communities and other agencies, as relevant.
• As required, undertake and ensure that all relevant administration, data collection and analysis is collated
• Take responsibility for your own spiritual health and development, allowing time for private prayer, study and retreat
• Provide appropriate support to the establishment in the absence of the Managing Chaplain.
• Actively support the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process
• Attend relevant boards/ meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member

The Ideal Candidate:

Ordained Bishop, Priest or Deacon

• Be an ordained member of the Anglican Communion (or of churches part of the Porvoo Agreement).
• Will normally need to have been in Holy Orders for a minimum of three years.
• Have formal endorsement in the form of the licence of the Diocesan Bishop.

Or

Reader, Religious Brother/Sister, Church Army Evangelist

• Be a Reader (as set out in Canon E4 of The Canons of the Church of England or direct equivalent in other Anglican provinces).
• Be a Religious sister or brother, Church Army Evangelist or other appropriately qualified or licensed minister in the Anglican tradition, subject to agreement from the Anglican Bishop to HM Prisons.
• Have formal endorsement in the form of the licence of the Diocesan Bishop (Evidence required before appointment).

Essential Skills:

• Have been in Holy Orders for a minimum of three years
• Have formal endorsement in the form of the Licence of the Diocesan Bishop
• Be an ordained member of the Anglican Communion (or of churches part of the Porvoo Agreement).
• Substantial experience of organising and leading religious services.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Empathetic.
• Good communication skills.
• Approachable

Desirable Skills:

• Experience of project/ work planning, monitoring and reviewing

It is key that you are flexible and adaptable to deal with ever-changing scenarios within the prison. You will be supported by an enthusiastic and committed team at HMP Rye Hill.

Equality and Diversity is an important part of Care and Rehabilitation Services. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and are a fully inclusive employer who aims to support all employees to be their true selves. We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments for either the role or during the recruitment process.

Care and Rehabilitation Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and adults at risk and each employee is expected to support these goals.

Please note that these vacancies are subject to a 10-year checkable history and the strict vetting standards set by the business and HMPPS and are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

You must be eligible to work in the UK and must have been resident in the UK for a minimum period of 3 years. You will also need to provide full details of your employment and education history for the last 10 years as part of the security screening process for this role.