Christian Free Church Chaplain

Salary  

£33,104 - £34,694

Number of jobs available  

1

Detail of reserve list  

12 Months

Region  

East of England 

City/Town  

Woodbridge

Building/Site  

HM Prison Warren Hill, Woodbridge, IP12 

Grade  

HEO

Organisation Grade for HMPPS  

Band 5

Post Type  

Permanent

Working Pattern  

Part Time, Flexible Working, Other

Role Type  

Chaplaincy

Job description  

There is a full-time vacancy for this role. Evening and weekend working is required on a shared basis across the team. 

Overview of the job    

Job holders will provide faith/belief and pastoral care to prisoners and staff of their own faith/belief tradition and have an understanding/knowledge of other faith/beliefs as part of a multi- faith/belief chaplaincy team. Job holders will also be required to meet the pastoral needs of people of other faiths/beliefs and
none.

Summary    

The job holder will work with colleagues to ensure the delivery of PSI 05/2016 Faith and Pastoral Care for Prisoners or its successor policy framework and also the broader work of chaplaincy in delivering faith and non-faith-based courses. Will contribute to the process by which the Governor and Chaplain General/Head of Faith Services are assured that these policies are being delivered.

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

Takes responsibility for one’s own spiritual health and development, allowing time for private prayer/reflection, study and retreat.

This is a non-rotational, non-operational job with no line management or supervisory responsibilities.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties    

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

•    provide guidance on their faith/belief system in the establishment providing advice, pastoral care and spiritual welfare to prisoners, staff and their families as requested, liaising with their Faith and Belief Adviser (FBA) or other FBA as appropriate;
•    plan and lead worship/meditation, prayer and faith/belief specific meetings. Be part of the provision of available and accessible chaplaincy care at all times;
•    facilitate and deliver opportunities for worship/meditation, study and religious programmes. Work collaboratively with other Chaplains, the Managing Chaplain, volunteers and external groups on the maintenance and provision of facilities for worship/meditation and prayer;
•    contribute towards the development of local policy, procedures and practice; 

•    provide pastoral care to prisoners and help to provide support and bring resolution to crisis situations where required. Provide mentoring and personal support for other chaplains and volunteers including following incidents;
•    nurture Chaplaincy volunteers in their contribution;
•    work with the Official Prison Visitor (OPV) Liaison Officer in promoting the scheme within the prison ensuring all prisoners are aware of it and to assist where required OPV volunteers;
•    ensure their prison community is aware of relevant faith/belief events and coordinate establishment support for these. Acquire and distribute appropriate faith/belief literature, artefacts and materials;
•    contribute to training programmes and materials for staff and volunteers. Be part of the organisation and delivery of Faith Awareness Training for staff;
•    represent the chaplaincy team at establishment meetings, committees etc 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;
•    with the agreement of the Managing Chaplain and establishment senior management team and as required, take on additional roles; e.g. Family Liaison Officer, Family Services single point of contact, volunteer coordinator etc;
•    be proactive in forging links with their local faith/belief communities and other agencies, as relevant and consider ways in which these communities/agencies may become involved in supporting prisoners on release;
•    participate in developing ways for improving and achieving targets as required, undertake and ensure that all relevant administration, data collection and analysis including relevant targets are collated; and
•    assist in Probation Approved Premises (APs), with offenders on release into the community, those serving community sentences or other HMPPS funded community initiatives by agreement.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours    

•    Communicating and Influencing
•    Managing a Quality Service
•    Making Effective Decisions
•    Changing and Improving
•    Working Together
•    Delivering at Pace 

Essential Experience    

•    Chaplains are required to meet the faith/belief eligibility requirements for their chosen faith/belief as outlined within the Group Profile.
•    An ability to fulfil all spoken and written aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Technical Requirements    

Must complete specific training to hold the qualifications required for area of specialism outlined on the relevant job description.

Faith/Belief Eligibility Requirements (January 2023)

Free Church:

•    All Free Church chaplains are trained faith practitioners
in their own communities. They are accountable to and accredited by an eligible denomination as listed on the Free Churches Group website. They will either be a minister (lay or ordained) of a Free Church denomination which is:
•    a member of the Free Churches Group, or
•    listed by the HMPPS Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser as an ‘Additional Denomination’.

Denominations listed as an “Additional Denomination” will satisfy all of the following:
•    have a distinctive Free Church theology;
•    be national members of either Churches Together in England or Cytun;
•    have formally requested inclusion on the ‘Additional Denomination’ list;
•    have agreed to abide by the “Joint Working Protocol for Prison Chaplains” established between the Free Churches Group, Churches together in England and Cytun.

•    Ordained Chaplains (including ordained deacons) will have completed a formal professional formation process appropriate to their denomination which satisfies that denomination of their ability to effectively practice and fulfil the skills and competencies required of an ordained minister. Where an ordained chaplain is appointed within the first two years of their ordination then the denomination will be required to demonstrate to the Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser the additional support to be given during this crucial stage of ministry development.

•    Required qualifications for Prison Chaplains. All Free Churches Chaplains will be expected to hold a formal recognised qualification in theology or religious study, normally to UK University undergraduate Diploma standard.

•    Requirement for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). In order to maintain endorsement by the Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser all chaplains will be required to demonstrate regular continuing reflection or training contributing towards their professional development as ministers. This will be recorded and assessed on an annual basis by the HMPPS Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser.

Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances    

•    If part time, hours to be confirmed.

Unsocial Hours Working.

This role requires working regular unsocial hours and a payment at the current approved organisation rate will be made in addition to your basic pay to recognise this.
Unsocial hours are those hours outside 0700 - 1900hrs Monday to Friday and include working evenings, nights,
weekends and Bank/Public Holidays.

The job holder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh.

Allowance Details  

Unsociable Hours  Allowance

This role requires working regular unsocial hours as part of the normal shift commitment and a 20% payment will be paid in addition to your basic pay to recognise this. Unsocial hours are those hours outside 0700 ‐ 1900hrs Monday to Friday and including working evening, nights, weekends and Bank/Public holidays.

Licences
Must complete specific training to hold the qualifications required for area of specialism outlined on the relevant job description.
Faith/Belief Eligibility Requirements (January 2023)
Free Church:
• All Free Church chaplains are trained faith practitioners in their own communities. They are accountable to and accredited by an eligible denomination as listed on the
Free Churches Group website. They will either be a minister (lay or ordained) of a Free Church denomination which is:
• a member of the Free Churches Group, or
• listed by the HMPPS Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser as an ‘Additional Denomination’. Denominations listed as an “Additional Denomination” will satisfy all of the following:
▪ have a distinctive Free Church theology;
▪ be national members of either Churches Together in England or Cytun;
▪ have formally requested inclusion on the ‘Additional Denomination’ list;
▪ have agreed to abide by the “Joint Working Protocol for Prison Chaplains” established between the Free Churches Group, Churches together in England and Cytun.
• Ordained Chaplains (including ordained deacons) will have completed a formal professional formation process appropriate to their denomination which satisfies that denomination of their ability to effectively practice and fulfil the skills and competencies required of an ordained minister. Where an ordained chaplain is appointed within the first two years of their ordination then the denomination will be required to demonstrate to the Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser the additional support to be given during this crucial stage of ministry development.
• Required qualifications for Prison Chaplains. All Free Churches Chaplains will be expected to hold a formal recognised qualification in theology or religious study, normally to UK University undergraduate Diploma standard.
• Requirement for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). In order to maintain endorsement by the Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser all chaplains will be required to demonstrate regular continuing reflection or training contributing towards their professional development as ministers. This will be recorded and assessed on an annual basis by the HMPPS Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser.

Languages
An ability to fulfil all spoken and written aspects of the role
with confidence through the medium of English.

Interview dates  

Expected Beginning of May 2025

Closing Date:  

25/04/2025, 23:55 hours.

Contact information  

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com. Please quote the job reference - 84156.

If you would like to discuss this role with the manager, please email   Anne.halliday@justice.gov.uk

Success Profiles  

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.

if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance

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We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours

Communicating and Influencing - 250 word limit

Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit

Making Effective Decisions - 250 word limit

Working Together - 250 word limit

Delivering at Pace - 250 word limit

Changing and Improving - 250 word limit

Experience

CV

Describe your work experience and training to date? What are your What specific experience do you have of delivering faith-specific interventions, services and groups? - 250 word limit

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.

Behaviours

Communicating and Influencing

Managing a Quality Service

Making Effective Decisions

Working Together

Delivering at Pace

Changing and Improving

Experience

Describe your work experience and training to date? What are your What specific experience do you have of delivering faith-specific interventions, services and groups?

Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.

Additional Assessment(s)

Presentation

Role Play

Written Exercise

Any candidate who has been assessed as being appointable to the role they applied for may be offered a similar, lower grade role, if one is available. Furthermore, any candidate who has just missed meeting the criteria for a particular role, may be appointed to a similar role at a lower grade if such a role is available, and if they have been assessed as meeting the criteria for the lower grade role. These appointments will also be made in merit order.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

· UK nationals

· nationals of the Republic of Ireland

· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020

· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules