Job Description (JD)
Band 5
Group Profile - Chaplain (C)
Job Description - C: Free Church Ordained
Document Ref.
OR-JES-295-JD-B5: C : Free Church Ordained
Document Type
Management
Version
8.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
09 June 2023
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
OR-JES-295-JD-B5 : C : Free Church Ordained v8.0
Job Description
Job Title
C: Free Church Ordained
Group Profile
Chaplain
Organisation
Chaplain
Level
Band
5
Overview of the
Job holders will provide faith/belief and pastoral care to prisoners
job
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,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following
Activities and
responsibilities, activities and duties:
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;
OR-JES-295-JD-B5 : C : Free Church Ordained v8.0
• 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
OR-JES-295-JD-B5 : C : Free Church Ordained v8.0
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Essential
• Chaplains are required to meet the faith/belief eligibility
Experience
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
Must complete specific training to hold the qualifications required
Requirements
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:
o a member of the Free Churches Group, or
o 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
OR-JES-295-JD-B5 : C : Free Church Ordained v8.0
professional development as ministers. This will be
recorded and assessed on an annual basis by the
HMPPS Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser.
Ability
Minimum
• All candidates are subject to security and identity checks
Eligibility
before taking up post.
• All external candidates are subject to six months’
probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they
have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS.
• All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of
a group or organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
• If part time, hours to be confirmed.
(Unsocial Hours) • If full time: 37 hour working week.
Allowances
• Unsocial Hours Working will be confirmed by the Recruiting
Manager and only paid where applicable.
• 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.
OR-JES-295-JD-B5 : C : Free Church Ordained v8.0