Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Coordinator

Job summary

Here is an opportunity for someone with a pastoral heart to join theSpiritual Care and Chaplaincy team. Prior experience of providing spiritual,pastoral and religious care may have been gained in different settingsincluding community, church, school and other similar contexts. The successfulcandidate will enjoy the benefits of a part-time and balanced work pattern thatwill complement other roles and activities, and which can be based aroundfamily and other commitments.

This is a key appointment, and it is expected that the successfulcandidate will help to re-frame the vision for Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy,ensuring that all of our services are inclusive, of high quality, sustainableand visible.

Main duties of the job

To provide spiritual, pastoral and religious care to patients andfamilies, colleagues and visitors within the Hospice community, and to supportthe same in bereavement and at other times of need. Such support will beequitable regardless of religion or belief group.

To work as a flexible and responsive memberofthe wider multidisciplinaryteam, contributing to patient carethrough thoughtful and appropriate support.Being a listening ear to colleagues and others, and to those seekingsupport prior to and following bereavement.Providing resources that enable the Hospice community to share in widercelebrations, Remembrance Services and other national events.

About us

At St Lukes Hospice, our ethos is one of service; being of service to our local people and community is central to all that we do. We believe the most important privilege any person can have is the opportunity to comfort and support ones fellow human beings in their hour of need. This spirit of service at St Lukes extends not only to the patients, but also to family and friends, and we welcome diversity.

The founding members of St Lukes Hospice were driven by the same ideals that inspire us today; to reach out a warm and caring hand to those in need and to help relieve their suffering of mind, spirit or body. The founder of the Hospice movement, the late Dame Cicely Saunders, wanted hospices to remain a beacon of hope with a message of care and community. St Lukes is a lively and vibrant Hospice that has a very powerful reason to be here.

St Lukes is an incredibly inspiring place to work and volunteer. You will be joining a passionate team, dedicated to delivering care and support to local people and their families.

We all share in the sense of privilege and honour that comes from being involved in a local organisation doing such important work and each day we look for new and innovative ways to make a difference to the wider community.

Each member of staff is highly valued at St Lukes

Job description

Job responsibilities

K EY WORKINGRELATIONSHIPS:

Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy is one element of the Family Support Teamat St Luke's Hospice, which also provides Counselling, Social Work and BenefitsAdvice to the Hospice community.

The successful candidate will work closely with thewider Hospice multidisciplinary team, and will be responsible for thespiritual, pastoral and religious care of the Hospice community, reporting tothe Family Support Team Manager.

The nature ofchaplaincy is such that the Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Team seek key workingrelationships across the Hospice community, both at Grosvenor House and atother locations. These include but are not limited to medical staffand nursingteams, and across all supporting staff, suchas Communications, Fund Raising, Retail and all other administrativecolleagues. As such, the successful candidate will possess excellent interpersonal skills,demonstrable ability to collaborate with and empower others, and the ability towork with and value diversity.

Externally, the post holderwill build upon and forge new links across various and appropriate religion andbelief groups (NB: throughout this job description, religionmeans any religions, and any reference to religion includes reference to a lackof religion. Belief means any philosophical or religious belief, and areference to belief includes a reference to a lack of belief too). The postholder will bepro-active in networking with Social Prescribers and agencies such as End ofLife Partnership.

PURPOSE:

To provide spiritual, pastoral and religious careto patients and families, colleagues and visitors within the Hospice community,and to support the same in bereavement and at other times of need. Such supportwill be equitable regardless of religion or belief group.

To work as a flexible and responsive memberofthe wider multidisciplinaryteam, contributing to patient carethrough thoughtful and appropriate support.Being a listening ear to colleagues and others, and to those seekingsupport prior to and following bereavement.Providing resources that enable the Hospice community to share in widercelebrations, Remembrance Services and other national events.

KeyTasks and Responsibilities

To provide spiritual, pastoral and religious careto patients and families within the In-Care Unit (IPU) and Day Hospice, andacross the wider Hospice community

To be responsive to the range of beliefs(religious and non-religious) that you might encounter, with no sense of anybeliefs having greater worth or value than others, and without attempt toproselytise

To listen to and care pastorally for colleagues (staff and volunteers), on both a one-to-one and group basis

To help nurture and grow a team of gifted Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy volunteers

To contribute to the ongoing development of creative, accessible and inclusive resources to enable delivery of high quality spiritual, pastoral and religious care, in line with the wider organisational Strategy

Whilst the above represent the keyresponsibilities of this role, they are not all deliverable within a singleweek of 16 hours duration. Rather, it is expected that these elements will beaccomplished on a planned basis according to a regular rota and according topriority, week by week.

Thisjob description is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction withthe post holder and according to future changes/developments in the service.

Delivering SpiritualCare and Chaplaincy

To be connected to the needs of the local demographic, and to be competent and confident in facilitating the type of spiritual, pastoral and religious care that is right for the individual/group whether this is through personal delivery, or via the effective liaison with the MDT and/or external religion or belief groups

To help staff to identify distress and any spiritual and/or religious needs expressed by patients, families or carers.

To assist preparation and leading of seasonal services of remembrance and similar, aiming to nurture the experience of patients, families, carers and the bereaved under the care of St Lukes

To liaise with visiting religion or belief group-leaders, ensuring warm and effective communication

To ensure that spiritual care needs and concerns, and requirements of religion or belief group are documented appropriately and clearly on the patient records

To practice ethically, respecting the wish of patients and families to decline spiritual care and chaplaincy support

To discuss requests to officiate at funerals, weddings and baptisms with the Family Support Team Leader, and follow agreed guidelines as necessary

To be willing to work occasional evenings and be part of a Sunday rota if required

To share responsibility for the hospice Chapel, also known as the Sanctuary, ensuring this is a space that supports comfort and reflection for those of any religion or belief group

To be an active voice and facilitator in the development of the Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy service

Management

Toshare responsibility for Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy volunteers.

Tobe responsible for compliance with own professional body (or appropriatealternative) requirements in terms of code of conduct, professional practice,expertise and knowledge including maintaining continuous professionaldevelopment

Research andAudit

Participatein clinical audit where indicated.Respond to identified needs, developing / modifying practice whererequired.

Quality of Service

Provisionof a safe and ethical environment where patients can freely express themselveswithout fear of judgement or condemnation

Ensurethe Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy service is pro-active, responsive, inclusiveand available to all patients, relatives and carers, and to the wider hospicecommunity

Toexplore and implement a meaningful and effective means of assessment, to ensurethe spiritual, pastoral and religious care needs of patients and families isidentified in a timely and precise manner

Toexplore and implement a meaningful and effective means of service evaluation,to ensure that the experience of those accessing the service is captured andany areas of learning or development are identified in a timely and precisemanner

Education

To support the induction of staff andvolunteers on the team

To initiate, deliver and evaluate informal andformal events/sessions that aim to increase the knowledge and skills of the MDTin the delivery of spiritual, pastoral and religious care and support

To help publicise the Spiritual Careand Chaplaincy Team to ensure that patients, families and carers are aware ofthe support we offer

To represent the Hospice within thewider community, assisting in developing services that meet the needs of allstakeholders. This may include meetingwith local Church leaders and leaders of other faith/cultural communities, andcontributing to talks and presentations to local and regional religion andbelief groups and community groups

Professional and PersonalDevelopment

Ifordained, be authorised to minister by an appropriate ecclesiastical authorityor equivalent

Towork within the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy Code of Conduct or relevantand appropriate alternative ( Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network)

Tobe committed to attend regular 1:1supervision, and participate in group supervision and reflectivepractice as required

Todevelop positive relationships with the Chaplaincy Teams in the local NHSTrusts and community

To maintain an awareness ofregional and national policy in health care chaplaincy, palliative and end oflife care and apply this as necessary

Health & Safety & Security

Under health andsafety legislation, each individual has a legal responsibility for their ownwelfare and for the health and safety of others and to co-operate in maintainingtheir place of work in a tidy and safe condition, thereby minimising risk. TheHospice has a Health & Safety Policy which applies to all staff.

Similarly, it iseach persons responsibility to ensure a secure environment and bring anybreaches of security to the attention of their manager.

Equal Opportunities

St Luke'sCheshire Hospice has given its full commitment to the adoption and promotion ofthe key principles of equal opportunities contained within current legislationand St Luke's Cheshire Hospice Equality & Diversity Policy.

Confidentiality

In the course ofyour duties, you will have access to confidential material about members ofstaff, volunteers, other hospice business and patients. The Hospice has Data Protection Policy whichapplies to all staff.

St Luke'sCheshire Hospice iscommitted to safeguarding adults and children and expects all staff to share inthis commitment. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that they are aware ofspecific duties relating to their role and should familiarise themselves withthe Hospices Safeguarding Policies. Safeguarding training is mandatory for allstaff.

Thisjob description may vary from time to time according to the needs of St Luke's(Cheshire) Hospice.

Thisjob description is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction withthe post holder and according to future changes/developments in the service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Where experience derives from a Church of England context, completion of or substantive progress in an appropriate course of theological study, including but not limited to training for Ordination, Reader or Licensed Pastoral Worker; or forms of Spiritual Accompaniment or Direction, or equivalent qualifications within a different faith or denominational setting. Endorsement from/considered to be in good standing with a recognised religion or belief group or community if applicable. Where experience derives from a community or secular environment, completion of or substantive progress of structured learning and reflective practice in a pastoral setting. To possess a clear and good understanding of own religion or belief group.

Desirable

Training and qualification in counselling skills/advanced communication skills or equivalent. Evidence of continuous professional development relevant to the post. Training in concepts relating to palliative and end of life care, or willingness to undertake. Training in Mindfulness-based approaches (including but not limited to Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction)

Skills and Aptitudes

Essential

Ability to support individuals irrespective of their religion or belief group. Ability to lead faith-based worship where required, or to facilitate this through the effective liaison with the relevant individual/group. Ability to co-ordinate and support a small team of volunteers. Ability to create and lead reflective remembrance gatherings. Ability to work independently and as a member of multi-professional team. Excellent communication skills with individuals and with groups. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to plan and balance priorities. Excellent computer skills including the ability to lead services and meetings by hosting video conferences Zoom, Teams.

Desirable

Group facilitation skills Ability to create and deliver a range of reflective, experiential and sensory material, suitable to support mindfulness sessions on both guided and self-guided bases Ability to support people in person and by remote access, with offers designed appropriately for patients, staff or other groups.

Experience

Essential

Experience of providing holistic pastoral support to individuals in distress or crisis. Awareness of adult and children safeguarding responsibilities, and experience of working with such responsibilities. Understanding of the nature and scope of loss, grief and bereavement. Understanding of the nature of spiritual, pastoral and religious care within a range of cultural and religious contexts. Insight into the needs of seriously ill people, their families and carers. Knowledge of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and its importance in relation to the post.

Desirable

Experience of providing spiritual, religious and pastoral care and support in a healthcare setting. Experience of working with death and dying. Experience of delivering education and training to professionals. Experience of delivering supervision or staff support. Experience of delivering mindfulness and meditation, on an individual and group basis. Experience of supporting or co-ordinating volunteers. Experience of supporting or leading an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiative in the workplace or other relevant setting

Other Requirements

Essential

Ability to transport yourself across St Lukes geographical area. Full, clean UK drivers license and regular and consistent use of a vehicle with business insurance - some Home visits to patients/families/carers may be required.

Personal Attributes

Essential

Approachable, professional and compassionate. Demonstrative cultural competence, emotional resilience and self-awareness. Empathic and non-judgmental. Can work flexibly (occasional evening work is required and potentially being part of a Sunday rota). Adaptable to changing work circumstances and confident in working from home/remotely with a team. Committed to own personal and professional development.

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