Agenda for Change s4
OPS/CHA/CHA/TRT/001
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job Description
1 Job Details
Job title: Chaplain
Pay band: 6
Directorate: Patient Services
Ward/Dept : Chaplaincy Service
Base Hospital site: Freeman/RVI/CAV/Community – work across all sites
Essential Requirements
· Recognised (Ordained/licensed) and in current good standing with Faith Community
· Educated to degree level – or equivalent experience
· Previous Chaplaincy Experience
· Comprehensive knowledge of Faith and Belief systems to be able to work in a multi-cultural/multi-faith context
· Commitment to working in an ecumenical/multi-faith way with openness to the views and doubts of others and a willingness to pastorally care for people of all faiths and no faith.
· Knowledge and understanding of workings of the NHS to enable the post holder to work as part of a Chaplaincy Team and play an active part in the life of the Trust in a multi-disciplinary context.
· Knowledge and understanding of national policies and procedures relevant to the provision of a Chaplaincy Service/Bereavement Care.
· Theoretical knowledge on ethical issues relating to health care.
· Highly developed Communication skills including an ability to teach and share ideas and work as a part of a team.
· Empathy
· Deep personal Spirituality
· Adaptability to change
· Current driving licence
· Computer literate
Desirable requirements
· Counselling Qualification – or equivalent experience
· Management Qualification/experience
· Experience of working in a multi-faith context.
· European Computer Driving Licence
2 Job Purpose
· A Chaplain is responsible for sharing in the provision of a comprehensive Chaplaincy Service within the Trust that seeks to meet the Spiritual and Religious needs of Patients, Carers and Staff.
· A Chaplain will be a reference point for Spiritual/Religious matters within the organisation and a link with Religious/Community agencies outside the organisation.
3 Dimensions
· Responsible for designated work on a site base (Freeman/RVI/CAV/Community)
· Share in a 24-hour call cover to the Trust. Currently a 1 in 5 rota including weekend work.
· Staff responsible for: Volunteers (100+) across all sites
Assistant Chaplain as delegated by or in absence of Head of Chaplaincy
4 Organisational arrangements
Reports to: Trust Head of Chaplaincy
Professionally accountable to: Church / Faith Community Leader
Staff Responsible for: Volunteers (100+) across all sites
5 Knowledge Training and Experience
· Educated to degree level – or equivalent experience
· Previous Chaplaincy experience
· Counselling Qualification – or equivalent experience
· Comprehensive knowledge of Faith and Belief systems to be able to work in a multi-cultural/multi-faith context
· Knowledge and understanding of workings of the NHS
· Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the provision of a Chaplaincy Service/Bereavement Care.
· Theoretical knowledge on ethical issues relating to health care.
· Computer Literate – preferably European Computer Driving Licence
6 Skills
Communication and Relationships
· The post holder should be able to demonstrate good communication (both written and verbal) and relationship skills in order to:
o identify and meet the Spiritual and Religious needs of patients, carers, visitors and staff in an empathetic and supportive way.
o listen in both formal and informal counselling situations and respond appropriately.
o be able to counsel/mediate both in terms of people management and the delivery of care.
o able to work as part of the multi-disciplinary team delivering care to patients, carers, visitors and staff, including being available to be Advocates for patients, carers, visitors, staff working in-conjunction with the PALS Service and the multi-disciplinary team.
o able to work with leaders and members of faith communities to ensure that there are opportunities for dialogue and an appropriate service is developed and provided. This will include participating in local / regional / national faith forums.
o maintain and update local faith group information for use by the Trust
o participate in the meeting of requests to speak about the role of Chaplaincy/Hospital from local Faith/Community groups.
· The role includes receiving and providing highly complex, sensitive and contentious information on an individual basis and in group situations, where there are significant barriers to understanding (including language difficulty) and in an atmosphere that is frequently highly emotive, hostile or antagonistic.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills required for the post
· The post holder should be able to:
o identify the Spiritual and Religious needs of patients, carers, visitors and staff and judge how these may best be met in an empathetic and supportive way.
o identify when to engage/withdraw from situations and refer appropriately to other professionals.
Planning and Organisational skills required for the post
· The post holder should be able to:
o manage own diary and work load within national and local policy and procedures with minimum supervision from line manager.
o manage and work as part of multi-disciplinary teams on wards and in departments.
o plan, prepare and deliver training and education packages for a multi-disciplinary context.
o plan and deliver appropriate acts of worship, including funerals and memorial services, where there can be a highly emotional and sometimes hostile/antagonistic atmosphere, within the Trust and at the request of local Faith/Community groups.
Physical dexterity skill requirements
· Keyboard skills to be able to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
· Driving skills to occasionally include the transportation of colleagues, patients and visitors.
· Ability to administer religious rituals and rites (inc. communion and baptism) as authorised by faith community in an appropriate way at the bedside and in Sacred Space.
· Ability to hold babies for religious rituals and rites, as authorised by faith community and function in Clinical areas (especially ITU areas) without causing damage or disruption.
7 Key result areas
Patient / Client care
· The post holder should ensure that together with their colleagues:
o They are available to patients, carers, visitors and staff on the wards and in departments across the organisation.
o They respond appropriately to referrals made from patients, carers, visitors, staff, and outside agencies.
o They respond with sensitivity, confidently and appropriately to the needs of patients, carers, visitors and staff for private and corporate worship. Ensuring that proper Sacramental Care is provided.
o They are available to escort relatives to the Viewing Chapel in line with the Trust’s Operational policy.
o They are available to provide Bereavement support/counselling.
o They are available to provide staff support/listening/counselling in line with Trust policy.
o They are available/prepared to respond the Trust’s Major Incident Plan.
o They are available to respond to request from departments to help with de-briefing following critical incidents.
Policy and Service Development
· The post holder should:
o Contribute to the development of departmental policy from national guidance about the provision of Chaplaincy Service and share in its implementation/review in the Trust.
o Ensure that Religious and Spiritual Care needs are addressed by the Trust, including representation/participation on the Trust’s Equality and Diversity Group.
o Ensure that local contacts and faith group information is maintained and updated for use by the trust.
o Contribute to Trust policy and procedures as requested.
Financial and Physical Resources
· Order departmental supplies in line with the Corporate Governance policy of the Trust. (shared responsibility)
· Ensure that cash and donations (from pence to £100+) are accounted for and banked.
· Distribute cash from the Chaplaincy Trust Fund, Children’s Heart Unit Fund Float as appropriate and keep records of transactions.
Human Resources
· Conform to Trust Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
· Comply with Dignity and Respect at Work Policy
· Implement statutory requirements e.g. Health and Safety at Work Act, being directly responsible to maintain a safe environment in their clinical area of responsibility.
· Attend mandatory updates
Management
· Participate in the line management of the Chaplaincy Team (currently 7 paid staff, 1 locum staff, 2 honorary Chaplains, and a team of 100+ volunteers) responsible for their appropriate training, deployment, supervision, and accountability as delegated by Head of Chaplaincy or in their absence.
· Responsible for arranging, chairing and delegating actions arising from meetings as delegated by Head of Chaplaincy/Multi-disciplinary team or in their absence.
· Ensure that they work in line with the Trust’s Policy and Procedures and the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Chaplains contributing to the development, writing and auditing of departmental policies as appropriate.
· Provide professional supervision to other Chaplains as requested in line with National Guidance.
Education
· The post holder should ensure that:
o They participate in their own Continuing Professional Development.
o They are available to participate in the Induction Programmes for New staff (all grades including Medical).
o They share in the education/publicity work of the department within the Trust and within outside Community/Faith Groups.
o They are available to participate in training course organised by the Trusts Training Department e.g. listening skills / Introduction to Chaplaincy, Equality and Diversity Training.
o They participate in the development and production of appropriate training courses to be delivered, both in house (multi-disciplinary) and at the request of community/faith groups e.g. Bereavement Training, Identifying and meeting Spiritual and Religious Needs.
o They participate in Regional and National Training courses, (e.g. National Introductory Chaplains Course) as requested.
o They are available for Student Placements/Training and that adequate supervision/training is available.
o They participate in offering Professional educational Support/ Supervision to other Chaplains and Professionals in line with National Guidance and availability.
· Training and Education will be delivered in various settings, both formal and informal, from one to one training through to large gatherings (150+) in a professional and multi-disciplinary context.
Leadership
· Ensure that their colleagues receive good clear communication, to enable them to undertake their role in an appropriate manner.
· Ensure that they contribute to the regular review of the provision of the Chaplaincy Service and that they contribute to the Strategic Development of the Department’s work within the Trust.
· Encourage, support and motivate their colleagues in their daily work.
· Participate in Regional and National Initiatives for the provision and development of Chaplaincy Services
Information Resources
· Ensure keyboard skills are developed
· Participate in the appropriate recording and auditing of their work and the work of the department.
· Participate in the development of appropriate recording systems for the department
· Ensure that all information is kept within the guidelines of the Data Protection Act and with the approval of the Caldicott Guardian.
Research and Development
· Ensure that their work is based on up to date best practice, by participating in their own personal research, as part of their daily work, appropriate to their professional and personnel development.
· Contribute to the work of the Local Research Ethics Committee/ Trust Ethics Committee as appropriate
· Respond to requests to be part of research projects from wards, departments and multi-disciplinary teams.
· Respond to requests to be part of research projects from National Chaplaincy Bodies as appropriate
· Contribute to the development, audit and review of the Trust’s policies in relation to the care of the dying and bereavement operational policy by membership / chairing the Bereavement Operational Group and Care of the dying groups.
8 Freedom to act
· The post holder will be:
o Expected to work independently, within National Guidance and in accordance with Trust Policy and Procedures.
o Responsible for their professional action/work in line with the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Chaplains and in accordance with Trust Policy and Procedures.
o Responsible for the management of their own diary/workload in co-operation with other team members and under the management of the Head of Chaplaincy.
Clinical governance
· The post holder will be:
o Expected to work within the Clinical Governance Framework of the Trust in line with current policy and procedures.
o Responsible for the identification for possible areas of risk and takes appropriate action to minimise the risk including implementing Complaints procedures.
o Contribute to the development of systems and processes at departmental level to ensure compliance with Trust policy and procedures.
9 Effort & Environment
Physical
· The work of the post holder will include:
o Being alongside people in wards and departments which might mean standing, sitting or kneeling in restricted space (e.g. alongside beds) for periods of time from minutes to hours.
o Sitting for continuous periods of time (minimum 1hour) on a frequent basis whilst involved in counselling and pastoral care
o Working at their desk and using a computer for prolonged periods of time.
o Occasionally include helping to transfer patients to the Chapel for Services, using wheelchairs.
o Setting up the Sacred Space for worship which will occasionally involve the re-arranging of chairs, tables etc.
Mental
· The work of the post holder will involve:
o A frequent requirement to concentrate intensely for frequent periods of time whilst offering pastoral care to patients, relatives, carers and staff on a one to one basis, in group situations and over the telephone.
o A frequent requirement to concentrate intensely for frequent periods of time whilst caring for the bereaved.
o a frequent requirement to concentrate intensely for frequent periods of time whilst preparing and conducting acts of worship (including funerals, memorial services) attended by groups ranging from one or two to 500+ people and whilst preparing and delivering teaching programmes, both in house and externally, to groups ranging from two or three to 500+
o A frequent requirement to change tasks and deal with interruptions arising from emergency calls from wards/departments.
Emotional
· The work of the post holder will involve:
o being exposed to highly distressing and emotional circumstance whilst offering pastoral care to patients, relatives, carers and staff, which will include the breaking of bad news with other members of the multi-disciplinary team or at the request of the clinicians. This will be in both adult and Paediatric areas of the hospital and Intensive Care areas of the hospital.