Chichester Anna Chaplain to Older People
CHICHESTER
Part-time, 14 hours a week £7,200 - £9,200 pa dependent on experience
The Anna Chaplaincy is a post promoting the spiritual wellbeing of older people. It is a pioneering role offering spiritual support to older people living in care homes, sheltered housing and within the community. It includes supporting relatives, friends, and care staff. The Anna Chaplain will recruit, support and sustain volunteers in this work.
The Anna Chaplain also has a wider role within the community as an advocate and champion of the contribution older people make to society. This is an opportunity to draw alongside people of all faiths and none, as well as encourage the wider church to celebrate and cherish older members of their congregations.
The applicant would be part of a growing ecumenical network of such chaplains, developing links with our national partners, the Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF), through the Gift of Years – “resourcing the spiritual journey of older people.”
It is an occupational requirement for the person appointed to be a professing and practising Christian (Equality Act 2010).
The role is a part-time one of 14 hours a week, times to be agreed though some flexibility will be required, increasing to 21 hours following a review of the service. Enhanced DBS and references will be required.
Chichester Anna Chaplaincy is registered no. 1172058 with the Charity Commission.
The closing date for applications is Monday 15th May by 17.00hrs.
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 6th June 2017.
It is highly desirable that the appointee be available to attend the formal launch of the Chaplaincy in Chichester on 7th July
Job Description
Job Title: Chichester Anna Chaplain
Reporting to: Canon Simon Holland, Trustees, and the Chichester Anna Chaplaincy Steering Group
Direct Reports: Part Time Co-ordinator
Purpose
The Anna Chaplaincy supports the spiritual wellbeing of older people of all faiths or none, within Chichester. It offers spiritual support to older people in care homes, sheltered housing and living independently within community. It includes supporting relatives, friends, and care staff. The Anna Chaplain will recruit and manage volunteers to assist in this work with the aim of achieving successful outreach across the city. This is an ecumenical post.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
To older people
1. To help older people reflect on their spiritual journey, including the healing of memories and to provide pastoral help with outstanding concerns.
2. To offer spiritual support so older people can better live peacefully in their later years, and help them prepare to face the end of their earthly life.
3. To act as an advocate for the needs of older people in churches and the wider community.
To relatives and friends of older people
1. To help and support relatives and friends to better understand the spiritual needs that older people face in the latter stages of their lives.
2. To help and support relatives and friends with their task of caring for the older person.
To staff working with older people
1. To help staff understand the spiritual needs older people face in the latter stages of their life.
2. To offer spiritual support to staff caring for older people.
3. To assist staff and managers in the implementation of care that is underpinned by values that are person centred, inclusive and affirmative.
To the churches
1. To work ecumenically with all churches in Chichester.
2. To help inform the churches’ work with older people.
3. To assist churches identify, use and recognise the contribution that older people make to church and community life.
4. To encourage churches to recognise the changing needs of older people and to respond accordingly.
5. To encourage and facilitate inter-generational activities, that support social relationships and increased understanding.
To volunteers
1. Encourage and support volunteers in their work with older people.
Other duties
1. To collaborate with churches and other public, voluntary and private sector organisations in Chichester with the purpose of advocating and supporting the needs of older people.
2. To liaise with other Anna Chaplains locally and nationally through the Gift of Years’ national network and others engaged in similar ways of working.
3. To keep up to date with research into the spirituality of ageing.
4. To be informed about the health and social care context of older people’s services.
5. To access appropriate learning and development opportunities, which are relevant to the role of Anna Chaplain including leadership development and personal spiritual growth.
6. To keep records of work undertaken and to write annual reports, and to log data that contributes to the evaluation of the impact of the ministry, through the use of The Gift of Years’ Reflective Evaluation Tool to aid theological reflection.
7. To take part in, and contribute to, worship in Chichester, as and when appropriate.
8. To undertake other duties that may arise in connection with the main purpose of the post.
Person Specification
Job Title: Chichester Anna Chaplain
Essential (Knowledge, Experience, Skills)
1. Be an ordained minister or a recognised/accredited lay minister, lay preacher or lay church worker in a church affiliated to Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
2. Be an active member of a Christian denomination, with a sound theological understanding, practice and background.
3. Experience of working ecumenically, and with a wide range of organisations and individuals demonstrating excellent inter personal and communication skills.
4. Be inclusive and welcoming in approach treating people with respect and dignity regardless of their background or circumstances, promoting equality and the elimination of discrimination.
5. Be an attentive listener, demonstrating tact, empathy and compassion.
6. Be committed to and understand the needs of older people in the later stages of their lives, and participate in end of life ministry.
7. Be able to work creatively, cultivating a range of liturgical styles suitable for people of different cognitive abilities.
8. Experience of the recruitment, coordination, training and supervision of volunteers.
9. Experience of motivating, supporting and leading people using skills of engagement, influence, negotiation, and delegation with the capacity to organise and manage own work load.
Desirable (Knowledge, Experience Skills)
Good IT skills including social media to promote a service.
Full driving licence and car owner (expenses provided).
Experience of developing training materials.
Terms and Conditions:
The working hours are 14 hours per week, increasing to 21 hours following a review of the service. Days and hours to be agreed with the Chichester Anna Chaplaincy Steering Group though some flexibility will be required to attend evening meetings, weekend services etc.
The role will be based at St Paul’s Church, Churchside, Chichester, but will include frequent off site visits.
We can offer a salary of £7,200 - £9,200 pa (full time equivalent £18 -£23,000 pa).
5.6 weeks holiday per year pro rata and an employer contributed pension scheme.
How to apply
To apply please send a written application answering each of the criteria in the Person Specification – limited to 75 words each per Essential criteria - and 50 words each per Desirable criteria, together with your cv, to Chichester Anna Chaplain, St Paul’s Church, Churchside, Chichester, PO19 6FT
The closing date for application is Monday 15th May by 17.00hrs.
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 6th June 2017.
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