Parish Nurse

With a history stretching back over 800 years, the Hereford Cathedral Almshouses Charity offers its residents a wonderful blend of historic architectural heritage with a true sense of community and belonging. The charity's objective is the relief of poverty through the provision of almshouse accommodation, traditionally focused on providing housing for people on lower incomes. Rooted in gospel values, its Christian ethos has ensured a unique pastoral presence and availability to residents, unlike secular housing provision. However, current trustees also recognise the need to address poverty in its less obvious manifestations related to spiritual, mental, and physical health, seeing the role of a parish nurse as integral to achieving this.

While Herefordshire is a beautiful rural county, this charm hides some serious issues. National measures of poverty tend to focus on large cities, such that the specific challenges of rural or country town life, like high housing costs, transport, difficulty accessing community healthcare provision, and social isolation, can often fall under the radar. Addressing matters of health and access to health and social services can, and should, be understood as another form of poverty alleviation which can have tangible benefits for the elderly, carers, and young families on low incomes. Furthermore, poverty in psycho-spiritual care and dignity, particularly related to death and dying, are significant issues in our rural setting. Recognising these needs, the Hereford Cathedral Almshouses Charity has embarked on a strategy committed to alleviating such poverty.

The Parish Nurse will play a vital role in helping to achieve holistic pastoral care by supporting and building relationships with the residents of the Almshouses in Hereford and Ledbury, and being appropriately available to support the community associated with Hereford Cathedral, which has a growing number of elderly people and young families. Responsible to the Dean of Hereford and linked with Parish Nursing Ministries UK (PNMUK), the Parish Nurse is to provide nursing support to recipients, regardless of their faith position. This support will integrate spiritual, physical, psychological, emotional, and social health to the residents of our Almshouses in Hereford and Ledbury, and the wider cathedral community.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Support Holistic Health

• Integrate faith and health through providing a holistic assessment of need.
• Support individuals from the Almshouses and Cathedral community in dealing with health issues and concerns, through collaboratively planned health advice, support, and spiritual care.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the care provision, adjusting the care plans as required.
• Where appropriate, support risk assessments to ensure that health needs are being met.
• Where appropriate, develop screening opportunities for residents in the Almshouses and cathedral community.
• Where appropriate, attend local meetings with health and social care professionals to ensure continuity of care.
• Ensure parish nursing activities and advice are evidence-based and supported by current research.

• Provide and promote appropriate health education to individuals and groups, aiming to increase understanding of health concerns and to empower people to make positive choices to improve their health.
• Focus on a variety of educational activities for all ages which can explore the relationship between values, attitudes, lifestyle, faith, and health.
• Develop opportunities for health education activities in the Almshouses and at community events.

• Provide an advocacy role that supports people to access health services.
• Initiate and support referrals to other health professionals as appropriate.

• Liaise with appropriate agencies and authorities in order to support the health needs of individuals.
• Signpost to health, social care, faith organisations, and voluntary sector services as appropriate, to access the most suitable resources for holistic care.

• Develop appropriate support groups, following assessment of need of residents of the Almshouses and Cathedral community.
• Support the Cathedral Pastor and Pastoral Visiting Team.

• Integrate faith and health in all activities and contacts, aiming to promote the understanding of the relationship between faith and health.
• Pray with or for clients, if requested and appropriate or, if preferred, refer them to a faith group/leader of their choice.
• Facilitate or assist with a service of, for example, Holy Communion in their home, as appropriate.

• Promote safeguarding of children, young people, and adults at risk in all parish nursing activities.
• Attend Steering Group meetings and regular one-to-one meetings with line manager.
• Work as an autonomous and lone practitioner, ensuring compliance with the policies and procedures of Hereford Cathedral Chapter, including those related to lone working.
• Maintain accurate, systematic, and timely record keeping of health interventions in keeping with NMC Record Keeping guidance, ensuring safe storage and disposal of documentation.
• Maintain statistical information and data as required by the Almshouses charity, Hereford Cathedral Chapter, and PNMUK.
• Manage the resources of the parish nursing service, including any financial resources, in line with professional standards.
• Participate in an Annual Development and Performance Review with line manager.
• Ensure that the Confidentiality and Data Protection Policies of Hereford Cathedral Chapter and the NMC are stringently adhered to.
• Maintain the Parish Nurse Accreditation Standards, annually reviewing these with the Regional Nurse Coordinator and line manager.
• Record and take appropriate action if any accident or incident occurs involving a volunteer, client, staff member, or visitor.

• Be aware of, and always act in accordance with, the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and maintain NMC registration.
• Work within the scope of professional knowledge and competence.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills, and undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in accordance with the individual parish nurse and organisational needs.
• Ensure personal spiritual care needs are identified and met, and participate in regular spiritual supervision.
• Attend PNMUK Community of Practice events for professional development, supervision, and peer support.

The above-mentioned tasks are a summary of the key responsibilities involved; however, the post holder may be asked to carry out other tasks as directed by the Almshouses Charity trustees/Parish Nurse Steering Group/other authority. The Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9 part 1(1-3) applies to this post. The post is restricted to practicing Christians.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

• Essential qualities:

• Registered Nurse (Adult/Child/Mental Health/Learning Disability).
• Current Nursing and Midwifery Council Registration.
• Evidence of post-registration education and training.
• Completion of the PNMUK Preparation for Parish Nursing Practice Course or willingness to undertake this.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle fully insured for business use and service user transportation.
• Confident user of Microsoft Office.

• Community Nursing/Specialist Practitioner Qualification.
• Some theological or discipleship training or willingness to undertake this.

Experience

• Essential qualities:

• Significant post-registration experience of Community Nursing.
• Have a love of God’s people and be comfortable and willing to pray with and for others when appropriate.

• Previous management experience.
• Experience of teaching.
• Experience in delivering health education.
• Experience of working in the UK as a Registered Nurse.

Skills and Knowledge

• Essential qualities:

• High level of nursing expertise.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Decision-making skills.
• Good communication skills.
• Competent IT skills.
• Commitment to work within the NMC Code of Conduct.
• Commitment to personal and spiritual development.
• Regular safeguarding training.
• Knowledge of Clinical Governance development and its implementations.
• Knowledge of the purpose and value of professional supervision and support of staff.
• Understanding of, and commitment to, equal opportunities.

Other

• Essential qualities:

• Regular member of a church of any Christian denomination.
• Willingness to attend a cathedral service at least monthly.
• Able to carry out the duties of the post with or without adaptations.

HOW TO APPLY

For full details and how to apply, please visit the vacancies page of the Hereford Cathedral website. Fully completed application forms must be received before midday on the closing date of 30 April 2026.