Spiritual Care Practitioner & Chaplain in Coventry

At The Myton Hospices, we provide specialist care and support for people with life-limiting illnesses, and their loved ones, from the point of diagnosis to end of life. We are a much-loved and well supported charity, at the heart of our community. We have three hospices, a range of community services, and 25 charity shops in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Join ourcommitted and welcoming team, delivering high-quality, compassionate andprofessional Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care.

We areseeking a Chaplain and Spiritual Care Practitioner with:

- Advanced communication andpastoral skills

- Compassion, self-awareness andemotional maturity

- Willingness to work and grow ina new developing team

- Ability to work at CBCBC(UKBHC) standards for healthcare chaplains

- The right to work in the UK (wecannot provide sponsorship)

Other roles you may have experience of might include: Pastoral Care; Ministry; Healthcare Chaplaincy.

This position is for 15 hours per week to be worked over a minimum of 2 days, to include Mondays in Warwick. Travel to Coventry and Rugby will also be required and you may be required to participate occasionally in our out-of-hours rota.

We will carry out an enhanced DBS check including the adults barred list because you will be providing holistic palliative care to adults. We will arrange and cover the cost of this check, if you are offered the role.

Main duties of the job

You will support patients, carers, staff and volunteers in their spiritual lives in the broadest sense. The focus is on understanding what matters most to people, especially when facing a life-altering illness, dying or death. You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team delivering holistic care.

As a Chaplain and Spiritual Care Practitioner, a typical day might include:

- Supporting patients and families with loss, anticipatory grief, existential concerns and bereavement

- Offering insight and support to colleagues

- Offering, facilitating or partnering in the delivery of spiritual care rites, rituals and practices

- Enabling the marking of appropriate key feasts, festivals and celebrations

We arecommitted to building an inclusive workplace and encourage everyone to bringtheir true selves to work. However you identify, and whatever background youbring with you, we welcome you to apply. If there are any adjustments thatwould help improve your experience with Myton, we encourage you to share thiswith us.

Weparticularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and from ethnicminorities, who are currently under-represented in our hospices. We alsobelieve our interview process should be inclusive and transparent. If there isanything missing, or a way we can improve, please do let us know.

About us

Myton is an amazing place to work, where the role every person plays has a positive impact for our patients, living with terminal illnesses, and their families. In recognition of this, we offer a wide range of employee benefits, including:

- Increased employer pension contribution orkeep your NHS pension

- 28 days annual leave + bank holidays, increasing with long service

- Additional leave purchasing

- Winter savings scheme

- Dedicated wellbeing team & mental health first aiders

- Cycle to work scheme

- Free on-site flu jabs

- Free feminine hygiene products

- 24/7 GP access

- Free eye tests

- #DoingOurBit online fitness and wellbeing platform

We now share interview questions with allcandidates in advance, to help reduce nerves and enable you to truly show yourbest abilities. You are also welcome to bring any notes with you to yourinterview, if you would find this helpful.

Job responsibilities

Role Purpose - Spiritual Care Practitioners (SCPs)/Chaplains forma team responsible for the delivery of the Spiritual, Pastoral and Religiouscare of patients, carers, volunteers and staff from a variety of backgroundsand traditions across The Myton Hospices.

As part of the multidisciplinary team, SCP/Chaplainsprovide specialist knowledge and expertise in matters relating to spiritual andcultural beliefs, experiences and practices, particularly pertaining tospecialist palliative and end of life care provision as part of holistic care.

Location -SCPs/Chaplains will have a main link site and inaddition there will be requirement to cover provision at any of our other sitesand to participate in group and organisation meetings and training which maytake place in Warwick, Coventry or Rugby or online. As we are a multi- siteorganisation some flexibility relating to place of work will be required. Wereserve the right to change the work base of our employees to meet our businessneeds.

Myton Core Values -Our Core Values underpin everything we do and all employees are expected to complywith our values and reflect these in their day to day work.

Duties andResponsibilities

Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care

- Promote, educate anddeliver broad, inclusive and deep spiritual care for patients, families, staff andvolunteers.

- Work within a high qualityteam of practitioners, participating in training, reflective practice and teamactivity.

-Facilitate and deliverhigh quality spiritual support for people using the services of The MytonHospices, as they come to terms with living with their own particularsituations, supporting them as they find their sense of meaning and purpose.This will include inpatient and outpatient services.

- Undertake holisticperson-centred assessment of individual pastoral and spiritual needs andsupport the exploration of issues of spirituality where required.

- Recognise diversity andpromote inclusivity and equity across services for people of all religions andthose with no specific religious beliefs.

- Operate under both policyand initiative regarding spiritual needs in crisis situations and assessindividual needs, referring on to appropriate person / service or faith groupas necessary.

- When required, facilitateor if appropriate conduct services within The Myton Hospices.

- Facilitate the deliveryof services, prayers or rituals consistent with the faith or belief of theindividual patient or family member.

- Participate fully inmultidisciplinary meetings and contribute to discussions to ensure theindividual pastoral, religious and spiritual needs of patients and families areidentified and addressed as part of holistic care planning.

- Keep clear and accuratepatient records in accordance with The Myton Hospices clinical record-keepingguidance. This will involve writing in patient notes on our electronic systems.

- Work with themultidisciplinary team in the provision of bereavement care, including offeringadvice and information to families about funerals / memorial services and otherrelated issues and, if appropriately trained and qualified, to officiatefunerals on occasion.

- Work alongside SpiritualCare Lead and the Fundraising and Marketing to support memorial and remembranceservices.

- Support the provision ofspiritual care out of hours when required.

- On occasion to representSpiritual Care Service at relevant functions and events across the locality andto participate in wider education and learning opportunities.

- Keep up to date withnational, regional and local developments in palliative and end of life spiritualcare guidance and provision.

- Work closely with theSpiritual Care Service Lead and other members of the Spiritual Care Team,including volunteers, to ensure a safe, holistic and professional service isdelivered.

- Undertake regularclinical or pastoral supervision by an appropriately trained person outside ofthe organisation.

- Maintain healthyconnections to own spirituality in a way that is life-giving and job-sustaining(the detail of which would be worked out with the Spiritual Care Service Lead).

PWBS/Outpatients and community developments:

- Foster links with localorganisations and community groups to promote the services of Myton Hospicesand to ensure the best care for patients and families.

- Awareness and workingappropriately with the local Compassionate Communities movement to implementinitiatives, increase awareness, and offer training relevant to spiritual careservices across Coventry and Warwickshire.

- Awareness of and possiblyworking with the No Barriers Here movement as developing at Myton Hospicesunder the Spiritual Care Lead.

Staff and Volunteer Support

- Participate in anddeliver reflective practice sessions with staff and volunteer teams.

- Assess and respond tovolunteers and staffs spiritual and pastoral needs (individual/collective).

- Be actively aware ofissues, changes and conditions which affect staff and volunteer wellbeing.

- Collaborate with otherrelevant departments in promoting staff and volunteer wellbeing.

- Contribute to thedevelopment and delivery of spiritual care awareness and bereavement trainingfor staff and volunteers.

Partnership Working

- Work collaboratively withfaith leaders in the community for the benefit of patients, families and carersusing the services of The Myton Hospices.

- Work with a range ofcommunity faith and belief leaders to organise necessary rites and sacramentsas requested by individual patients and their families.

- Collaborate withcolleagues in the local NHS Trusts to enable the delivery of spiritual servicesto patients and their families as they transition from acute care into Hospicecare and in our out of hours provision.

- Help to deliver trainingand support to others in their provision of pastoral and spiritual care,including participation in internal and external training programmes.

This jobdescription is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction with thepost holder and according to future changes/developments in the service.

General Responsibilities & Obligations of all Employees

Policies and Procedures -The post holder isrequired to have a good understanding of and to comply with all relevant Mytonpolicies, procedures and guidelines. Any contravention of Myton policies orprocedures may result in disciplinary action.

Volunteers - Myton recognises the valuablecontribution that volunteers make and we expect all employees to be able tosupport and work effectively with our volunteers.

Confidentiality and Data protection - It is a requirement ofemployment with Myton that all staff must comply with the obligation ofconfidentiality relating to personal information that could identifyindividuals. The Data Protection Act 1974/1998 safeguards the handling ofinformation held in both electronic and manual filing systems and it is theduty of all staff employed by Myton to uphold the principles of the Act, adhereto Myton policies and to maintain strict confidentiality at all times.

Infection Control -All employees of Mytonmust be aware of infection prevention and control policies and are expectedto follow them at all times. Any breach of infection control policies whichplaces patients, visitors or colleagues at risk may result in disciplinaryaction.

Equality & Diversity - The post-holdermust at all times carry out his/her responsibilities in line with MytonsEquality & Diversity Policy.

Health & Safety -Employeesmust be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health andSafety at Work Act 1974, to ensure the agreed safety procedures are carriedout to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors & colleagues.The post holder is required to conform with Mytons policies on Health & Safetyand Fire Prevention, & to attend related training as required.

Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Children - Its the duty of all staff workingfor Myton to safeguard children and vulnerable adults and undertakesafeguarding training at an appropriate level.

Code of Conduct - Employees are required to representMyton in a positive light and embody the corporate identity in appearance,demeanour, values and ethics.

This job description is an outlineof the key duties and responsibilities of the role and is not intended as anexhaustive list. The job description may change over time to reflect thechanging needs of the service. The post holder may be required to undertakeother duties that could reasonably be considered commensurate with the post.This job description is subject to periodic review and may be changed/updatedfollowing consultation with the postholder(s).

Person Specification

Skills and Attributes

• - Desire to work in a hospice/palliative care setting and energy for delivering high quality spiritual care for all
• - Open approach to spirituality which is deeply rooted yet open to all faiths and traditions
• - Emotionally mature and self-aware with a desire to learn and grow in a team and to work with people different from themselves
• - Ability to manage the emotional demands of the post, using support and supervision appropriately and having excellent personal and professional boundaries.
• - A Reflective Practitioner who is able to consider their own practice in the company of others and together to grow and refine chaplaincy
• - Sensitive pastoral approach with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• - Confident working with death and dying with appropriate cultural and religious literacy around these
• - Ability to relate to people of all faiths and backgrounds (including those who do not identify with a belief system) without the need to proselytise or persuade
• - Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and to collaborate with all members from different disciplines
• - Ability to organise, plan, prioritise and meet deadlines and respond to unexpected events appropriately
• - IT literacy, including ease of use of MS Office and Outlook
• - Fluent and effective communication in speech and writing
• - Practice professionally with recognised boundaries within pastorally sensitive settings as set out in the CPCPC (UKBHC) Code of Conduct
• - Flexible and positive in working with volunteers with varying knowledge, experience and views
• - Experience of working in a multi-faith setting
• - Experience of project management or service delivery in a relevant setting
• - Delivery of training at a variety of levels
• - Demonstrable evidence of self-care to enhance resilience or manage stress e.g. meditation, prayer, exercise, reflective practice

Other

• - Commitment to the values and purposes of the Myton Hospices
• - The right to work in the UK
• - Ability to travel to our sites around Warwickshire and Coventry which may at times include out of hours travel or travel with little or no notice
• - Satisfactory pre-employment checks for this role including qualification, work health assessments and criminal record checks.

Qualifications

• - Educated to degree level with demonstrable learning in a relevant field such as theology, pastoral care, psychology, counselling, religious studies.
• - Endorsement to practice as a healthcare chaplain/spiritual care practitioner by a recognised/ established sponsoring faith community or belief group this can include Humanist UK or the NRPSN
• - Evidence of annual continued professional development relevant to healthcare chaplaincy (in line with CPCPC formerly UKBHC standards)
• - Registration with the CPCPC (formerly UKBHC) or working toward registration
• - Postgraduate qualification in pastoral care and/or chaplaincy or another equivalent field such as counselling, psychotherapy or theology
• - Membership of one of the other approved healthcare chaplaincy bodies
• - Training in advanced communication and listening skills and/or supervision skills

Experience

• - Extensive experience of working in pastoral care with individuals and in groups including some experience in a healthcare setting
• - Experience of working with bereaved people and/or people facing significant trauma, loss or illness
• - Experience of working with vulnerable people including mental and/or physical health issues
• - Experience in palliative and hospice care
• - Extensive experience of working in a healthcare setting

Knowledge

• - Understanding of hospice and palliative care philosophy
• - Advanced knowledge of spiritual care in a healthcare setting
• - Understanding of the appropriate use of listening and/or counselling skills in pastoral work and signposting to other disciplines.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.