Free Church Chaplain, HMP Millsike at York
External Full Time
Ref: 68690
Salary: £36,500
Job objectives and responsibilities
As a Chaplain in the Safer Custody and Equalities Function, you will ensure compliance with contractual requirements, company policies, and HMPPS standards including all relevant Prison Service Instructions and Policy Frameworks. You will deliver effective services across the prison, supporting the Managing Chaplain and Head of Safety and Equalities in creating a safe and rehabilitative environment.
You will be part of the Multi Faith and Belief Chaplaincy Team, ensuring you are accessible to all prisoners and staff regardless of faith or belief. Your responsibilities include providing pastoral care, organising and delivering worship and events, and assisting with prisoner resettlement. You will also offer expert faith and belief advice and support the observance of religious holy days and festivals.
You will develop relationships with support and volunteer groups, plan workshops and meetings, and contribute to safeguarding and diversity initiatives. Additionally, you will deliver awareness programmes for prisoners and staff, work closely with Safer Custody on policies and procedures, and support prisoners through major life events regardless of faith or belief.
Daily duties include interviewing new prisoners, visiting those in the Care and Separation Unit and Transitional Support Unit, responding to applications, and preparing reports. You will support the Managing Chaplain to ensure effective administration of Chaplaincy Services and provide support for other Chaplains and volunteers.
You will have involvement in many other aspects of prison life, playing your part in safer custody by visiting those being supported by Assessment, Care, Custody and Team Work arrangements weekly, violence reduction, equalities meetings, Good Order and Discipline reviews, as well as groups such as the Segregation Monitoring and Review Group meetings. Chaplains of all faiths and beliefs play an important role supporting counter-terrorism activity on a routine basis.
You will be contribute to resettlement issues as appropriate and engage and build contacts with faith/belief communities towards aiding the resettlement of prisoners and support the Managing Chaplains contact strategy with outside faith/belief-based agencies to help with the resettlement of prisoners including working with various support and volunteer groups.
You will support the Managing Chaplain in contributing to the establishment's standards, budget, and People Plan, and help implement local and national policies for chaplaincy services. Ensuring health and safety compliance and helping to deliver actions from audits and reports are also key responsibilities.
Person Specification
The ideal candidates will have appropriate experience preferably but not necessarily in a custodial environment that caters to the predominant faiths and beliefs of the prisoner population. They must be a good communicator with well-developed influencing skills and be innovative and forward-thinking. The role requires professionalism and competence along with proven experience and skills in pastoral care, faith and belief, especially during crisis events.
A working knowledge of other faiths and beliefs represented within a prison is essential to function effectively in a multi-faith and belief environment. The candidate should be a focused and dynamic team player, capable of rapidly adapting to changing priorities and circumstances.
They must meet the HMPPS Chaplaincy and Faith Services' specified minimum faith eligibility requirements of their faith/belief tradition in the form of Faith/Belief Endorsement from the appropriate HMPPS Faith and Belief Advisor.
Applicants should make it clear which faith-based Chaplaincy role they are applying for and ensure you meet the eligibility criteria.
Additionally, the successful candidate must satisfy HMPPS and Mitie security and identity checks prior to taking up the post.
For more information and to apply for the post, please visit HERE.
For eligibility to become a Free Church Chaplain, please visit HERE.