Free Church Ordained, Deacon or Lay person at HMP Bure, Norwich, East of England
External Part-time
Ref: 1574
Working hours: Part-time, 4 days a week
Salary: £34,760 - £36,429 pro-rata
Civil Service Grade: HEO
Closing date: 31/01/2025
Overview of the job: Job holders will provide faith/belief and pastoral care to prisoners and staff of their own faith/belief tradition and have an understanding/knowledge of other faith/beliefs as part of a multi- faith/belief chaplaincy team. Job holders will also be required to meet the pastoral needs of people of other faiths/beliefs and none.
Summary: The job holder will work with colleagues to ensure the delivery of PSI 05/2016 Faith and Pastoral Care for Prisoners or its successor policy framework and also the broader work of chaplaincy in delivering faith and non-faith-based courses. Will contribute to the process by which the Governor and Chaplain General/Head of Faith Services are assured that these policies are being delivered.
The job holder will engage with and build contacts with their own faith/belief community towards aiding the resettlement of offenders.
Takes responsibility for one’s own spiritual health and development, allowing time for private prayer/reflection, study and retreat.
This is a non-rotational, non-operational job with no line management or supervisory responsibilities.
Faith/Belief Eligibility Requirements (January 2023) Free Church:
• All Free Church chaplains are trained faith practitioners
in their own communities. They are accountable to and accredited by an eligible denomination as listed on the Free Churches Group website. They will either be a minister (lay or ordained) of a Free Church denomination which is:
o a member of the Free Churches Group, or
o listed by the HMPPS Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser as an ‘Additional Denomination’.
Denominations listed as an “Additional Denomination” will satisfy all of the following:
have a distinctive Free Church theology;
be national members of either Churches Together in England or Cytun;
have formally requested inclusion on the ‘Additional Denomination’ list;
have agreed to abide by the “Joint Working Protocol for Prison Chaplains” established between the Free Churches Group, Churches together in England and Cytun.
• Ordained Chaplains (including ordained deacons) will have completed a formal professional formation process appropriate to their denomination which satisfies that denomination of their ability to effectively practice and fulfil the skills and competencies required of an ordained minister. Where an ordained chaplain is appointed within the first two years of their ordination then the denomination will be required to demonstrate to the Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser the additional support to be given during this crucial stage of ministry development.
• Required qualifications for Prison Chaplains. All Free Churches Chaplains will be expected to hold a formal recognised qualification in theology or religious study, normally to UK University undergraduate Diploma standard.
• Requirement for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). In order to maintain endorsement by the Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser all chaplains will be required to demonstrate regular continuing reflection or training contributing towards their professional development as ministers. This will be recorded and assessed on an annual basis by the HMPPS Free Churches Faith and Belief Adviser.
Working Arrangements & Further Information: The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.
If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.
The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.
For more information and to apply for the post, please visit here.
If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com. Please quote job reference: 1547.
For eligibility to become a Free Church Chaplain, please visit here.
