Free Church Chaplain, HMP Doncaster, South Yorkshire, GB, DN5 8UX
External Full Time
Ref: 293526
Closing date: 10/05/2024
Working hours per week: 40 hours
Salary: £32,768.84 Per Annum
HMP & YOI Doncaster is a Category B prison, it predominantly serves the courts of South and West Yorkshire and currently holds up to 1,145 male prisoners over the age of 18. We are located in the centre of Doncaster within walking distance of the railway station and bus station. As a resettlement prison we work with our prisoners, particularly those serving less than 12-months, to ensure that they have the support they need for resettlement as well as access to the services and support available to them after release. Most of our prisoners are released back into the Yorkshire and Humber area.
We have a vacancy for a Free Church Chaplain to join our vibrant chaplaincy team. As a Free Church Chaplain you will work as part of the Multi-Faith team in ensuring that all prisoners are able to participate in worship and other activities in pursuance of their religious convictions and provides pastoral and faith specific care to prisoners and staff.
To provide specific pastoral care and religious instruction to those prisoners registered as Free church/Christian. Job holders will also be required to meet the pastoral needs of people of other faiths/beliefs and none.
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
Facilitate and deliver opportunities for worship both sacramental and non-sacramental, study and religious programmes
Contribute towards the development of local policy, procedures and practice
Provide mentoring and personal support for other chaplains and volunteers including following incidents
Be always part of the provision of available and accessible chaplaincy care
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the Job Holder.
What you’ll need to do the role
All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post
All external candidates are subject to 12 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probation period within HMPPS
All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the Prison Service considers to be racist
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 a member of the Free Churches Group, or
Be a minister (lay or ordained) of a Free Church denomination which is listed by the Free Churches Faith Advisor 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 Advisor the additional support to be given during this crucial stage of ministry development.
Formal endorsement of the candidate’s denominational accreditation will be required from the Free Churches Faith Advisor to HMPPS .
Church leaders at a regional or national level, i.e. Moderators, Chairs, Regional Ministers etc. will be asked to provide written confirmation to the Faith Advisor attesting to the credentials, qualifications and accountability of each candidate (This evidence will be required before appointment and thereafter periodically according to HMPPS vetting policy).
Formal endorsement from the candidate’s own denomination will be required via the Free Churches Faith Advisor. Senior church leaders to whom the volunteer chaplain would be actively accountable will be asked to provide written confirmation attesting to the credentials, training plan and accountability of each candidate sponsored by their denomination (This evidence will be required before appointment and thereafter periodically according to HMPPS vetting policy and will be required whenever a volunteer chaplain seeks to take up a paid chaplaincy role).
What we offer
Competitive salary of £32,768.84 Per Annum
Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
Serco benefits package - includes cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts, discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships
Serco ShareSave- - where employees can own a part of the company and invest in their future.
Employee Assistance Programme
A company passionate about diversity and inclusion
A safe and supportive culture
The chance to make a positive difference
For more information and to apply for the post, please visit here
For eligibility to become a Free Church Prisons Chaplain, please visit here.
