Chaplain - Free Church Deacon or Lay Person, HMP Woodhill, South East
External Vacancy
Ref: 6846
Band: 5
Closing date: 21/07/2025
Salary: £34,760 - £36,429
Working hours: If part time, hours to be confirmed.
If full time: 37 hour working week.
Job description: 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.
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
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
• Provide guidance on their faith/belief system in the establishment providing advice, pastoral care and spiritual welfare to prisoners, staff and their families as requested, liaising with their Faith and Belief Adviser (FBA) or other FBA as appropriate
• Plan and lead worship/meditation, prayer and faith/belief specific meetings. Be part of the provision of available and accessible chaplaincy care at all times
• Facilitate and deliver opportunities for worship/meditation, study and religious programmes. Work collaboratively with other Chaplains, the Managing Chaplain, volunteers and external groups on the maintenance and provision of facilities for worship/meditation and prayer
• Contribute towards the development of local policy, procedures and practice.
• Provide pastoral care to prisoners and help to provide support and bring resolution to crisis situations where required.
• Provide mentoring and personal support for other chaplains and volunteers including following incidents
• Nurture Chaplaincy volunteers in their contribution;
• Work with the Official Prison Visitor (OPV) Liaison Officer in promoting the scheme within the prison ensuring all prisoners are aware of it and to assist where required OPV volunteers
• Ensure their prison community is aware of relevant faith/belief events and coordinate establishment support for these. Acquire and distribute appropriate faith/belief literature, artefacts and materials
• Contribute to training programmes and materials for staff and volunteers. Be part of the organisation and delivery of Faith Awareness Training for staff
• Represent the chaplaincy team at establishment meetings, committees etc in the absence of the Managing Chaplain
• Actively support the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process
• Attend relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member
• With the agreement of the Managing Chaplain and establishment senior management team and as required, take on additional roles; e.g. Family Liaison Officer, Family Services single point of contact, volunteer coordinator etc
• Be proactive in forging links with their local faith/belief communities and other agencies, as relevant and consider ways in which these communities/agencies may become involved in supporting prisoners on release
• Participate in developing ways for improving and achieving targets as required, undertake and ensure that all relevant administration, data collection and analysis including relevant targets are collated; and assist in Probation Approved Premises (APs), with offenders on release into the community, those serving community sentences or other HMPPS funded community initiatives by agreement.
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.
Additional Information
Applying to Work at HMP Woodhill (Please Read)
You will need to undergo and clear pre-employment checks. This will include His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service Enhanced Level 2 vetting, and due to the security status of HMP Woodhill Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC vetting) is also required.
Proof that you have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years is needed to complete the CTC vetting process. The residency requirements refer to the period immediately before an application is made, and not any other three-year period, or any other accumulation of time spent in the UK. If you cannot provide proof of 3 years residency, you are not eligible to apply for this role.
However If you have been out of the country for a significant period of time (usually up to one year) and maintained your UK residency you may still be considered for vetting clearance. For example:
■ spent a significant period of time overseas without returning to the UK, but intend to return in the future
■ taken a gap year before or following university
■ travelled for a year
■ spent time overseas visiting family
This is not an exhaustive list.
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.
Contact Information
MoJ:
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Please quote the job reference 6549
HMPPS
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Please quote the job reference 6846
For eligibility to become a Free Church Prison Chaplain, please visit HERE.
