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Job summary

Main area
Chaplaincy
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Part time
  • Flexible working
16 hours per week (3 days / week)
Job ref
434-C7855950
Employer
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Trust-wide
Town
Aylesbury
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
05/05/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust logo

Chaplain

Band 6

Be part of our BHT family

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is an integrated provider of acute hospital and community services for people living in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.

We care for over half a million patients every year:

  • Provide specialist spinal services at our world renowned National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympics
  • Nationally recognised for urology and skin cancer services
  • Regional specialist centre for burns, plastic surgery, dermatology, stroke and cardiac services
  • Deliver community services in health centres, schools, patients’ own homes, community hospitals and community hubs.

More than 6,500 people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds work for us.

We would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options. We strive to be a family friendly, inclusive employer. 

If you require any assistance in making this application, please contact [email protected] or phone 01494 734868.

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work and invite you to join our BHT family.

Job overview

Join our Chaplaincy Team and contribute to the provision of compassionate spiritual, pastoral, and religious care to patients, families, visitors, and staff across the Trust, regardless of faith, belief or life stance. You will support colleagues, participate in a 24/7 on-call rota, and work collaboratively with clinical teams to ensure holistic care. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on wellbeing and the patient experience.

Main duties of the job

Main Duties:

  • Provide spiritual, pastoral, and emotional support to patients, families, visitors, and staff, respecting all beliefs, faiths, or none.

  • Respond to personal or existential needs and facilitate access to other chaplains or support services when appropriate.

  • Participate in a 24/7 on-call rota and support staff wellbeing, especially during times of organisational change or crisis.

  • Work collaboratively with clinical teams to ensure holistic care, maintain accurate records, and contribute to service development and reflective practice.

  • Engage with local communities to support the Trust’s approach to spiritual and pastoral care.

Key Skills and Attributes:

  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and listening skills.

  • Ability to provide compassionate support to people of all faiths, beliefs, or none.

  • Experience in pastoral, spiritual, or emotional care.

  • Flexibility, resilience, and sensitivity in responding to challenging situations.

  • Teamwork and collaborative working across clinical and non-clinical staff.

  • Commitment to ongoing professional development and reflective practice.

Working for our organisation

 Why colleagues think we are "a great place to work!"

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.

Alongside NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, you'll have access to NHS discount schemes. 

We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

What do we stand for?

Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.

Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.

We are working hard to increase diversity at all levels within the trust. We believe a diverse workforce can have a positive effect on both staff wellbeing and patient outcomes.

We welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities and care-experienced candidates.

We are proud to achieve the Gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant and support applications from the Armed Forces Community. Please contact [email protected] (our Armed Forces Covenant Lead) if you would like guidance or assistance with your application.

We make employment decisions by matching our service needs with the skills and experience of candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on [email protected] quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person specification

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Essential criteria
  • Endorsement, authorisation or accreditation by a recognised faith community or belief group, in accordance with the requirements for healthcare chaplaincy recognised by the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy and the Network for Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care in Health.
  • Educated to degree level in Theology, Religious Studies, Chaplaincy, Pastoral Care, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
  • Registered with the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy, or eligible for and committed to working towards registration.
Desirable criteria
  • Postgraduate qualification (MA or Postgraduate Diploma) in Healthcare Chaplaincy, Spiritual Care, Theology, or a related discipline.
  • Evidence of recognised training or formation in pastoral or spiritual care appropriate to healthcare settings (e.g. supervised practice or placement experience).

EXPERIENCE

Essential criteria
  • Significant experience of providing pastoral, spiritual or religious care within a faith community or pastoral setting.
  • Experience of working collaboratively within multi-professional teams.
  • Experience of supporting individuals and families facing illness, loss, distress or bereavement.
  • Experience of offering pastoral or spiritual care within healthcare or other institutional settings (e.g. hospitals, hospices, prisons, universities, or community services).

SKILLS, ABILITIES & KNOWLEDGE

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of national guidance for healthcare chaplaincy, including the NHS Chaplaincy Guidelines 2015 and professional standards of the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Essential criteria
  • Willingness and ability to participate in a 24-hour, 7-day on-call rota, including weekends and public holidays.
  • Flexibility to respond to urgent pastoral needs and to support occasional services in the evenings or on Sundays, including major incidents or other unplanned events.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoPositive about disabled peopleArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardWe offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerStep into healthNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Stefan Tiran
Job title
Head of Chaplaincy
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01296316675
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