Job overview

The post holder will lead other chaplains and faith leaders, and faith leaders employed by the Trust. they will also liaise with community faith leaders to signpost discharged and community patients.

The post holder will facilitate access to chaplaincy and other faith services for service users and carers across AWP. 

 The post holder will ensure the Trust meets the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy standards, develop a workplan plan, deliver and maintain a comprehensive chaplaincy service which provides for the religious, spiritual, and pastoral needs of service users, carers, and staff throughout AWP.

The role necessitates flexible working, and may necessitate working extended hours.

P.S: The proposed interview date is 5th September 2025.

Main duties of the job

Principal duties and responsibilities - in inpatient areas:

 The Chaplain shall:

§    Line management, supervision and strategic management of the team

§    Developing a strategy

§    Reporting writing on activities

§    ensure, when requested to do so, that patients and their carers receive support from their own clergy/faith leaders appropriate to their particular needs

§    minister to those patients who are seriously physically ill, the dying and their carers

§     support the multi-disciplinary teams in the development of patient care plans, which involves participating in the assessment, planning and evaluation of patients, taking an active part in ensuring that their religious and spiritual needs are an integrated part of their care plan

§    act as a link between the Trust and local faith communities, both as a resource for the religious, spiritual and pastoral interests of patients and carers and as a point of contact for clergy, faith leaders and community organisations

§    supervise the chaplains, chaplaincy volunteers, and any other ministerial students in their work for the chaplaincy department of the Trust. Provide training for these staff where appropriate and supervise their development and training needs.

Working for our organisation

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care. 

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.  

AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence-based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.