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Job summary

Main area
Voluntary Services
Grade
Voluntary
Contract
Voluntary
Hours
  • Home or remote working
  • Other
4 hours per week (Volunteer 20 hours per month)
Job ref
278-VC-0625-CC
Employer
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Trust Locations
Town
Trust Wide
Salary
voluntary
Closing
24/06/2025 23:59

Employer heading

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust logo

Chaplains-Voluntary

Voluntary

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has a vision to ‘support our staff to provide a caring, high quality and efficient urgent and emergency care service to our communities’. We are rated ‘Good’ for care by the Care Quality Commission and while the other areas under their most recent report require improvement, our aim is to continually improve and to reach outstanding across all areas of the Trust.

Our 4,000+ workforce provide services to 4.9m people across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and North East Hampshire. We handle over 1 million calls to 999 and 1 million calls to NHS 111 every year. More information regarding our services and locations can be found on our website.

Job overview

Chaplains: Voluntary

 South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAMB)

SECAmb provides services across Surrey, Sussex and Kent and employs more than 4000 staff across an area covering 3,600 square miles and a population of approximately 4.9 million; we handle in excess of 800,000 calls every year. We aspire to be a patient-centred, high-performing, efficient and clinically led organisation that provides services to meet the needs of our patients and public, today, and tomorrow.

We have Chaplaincy vacancies in the following operating units:

Tangmere, Chertsey, Paddock Wood, Hastings, Crawley EOC, Brighton

Chaplaincy volunteers play an important role within our ambulance support network and provide pastoral support and care of staff, assisting them through any life problems or difficulties, making (agreed) referrals to other parties where appropriate. Our chaplaincy volunteers are drawn from all faiths, denominations and all walks of life and need to be a member of good standing within their own faith community or philosophical tradition. Volunteers must be willing to work in a multi-cultural setting, supporting without judgement those who may wish to explore their own concerns, beliefs, and values. This role suits volunteers who enjoy meeting people, building rapport and have the maturity to listen to people who may be in distress.  

Main duties of the job

 We welcome volunteers who can bring enthusiasm, reliability, and commitment to this role. There is an expectation of regular visits by the Chaplain to their allocated Operating Unit, and if appropriate, accompanying front-line staff during their work, as an observer (i.e. in Ambulance Service vehicles).

 We are looking for applicants who

·      Can demonstrate a sense of maturity, as well as compassion for others.

·      Are caring, reliable and enjoy being with people.

·      Can communicate well with staff and, potentially, their relatives/friends.

     Can support staff welfare as required.

·      Can use their own initiative and assume responsibility for ensuring staff are aware of their presence.

·      Have strong personal boundaries, with the maturity and confidence to understand when their ability to support is at an end.

·      Can sign-post staff to alternative sources of support, advocacy, and information.

·       Understand the importance of always maintaining confidentiality.

·      Live, work or study within a 15-mile radius of their allocated Operational Unit.

·      Live our values through their volunteering role with SECAmb

 Applicants must:

·       Be over 18 years of age

·       Be credentialed within their own faith community, or philosophical tradition and be part of their structured accountability system.

 

Working for our organisation

All Volunteer Chaplains require an Enhanced DBS check and must complete training relevant to their role, including annual statutory and mandatory online modules.

Before you get started with your volunteering role, you will be invited to attend the SECAmb Volunteer Induction Day. This will give you a full insight into the basic things that you need to know before you start your volunteering journey with SECAmb.

How will I be supported and what will I gain from this opportunity

  • Join an enthusiastic volunteering team of people who want to make a difference, just like you.
  • Learn new skills and develop existing skills.
  • An opportunity to meet other volunteers at the trust.
  • Regular meetings with your peers and an excellent support network
  • You will be making an important contribution to your local community throughout your volunteering journey with SECAmb.

 

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

What happens after you apply?

If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend a formal interview. You will be expected to have some knowledge of the role of our Trust. Successful candidates’ references will be checked and you will then be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check, an occupational health screening check and complete a series of online learning modules.

Please ensure ALL sections within the application form are fully completed. Incomplete application forms will not be shortlisted.

The Trust is committed to equality of opportunity of all staff. We welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, any disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, The Trust aspires to reflect the diversity of our community in our workforce and guarantees an interview to candidates with disability who meet the essential criteria specified. We particularly encourage applications from black, Asian, ethnic minority, and disabled applicants and those from other under-represented groups.

When completing the application please use your passport name and please ensure you include email addresses and contact numbers for your referees to avoid delay in the recruitment process.

When completing the reference section, please include details to cover the last 3 years history.

Due to the high volume of applications at SECAmb, we regret that we will only be able to contact those applicants who are shortlisted for interview. If you have not heard from us within 10 working days of the closing date, then please assume you have not been shortlisted for interview on this particular occasion.

Please note that we contact all applicants via NHS Jobs and would advise you check your NHS Jobs account regularly.

Please be aware that the trust reserves the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applicants are received.

Person specification

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to work well within a team, as well as independently
  • Compassionate and Caring
  • Good Communication Skills (written and verbal)

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Ability to stay calm and work under pressure in stressful situations
  • Live, work or study within a 15-mile radius of their allocated Operational Unit.
  • Support staff welfare as required
Desirable criteria
  • Supporting statement
  • NHS experience

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.The Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Care Quality Commission - Requires improvementStep into healthEmployers Network for Equality & InclusionArmed Forces CovenantCycle to Work

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
Chantal Chandler
Job title
Recruitment Advisor
Email address
[email protected]
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