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Overview

Job holders within this Group Profile will provide religious and pastoral care of prisoners and staff in their own faith tradition and have an understanding/ knowledge of other differing faiths. 

Characteristics

Typical tasks associated with this Group Profile include:

• Act as faith advisor in the establishment providing advice, pastoral care and spiritual welfare to prisoners, staff and their families as requested
• Facilitate and deliver opportunities for worship 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 part of the provision of available and accessible chaplaincy care at all times
• Plan and lead worship and prayer / faith specific meetings
• Provide pastoral care to prisoners and help to provide support and bring resolution to crisis situations where required
• Nurture Chaplaincy volunteers in their contribution
• Facilitate services provided by contractors and volunteers 
• Work collaboratively with other Chaplains and Managing Chaplain on the maintenance and provision of facilities for worship and prayer
• Ensure your prison community is aware of relevant religious events and coordinate establishment support for these
• Acquire and distribute appropriate religious literature, supplies and materials
  
• Contribute to training programmes and materials for staff and volunteers
• Be proactive in forging links with their local faith communities and other agencies, as relevant and consider ways in which these communities/agencies may become involved in mentoring prisoners on release
• Participate in developing ways for improving and achieving Service Delivery Indicators (SDI)
• As required, undertake and ensure that all relevant administration, data collection and analysis including relevant SDIs are collated
• Be part of the organisation and delivery of Faith Awareness Training for staff
• Undertake Diocesan Ministerial Reviews, where appropriate 
• Take responsibility for your own spiritual health and development, allowing time for private prayer, study and retreat
• Provide appropriate support to the establishment 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

Job Descriptions relating to this Group Profile

• Chaplain : Anglican Ordained Deacon Religious Brother Sister Lay Person 
• Chaplain : Anglican Ordained Priest 
• Chaplain : Christian Chaplain - Ordained Priest or Free Church equivalent 
• Chaplain : Christian Ordained Deacon Religious Brother Sister Lay Person 
• Chaplain : Free Church Non Ordained Deacon or lay Person 
• Chaplain : Free Church Ordained 
• Chaplain : Hindu 
• Chaplain : Muslim
• Chaplain : Roman Catholic Ordained Deacon Religious Brother Sister Lay Person
• Chaplain : Roman catholic Ordained Priest 
• Chaplain : Sikh 
• Chaplain : Buddhist 
• Chaplain : Jewish 
• Chaplain : Orthodox 
• Chaplain : Pagan 
• Chaplain : Quaker 
• Chaplain : Rastafari

Essential Skills/Qualifications/Accreditation/Registration

Must complete specific training to hold the qualifications required for area of specialism outlined on the relevant Job Description.

Faith Eligibility Requirements (May 2017)

Buddhist:    

• Be a committed Buddhist living by a moral standard of at least that of the Five Precepts and meditate regularly.
• Display a competent understanding of Buddhist teaching and practice.
• Have demonstrable knowledge of Buddhist schools other than the one to which you belong and be willing to help and encourage interest in, and practice of those schools, when required.
• Have endorsement by the Prison Service Buddhist Faith Adviser* (Evidence required before appointment)

Anglican:

Ordained Priest    

• Be an ordained member of the Anglican Communion (or of churches part of the Porvoo and Meissen Agreements).    
• Will normally need to have been in Holy Orders for a minimum of three years.    
• Have formal endorsement in the form of the Licence of the Diocesan Bishop.

Or

Licensed Reader, Religious Brother/Sister  

• Be a licensed Reader, ordained Deacon   
  
• Be a Religious sister or brother, Church Army officer or other appropriately qualified or licensed minister in the Anglican tradition*] subject to agreement from Anglican Bishop to Prisons.    
• Have formal endorsement in the form of the licence of the Diocesan Bishop   

Free Church:

Ordained Chaplains    

• Be an ordained (or denominational equivalent) minister of a free church denomination / church grouping which is either a member of the Free Churches Group, Churches Together in England or Churches Together in Wales. Ordained Free Church chaplains are trained faith practitioners in their own communities.
• Ordained (or denominational equivalent) chaplains will have shown through at least two years post-ordination / accreditation experience that they can effectively practice and fulfil the skills and competencies required of a Faith leader. A formal recognised qualification in theology or religious study and Professional Recognition by their denomination generally representing at least 3 years of study, normally to Degree standard will be required of all ordained chaplains.

Or

Non Ordained Chaplains

• Be a lay minister of a Free Church denomination / church grouping which is either a member of the Free Churches Group, Churches Together in England or Churches Together in Wales. Non-ordained Free Church chaplains are trained faith practitioners in their own communities.
• Non-Ordained chaplains will have completed a level of study in a theological or biblical discipline which enables them to be recognised by their denomination as a minister of that community. They have demonstrated consistently to a range of people (academic / pastoral / practical) that they have effective communication and relational skills in order to have achieved this level of accreditation. A formal recognised qualification in theology or religious study generally representing at least three years of Part Time study, normally to Diploma standard will be required of all non-ordained chaplains.
• Formal endorsement of the candidate's denominational accreditation will be required from the Free Churches Faith Advisor. 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)
• In order to maintain endorsement by the Free Churches Faith Advisor all chaplains will be expected to demonstrate regular ongoing reflection or training contributing towards their ongoing professional development as ministers.

Orthodox:

Ordained Priest or Bishop    

• Be an ordained priest or bishop of the Orthodox Church in Communion with the See of Constantinople, and/or Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria.
• Will normally need to have been in Holy Orders for a minimum of three years. Have formal endorsement in the form of the certificate of Ordination of a Bishop, Metropolitan or Patriarch. *(Evidence required before appointment or approval from the Advisor to MOJ subject to agreement from Orthodox Advisor to MOJ/ Orthodox Bishop's Pastorial Committee)
  

Ordained Deacon, Subdeacon, Religious Brother/Sister/ Reader    

• Be an Ordained Deacon, Subdeacon, Reader or monastic or be qualified by the Bishops for this ministry.    
• Have formal endorsement in the form of the certificate of Ordination or qualification from a Bishop, Metropolitan or Patriarch. *(Evidence required before appointment or approval from the Advisor to MOJ, subject to agreement from Orthodox Advisor to MOJ/ Orthodox Bishop's Pastoral Committee.)

Roman Catholic:

Ordained Priest    

• Be an ordained priest in the Roman Catholic Church.    
• Formal endorsement in the form of recognition from the appropriate Diocesan Bishop or Religious Superior and formal agreement to work in a specific diocese by the local Diocesan Bishop (Evidence required before appointment)

Or

Ordained Deacon, Religious Brother/Sister/ Lay Person    

• Be an ordained Permanent Deacon, a Religious Brother or Sister or a suitably qualified lay person of the Roman Catholic Church    
• Formal endorsement in the form of recognition from the appropriate Diocesan Bishop or Religious Superior and formal agreement to work in a specific diocese by the local Diocesan Bishop (Evidence required before appointment)

Christian Science:    

• Chaplains should be members of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts.
• Chaplains should be class taught students, by an authorised teacher of Christian Science.
• Chaplains should be active members of a Christian Science branch church or society.
• Chaplains should be endorsed by the Christian Science Prison Chaplains Committee

Hindu:

• Be a committed and practising Hindu.
• Display a competent understanding of Hindu teaching and practice.
• Have demonstrable knowledge of Hindu philosophy and rituals.
• Have relevant practical experience
• Have endorsement from the Prison Service Hindu Faith Adviser* (Evidence required before appointment)

Humanist

• Have a cohesive system of values or beliefs but which do not self-classify as religious. These should be serious, genuinely and sincerely held, and worthy of respect in a democratic society
• An ability to articulate the values and beliefs above
• Have received formal endorsement from the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network
  

Jehovah's Witness:  

• A minister for Jehovah's Witnesses must be an appointed elder
• Have a formal nomination from the body of elders of the congregation where he is an appointed elder.
• Have a formal endorsement by the prison service faith advisor for Jehovah's Witnesses.
• Measure up to the Scriptural qualifications found at 1 Timothy 3:1-10; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:2, 3 and display them to a consistent and reasonable degree.
• Have a thorough understanding of the beliefs, teachings and practices ofJehovah's Witnesses and i9s committed to livin g by the Bibles moral values and standards.
• Have been trained and have experience in pastoral care and have demonstrated effective communication and social skills.

Jewish:  

• Be an ordained Rabbi,  or           
• In lieu of ordination, be a committed, practising and knowledgeable Jewish lay person.    
• Have endorsement from the Prison Service Jewish Faith Adviser* (Evidence required before appointment)

Muslim:    

• Have an in-depth knowledge of Islam (preferably hold a recognised qualification in Islamic Studies at graduate level).
• Demonstrate at least three years of excellent Imam skills (relevant practical experience including delivery of worship, group work and pastoral care.).
• Formal endorsement by the candidate's faith community - through the Prison Service Muslim Adviser at Chaplaincy HQ* (Evidence required before appointment)

Pagan

• Possess and prove an in-depth knowledge of, and experience in, your own Pagan Tradition,
• You will require an eclectic approach, so a working knowledge of other traditions is essential.
• Possess the confidence and expertise to lead open ritual, officiate in Rites of Passage, and run workshops for mixed Pagan traditions within the prison system. 
• Have formal endorsement by the candidate's faith community - through the Prison Service Pagan Faith Adviser at Chaplaincy HQ (Evidence required before appointment)

Quaker:    

• Be a Member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in good standing.
  
• Have demonstrable in-depth knowledge of Quaker faith and practice. It is desirable although not essential that candidates will have completed the Equipping for Ministry course at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre              
• Have formal endorsement by the candidate's faith community - through the Prison Service Quaker Adviser

Rastafari:    

• Must be a committed Rastafarian
• Must demonstrate a high level of consciousness towards the principles of Rastafari
• Must have a high tolerance and flexibility when working with the various members of the Rastafari family
• Must have a general understanding of all the Rastafarian Mansions/Houses
• Must have the endorsement of the prison service Rastafari faith advisers

Sikh:

• Practicing Sikh, preferably Amritdhari, who wears the Sikh Symbols.
• Display an in-depth understanding of Sikh teaching and practice and be able to read and recite Gurbani (Sikh prayers).
• Committed to the Sikh Rehat Maryada (Code of Conduct) & Guru Granth Sahib.
• Have endorsement from the Prison Service Sikh Faith Adviser* (Evidence required before appointment).
  

Desirable    

• Ability to communicate in Punjabi

Spiritualist    

• Must have passed the required prison chaplain training as set by the Spiritualists' National Union (which is the governing body for Spiritualism)    
• Must be approved/endorsed by the SNUs Ministers Administration Committee

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Working Together

Technical Requirements

Must complete specific training to hold the qualifications required for area of specialism outlined on the relevant Job Description.