244760 Healthcare Chaplain

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigration Service.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e., child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.

Overview

NHS Lothian seeks to establish itself as a centre of excellence in the delivery of, and training in, Bereavement Care and Spiritual Care. Within acute healthcare settings, the delivery of spiritual care has been an aspect of care since the NHS was established. While specialist spiritual care is available in some community settings it is not universal. It is recognised that health and social care (including service provision within community inpatient settings) are starting from very different places in relation to the provision of spiritual care.

Historically, within community settings spiritual care and religious care were often one and the same and was provided by part time chaplains who were often local clergy. As the role of community hospitals evolves, (re)develops and services move to modern facilities, NHS Lothian's Department of Spiritual Care is revising the provision of specialist spiritual care within our community hospitals.

Following significant service development and investment in spiritual care an exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team of Registered Healthcare Chaplains. We have a vacancy for a full time Band 6 Registered Healthcare Chaplain for a 12 month fixed term to deliver spiritual care within community settings and to undertake an evaluation and needs analysis using qualitative and quantitative data to identify spiritual and bereavement needs within community hospitals and demonstrate the value and benefits of specialist spiritual care.

The post will be based within the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh. There will be a requirement to work across all community sites across NHS Lothian and to take part in our 24/7 on call rota.

We are looking for an individual educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g., theology, religious studies, spiritual care, healthcare) with experience of delivering specialist spiritual care and can demonstrate experience of service development and improvement using qualitative and quantitative data.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver appropriate spiritual care (including religious, cultural and pastoral care) in care settings regardless of a person's faith or life stance.
• Act as a link to various community and belief groups, supporting and facilitating the care of their members.
• Make presentations, teach, or facilitate group sessions.
• Undertake evaluation and needs analysis using qualitative and quantitative data to identify spiritual and bereavement needs within community hospitals.

Requirements

• Degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as theology, religious studies, spiritual care or healthcare.
• Experience delivering specialist spiritual care.
• Experience in service development and improvement using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Detailed knowledge of the 2023 Scottish Government publication "Spiritual Care within Health and Social Care in Scotland: A National Framework" and NHS Lothian's "Spiritual Care Policy".
• UK Driving Licence and ownership of a car.
• PVG Scheme membership/record for the required regulatory group (child and/or adult).
• Commitment to a 24/7 on call rota.

Informal enquiries regarding the post will be welcomed by Mark Evans, Head of Spiritual Care and Bereavement Services, .