Trac proudly powers the recruitment for
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
About
Contact
- Address
- Trust Offices
- St Thomas' Street
- London
- SE1 9RT
- Contact Number
- 020 7188 7188
Chaplain
Accepting applications until: 16-Aug-2026 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 16-Aug-2026 23:59
Key details
Location
- Site
- Guy's and St Thomas'
- Town
- London
- Postcode
- SE1 7EH
- Major / Minor Region
- London
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 sessions per week (Weekend working requirements with On-call commitments)
Salary
- Salary
- £47,951 - £56,863 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AfC: Band 6)
Specialty
- Main area
- Healthcare Chaplaincy
- Interview date
- 21/08/2026
Guy’s and St Thomas’ is among the UK’s busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.
Guy’s is home to the largest dental school in Europe and a £160 million Cancer Centre opened in 2016. As part of our commitment to provide care closer to home, in 2017 we also opened a cancer centre and a kidney treatment centre at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup. St Thomas’ has one of the largest critical care units in the UK and one of the busiest emergency departments in London. It is also home to Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
Evelina London cares for local children in Lambeth and Southwark and provides specialist services across south east England including cardiac, renal and critical care services. We lead a number of specialist service networks aiming to ensure children are treated locally where possible, but have access to specialist expertise when they need it. Our community services include health visiting, school nursing and support for families of children with long-term conditions.
Our adult community services teams deliver care at the heart of the local communities we serve, working in partnership with GPs, local authorities and other healthcare and voluntary sector organisations. Working with our partners in Lambeth and Southwark, we are focusing on new ways of working to improve care for local patients.
In February 2021 the Royal Brompton and Harefield joined Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, bringing together world-leading expertise in the care and research of heart and lung disease. Our merger provides a once in a generation opportunity to build a lasting, world-renowned heart and lung centre, providing the highest quality care for patients and conducting world-leading research.
We have a reputation for clinical excellence and high quality teaching and research. We are part of King’s Health Partners, one of eight accredited UK academic health sciences centres. In partnership with King’s College London we have dedicated clinical research facilities including an MHRA accredited Phase I clinical trials unit.
Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of ‘good’. Our adult community services achieved a rating of ‘outstanding’.
The commitment of our 23,500 staff is key to our success. We are one of the largest local employers and we aim to develop and support all our staff so they are able to deliver high quality, safe and efficient care. The 2019 NHS staff survey results show that we have one of the most engaged and motivated workforces in the NHS. We know this has a positive impact on the care provided to our patients.
We have one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes anywhere in the NHS.
Job overview
As a Band 6 Chaplain, you will be part of the Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Team, providing compassionate, person-centred spiritual, pastoral, religious, and emotional support to patients, relatives, carers, volunteers, and staff. Working within a multidisciplinary environment, you will contribute to the delivery of holistic care, ensuring that the spiritual and pastoral needs of people from all faiths, beliefs, and none are recognised and supported.
You will provide timely chaplaincy support across a range of clinical areas, including acute wards, critical care, emergency departments, end-of-life care settings, and outpatient services. The role involves supporting individuals during times of illness, crisis, loss, bereavement, and major life transitions, while promoting dignity, inclusion, and wellbeing.
The post holder will work collaboratively with healthcare professionals, faith community representatives, and external organisations to ensure high-quality spiritual care is delivered in accordance with Trust values and professional chaplaincy standards. You will also contribute to staff wellbeing initiatives, education and training programmes, service development, and quality improvement activities.
Advert
Provide spiritual, pastoral, and religious care to patients, families, carers, and staff.
Support people of all faiths, beliefs, and none in a respectful and inclusive manner.
Respond to urgent referrals, including end-of-life situations, critical illness, and bereavement.
Facilitate prayer, worship, sacraments, blessings, and religious observances as appropriate.
Support families during periods of distress, uncertainty, and grief.
Work as an active member of multidisciplinary teams.
Provide pastoral support and wellbeing interventions for staff.
Contribute to safeguarding, dignity, equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
Maintain accurate records and comply with Trust policies and professional guidelines.
Participate in the on-call chaplaincy rota where required.
Support service development, audits, training, and quality improvement projects.
Working for our organisation
Outstanding reputation as one of the UK's leading NHS Foundation Trusts, known for excellence in patient care, education, research, and innovation.
Commitment to staff wellbeing, with one of the most comprehensive health and wellbeing programmes in the NHS, supported by Guy's & St Thomas' Charity.
Excellent training and development opportunities, enabling staff to learn, progress, and grow throughout their careers.
Inclusive and diverse workforce, with a strong commitment to equality, accessibility, and ensuring every member of staff feels valued.
Health and wellbeing support, including occupational health services, physiotherapy, wellbeing initiatives, fitness facilities, and staff support programmes
NHS pension scheme and generous annual leave entitlement, alongside a range of family-friendly policies.
Flexible working opportunities, supporting work-life balance where service needs allow. [swlstg.nhs.uk]
The opportunity to work within a Trust that values the contribution of chaplaincy and holistic care as part of supporting patients, families, and staff from diverse faiths and beliefs.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To provide high-quality spiritual, pastoral, religious, and emotional care to patients, relatives, carers, volunteers, and staff of all faiths, beliefs, and none. The Chaplain contributes to holistic patient care, supporting wellbeing, dignity, compassion, and person-centred care within the healthcare environment.
Spiritual and Pastoral Care
Provide spiritual, religious, and pastoral support to patients and those important to them, irrespective of faith, belief, culture, or background.
Offer compassionate listening and emotional support during times of illness, crisis, distress, loss, and bereavement.
Respond promptly to urgent referrals, including end-of-life situations, critical care admissions, trauma incidents, and safeguarding concerns.
Facilitate opportunities for reflection, hope, meaning, and resilience during periods of uncertainty and anxiety.
Support patients in exploring spiritual and existential concerns arising from illness, treatment, disability, or life-changing diagnoses.
Religious Care
Provide faith-specific support, prayer, sacramental ministry, blessings, and religious rites as appropriate.
Liaise with local faith leaders and community faith representatives to ensure patients can access support according to their beliefs and traditions.
Facilitate worship services, religious observances, and faith celebrations within the hospital.
Ensure patients' religious and cultural needs are recognised and respected within their care plans.
Support staff in understanding the religious and cultural needs of patients.
Support to Families and Carers
Provide support to relatives and carers during periods of critical illness, uncertainty, and bereavement.
Accompany families through difficult conversations and significant clinical events.
Offer practical guidance and advocacy where appropriate.
Support families following unexpected deaths, stillbirths, neonatal losses, and major incidents.
Assist with arrangements relating to spiritual care, funerals, memorial services, and remembrance events.
End-of-Life and Bereavement Care
Provide specialist spiritual care and support to patients approaching the end of life and those close to them.
Participate in end-of-life care planning and multidisciplinary discussions where appropriate.
Facilitate religious rituals, prayers, blessings, and sacraments at the end of life.
Support families during and after a patient's death.
Contribute to bereavement services and memorial events.
Staff Support and Wellbeing
Provide confidential pastoral support to staff experiencing stress, moral distress, burnout, grief, or personal difficulties.
Contribute to staff wellbeing initiatives and resilience programmes.
Offer reflective practice sessions, Schwartz Rounds, and opportunities for staff reflection.
Support staff following traumatic incidents, patient deaths, complaints, or major organisational events.
Multidisciplinary Working
Work collaboratively with healthcare professionals across all clinical areas.
Participate in ward rounds, multidisciplinary team meetings, safeguarding discussions, and ethics consultations as required.
Advocate for patients' spiritual and religious needs within care planning.
Contribute to the development of holistic, patient-centred services.
Ethical and Values-Based Support
Support patients, families, and staff facing ethical dilemmas and complex decision-making.
Assist with discussions relating to treatment choices, advance care planning, organ donation, and end-of-life decisions.
Promote dignity, respect, compassion, and inclusion in all aspects of care.
Education and Training
Deliver teaching and training on spiritual care, cultural competence, bereavement support, and religious awareness.
Support the induction and development of healthcare staff regarding spiritual care provision.
Supervise chaplaincy volunteers, students, and trainees where appropriate.
Contribute to service development, quality improvement projects, and audits.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Promote an inclusive chaplaincy service that serves people of all faiths, beliefs, and none.
Foster positive relationships with diverse faith and belief communities.
Ensure care is delivered in a culturally sensitive and non-discriminatory manner.
Governance and Professional Practice
Maintain accurate records in line with Trust policies and professional standards.
Adhere to safeguarding, confidentiality, infection prevention, and information governance requirements.
Participate in clinical supervision, continuing professional development, and appraisal processes.
Contribute to audit, research, service evaluation, and quality improvement initiatives.
Key Skills and Attributes
Excellent communication and active listening skills.
Empathy, compassion, and emotional resilience.
Ability to work with people of all faiths and none.
Experience supporting individuals facing illness, loss, trauma, and bereavement.
Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
Strong organisational and time-management skills.
Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Understanding of healthcare ethics and patient-centred care.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity , gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.
Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. Equality of opportunity is our policy.
As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends.
Flexible working
We are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance and to work in a way that is best for them and our patients. We will consider all requests to work flexibly, taking in to account the individual’s personal circumstances as well the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the recruiting manager as part of the on-boarding process.
Due to recent changes in the UK immigration rules which affect Skilled Worker Visas, Global Business Mobility, Higher Skill Level and Increased Salary Thresholds, please ensure that you are able to meet the requirements to live and work in the UK before applying. Further information about eligibility is available on the UK Government website.
Your e-mail address is important to us - We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis.
Please apply for this post by clicking "Apply Online Now."
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Bachelor's Degree or religious equivalent work
- Ordained Anglican minister in good standing.
- Comprehensive knowledge of faith & belief systems to work in multi-faith context
Desirable criteria
- Experience in delivering pastoral, spiritual and religious care in healthcare setting
Other
Essential criteria
- Experience of supervising volunteers
- Evidence of ability to manage time prioritising workload
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrate compassion and empathy
- Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in responding to service needs.
Knowlege & Skills
Essential criteria
- Theological knowledge on ethical issues related to healthcare
- IT skills
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrate compassion and empathy
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Revd William Sharpe
- Job title
- Acting Head of Chaplaincy
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07912489149
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