Trac proudly powers the recruitment for

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

About

South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) provides the hospital services to South Warwickshire from four hospitals:

Warwick Hospital
Leamington Spa Hospital
Stratford Hospital
Ellen Badger Hospital

We also deliver out-of-hospital community services to the whole of Warwickshire and beyond serving a population of more than half a million from various clinics. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.

What is a Foundation Trust?

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1 March 2010. A foundation trust status gives us greater freedom to manage our own affairs, and makes us more directly accountable to local people through our Members, who are drawn from the local population and staff.

We are managed by a Board of Directors and the Trust is overseen by our Council of Governors. Find out more about our organisational structure and meetings and papers.

We continue to be part of the NHS and treat patients in accordance with core NHS principles – healthcare that is provided according to clinical need, not ability to pay, that it is free at the point of delivery, and that it meets the needs of everyone.

Our Members actively influence the progress of the Trust and help us to be genuinely patient-centred in every aspect. Find out about becoming a Member.

Contact

Address: South Warwickshire Hospital; Lakin Road; Warwick; Warwickshire; CV34 5BW
Contact Number: 01926 495321

Find out more

Jobs Website

Open

Ref: 203-C592 Vacancy ID: 8200184

Lead Chaplain

Accepting applications until: 04-Oct-2026 23:59

Vacancy status: Open

Accepting applications until: 04-Oct-2026 23:59

Location

Gwefan: Warwick Hospital
Cyfeiriad: Warwick Hospital
Tref: Warwick
Cod post: CV34 5BW
Major / Minor Region: Warwickshire

Contract type & working pattern

Contract

Permanent

Oriau

Full time
Part time
Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (This job is unpredictable and there will sometimes be a need to work at unsocial hours. The post holder may also be required to participate in the out of hours emergency on call provision for SWFT)

Salary

Cyflog: £49,387 - £56,515 pro rata (Dependant on experience)
Cyfnod cyflog: Yearly
Gradd: (Band 7)

Specialty

Prif leoliad: Lead Chaplain

Dyddiad y cyfweliad: 13/10/2026

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.

We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.

The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks

Many of the roles we advertise have a requirement for a DBS check to be carried out. If you are successful for a role and it requires a DBS check the Trust will carry out the initial check and subscription to the DBS Update Service, however successful candidates will be expected to cover the associated costs . Details of this will be sent to successful candidates in their offer letter.

Probationary Period

All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 3 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.

As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2

We appreciate you completing the survey.

Agile and Flexible Working

All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.

The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.

Staff Benefits

The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.

Car Parking

The Trust currently have limited availability of car parking spaces, as such are operating a waiting list for new starters joining the organisation.

To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).

Visa Sponsorship

The Trust will only consider sponsoring staff for certain roles, however this will be considered on a case by case basis in line with current legislation. As an employer we are unable to offer sponsorship to all roles in particular we cannot offer sponsorship for roles below Band 5.

Swydd-ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl

Communication Skills and Working Relationships

Lead by example through presence, visibility and behaviours of compassion, inclusivity and the values of the Trust. Visit patients and staff in wards and departments regularly and offer appropriate existential/spiritual care as required.

Foster respect and understanding of the religious, spiritual and pastoral traditions and practices of the diverse communities the Trust serves and are represented in the workforce.

Liaise with other healthcare staff so that spiritual assessment and care form part of the continuum of care and attend multi-disciplinary meetings and department meetings as and when attendance is considered necessary.

Participate in disseminating information concerning healthcare to communities reducing obstacles, where religious and cultural considerations are involved.

Ensure the day-to-day continuity of services across all sites and the capability to maintain critical functions in response to unforeseen circumstances, unpredictable workloads, and staff shortages.

Represent chaplains at senior clinical, governance and strategic management meetings, and promote the role of chaplains within the Trust and in wider professional and health service networks.

Inform and influence relevant Trust-wide policies, guidelines and standards through contributing expert knowledge and professional experience.

Provide guidance and assurance to the Trust Patient Experience Group on matters relating to religious, spiritual and pastoral care for patients, families and staff.

Educate and advocate for the value of spirituality in health and wellbeing and the role of chaplains.

Educate healthcare staff in recognising and responding to patients’ spiritual needs and how to work effectively with chaplains.

Provide training and support to chaplaincy volunteers, students on placement and new chaplaincy colleagues as they join the team.

Ensure an inclusive approach to developing and delivering chaplaincy services

Develop and support a volunteering programme to enhance the experience of chaplaincy care and contributes to the relationship between Chaplaincy and local faith communities and belief groups.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

Prioritise workload of themselves and others, assess performance and provide clear constructive feedback to team members.

Drive professional development and service improvement and foster leadership at all levels to support excellence in patient care and service delivery.

Responsible for a total managed staff of 3.24 WTE

Manage the department’s staff to high standards including the recruitment, induction, appraisal and development of staff.

Ensure that all aspects of staff management comply with Trust policies and relevant professional regulations including processes and procedures to ensure that staff are competent and safe practitioners.

Monitor, review and plan the department’s workforce to meet the changing needs of the service and the strategic demands of the Trust.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Establish and maintain capable and resilient structures within the department that support staff in the delivery of services and provide clear lines of communication and accountability.

Promote staff wellbeing and chaplaincy’s 24/7 support in response to spiritual or emotional needs, especially in times of crisis (e.g. bereavement).

Nurture the chaplaincy team, providing opportunities for professional supervision and continuing professional development and training.

Conduct regular team meetings and regular reflective practice within the department.

Co-ordinate pastoral, spiritual and religious care across the Trust.

Make provision for the spiritual//existential/religious needs of all patients, family members, carers and staff, so that all are enabled to continue to practice their faith/beliefs in a health care setting.

Enable the Chaplaincy to act as a pastoral/spiritual/religious/ethical resource to the Trust, seeking opportunities to provide appropriate service and advice within the hospital.

Freedom to Act

Initiate and take responsibility for own work pattern within the parameters of national standards and Trust polices

Management Responsibility

Ensure that the Chaplaincy Service meets all relevant service and professional standards including NHS England NHS Chaplaincy Guidelines and the Council for Professional Chaplains and Pastoral Carers Standards for Healthcare Chaplaincy Services.

Lead the profession in sustainable innovation that is informed by current evidence, diffuses fresh thinking and new ideas, and supports staff in developing best practice.

Support a culture of professional learning, reflexivity, and the continuous development of practice.

Ensure all staff within the chaplaincy service receive an annual appraisal and fulfil the requirements of mandatory training and all other relevant training necessary for safe and competent practice. Appraise directly line-managed chaplains and support their on-going professional and career development.

Demonstrate commitment to own professional development.

Respond to complaints and implement remedial action as appropriate in accordance with trust polices

Responsibility for Patient Care

Be readily available and supportive to relatives and patients, particularly those who are bereaved or struggling with diagnosis, and those who are close to the end of life, to ensure that sensitive, efficient, and appropriate pastoral or spiritual care is given at all times.

Provide specialised advice, and make provision for complex pastoral/spiritual/existential/religious support to patients and their relatives

Respond to the practical and existential needs arising from the impact of illness, death and dying on individuals and families. This includes being part of the teams delivering care to palliative and end of life patients, and those experiencing pregnancy and baby loss at any gestation.

To facilitate, when requested, visits to patients by their own faith leader

To ensure that self and members of the chaplaincy team have the knowledge and skills to act as keyworker, when required, in the event of the sudden unexpected death of an infant or child (SUDIC)

Be a part of the chaplaincy response within the Trust’s major incident plans and response.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Sometimes we get a lot of applications for our roles. On those occasions we might close the job early. If you don’t want to miss out we recommend submitting your application as early as possible.

The Trust use an Applicant Management System called TRAC which helps us manage the recruitment process. All communications regarding your application will come via TRAC (even if you applied via NHS Jobs).

Please check your TRAC account regularly and ensure your email is set up to accept messages so they don't go into your junk/spam folder.

We aim to shortlist all vacancies within 2 days of the vacancy closing, we will get back to all candidates ASAP.

Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer who is committed to Equality and Diversity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

All South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust sites are smoke free. We feel it’s a great way to help our patients, visitors and staff stay healthy.

The Trust is part of a ‘Foundation Group’ through a strategic alliance with Wye Valley NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This partnership is great for the sustainability of all four organisations and allows us to share learning and maximise opportunities to ensure the delivery of high quality health and care services for our local populations.

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.

Person specification

Qualifications

Meini prawf hanfodol

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with demonstrable learning in a relevant field such as counselling, pastoral care, psychology, psychotherapy, religious studies or theology
Endorsement to practise as a healthcare chaplain by a recognized/established sponsoring faith community or belief group.
Evidence of Continued Professional Development relevant to healthcare chaplaincy to Council for Professional Chaplains and Pastoral Carers standards

Meini prawf dymunol

Registration, or ability to be registered with the Council of Professional Chaplains & Pastoral Carers (formerly UKBHC). (It is not compulsory for Chaplains to be registered with the Council for Professional Chaplains and Pastoral Carers but the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care recommends choosing them from an Accredited Register.)
Post graduate qualification or Masters, or equivalent post basic training or work experience with demonstrable outcomes of learning relevant to healthcare chaplaincy

Experience

Meini prawf hanfodol

Minimum of 1600 hours of professionally supervised clinical practice as a designated healthcare chaplain that should include: on-call duties, pregnancy/baby loss, palliative and end of life care
Experience of working with multi-faith and belief teams
An understanding of the principles and practice of governance and/including safeguarding
Engagement with audit, service evaluation or research

Skills

Meini prawf hanfodol

Ability to offer spiritual care beyond own faith/belief boundaries with evidence of commitment to an inclusive approach to chaplaincy
Experience of managing staff/teams
Ability to handle complex, sensitive and sometimes contentious information appropriately and to respond with empathy, honesty and reassurance
Evidence of excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and spoken
Keyboard skills and computer literate
Proven ability to lead by example, to drive culture change and seek continuous improvement
Evidence of strategic planning to assist the Trust to develop the service which meets the current spiritual needs of those we serve
Experience of budgetary management

Personal Qualities

Meini prawf hanfodol

Enhanced use of self in chaplaincy practice including emotional availability, cultural humility, appropriate self disclosure, positive use of power and authority, and clear and responsible boundaries
To be trustworthy, showing careful attention to the individual and specific needs of those in their care, and have an approach that values and affirms the right of those outside the chaplain's own tradition to practice their beliefs appropriately.
Evidence of working collaboratively, contributing to team and sustaining positive working relationships with colleagues
Evidence of establishing and sustaining relationships in pastorally complex and challenging environments, demonstrating empathy and compassion while taking personal responsibility and initiative
Evidence of fluent and effective communication in speech and writing
Evidence of practising professionally within recognised boundaries in pastorally diverse settings (as set out in the Code of Conduct)
Ability to create and lead ritual or other spiritual process in a way that is sensitive to the pastoral context and faith/belief traditions of those present
Possession of a professional chaplaincy identity rooted in one’s one religious/spiritual/pastoral heritage that integrates professional values and behaviours, skills and specialist knowledge
Emotional availability, cultural humility, and a positive use of power and authority, within clear and responsible boundaries
A high degree of personal stability and resilience to cope with significant stress on a sustained basis
Ability to apply theoretical knowledge or ethical issues relating to health care