Chaplain & Keyworker (Community and Acute)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Knowledge, Training and Expertise 

·       For children who die in the care of the Community Children’s Nursing Team, the postholder will act as keyworker for the child death review process, whereby every child’s death is reviewed.  This aspect of the role requires the post holder to:

o   be a reliable and readily accessible point of contact for the family after their child’s death,

o   help co-ordinate meetings between the family and professionals,

o   provide information on the child death review process and the course of any investigations pertaining to the child, including liaising with the coroner’s officer and any police family liaison officer;

o   represent the ‘voice’ of the parents at professional meetings, ensure that their questions are effectively addressed,

o   provide feedback to the family afterwards

o   signpost to expert bereavement support if required.

·      With the whole chaplaincy team, act as keyworker when required in the event of a sudden unexpected death of an infant or child (SUDIC)

·       Contribute to the development of spiritual healthcare in a multi-faith setting, being sensitive to and aware of the varying pastoral, spiritual and religious needs of diverse ethnic groups, and to assist staff on responding to their needs. 

·       Assist and advise external partners, e.g. representatives of faith communities, in the pastoral care of their people while in the care of the Trust, and to receive information from them, always observing the rules of confidentiality by which every NHS employee is bound. 

·        Adhere to the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Chaplains (2024) of the Council of Professional Chaplains & Pastoral Carers (formerly UKBHC) 

Communication Skills and Working Relationships

 Be an informed, visible, and active presence in the Trust; taking part in MDT meetings and ensuring that the pastoral, spiritual and religious needs of families and staff are met. 

·       Communicate clearly and empathetically with, families, children and staff at all times. 

·       To use advanced communication skills and inter-personal skills to give and receive complex information often in sensitive or intense situations, e.g. following receipt of bad news or where there may be barriers to understanding or acceptance. 

·        Work with the paediatric teams to offer support to parents and families experiencing child’s illness and child loss at any age. 

·       Actively offer a ministry of encouragement to staff and offer time and space for supportive listening and counsel when sought. 

·       Help families and staff articulate their pastoral, spiritual, emotional or religious needs and identify resources to address them.

 Analytical and Judgement Skills

Contribute to the provision of training for bereavement support, compassionate conversations, and staff wellbeing.

·       Help staff in the identification of spiritual and religious need.

·       Contribute to education programs within the Trust to enhance understanding of spiritual, cultural, and religious needs of patients and staff. 

·       Provide support to members of multi-disciplinary teams engaged in pastoral and spiritual assessment or referral, to help this become a standard part of patient care. 

Planning and Organisational Skills

Plan and organise own workload. 

·       Plan, organise and conduct children’s funerals, thanksgiving, memorial, and other services as required.  

Freedom to Act

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

·       Attend appropriate meetings related to work, both inside and outside the Trust. 

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

Management Responsibility

·       Supervise trainee chaplains and chaplaincy volunteers as required. 

Responsibility for Patient Care

·       Provide specialised advice, and pastoral/spiritual/religious support.

·       Make provision for complex spiritual, pastoral or religious needs of families and staff.
Help families or staff articulate their pastoral, spiritual and religious needs and identify resources to address them. 

·       Be readily available and supportive to families, 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. 

·       Respond to the practical and existential needs arising from the impact of illness, death and dying on individuals and families. 

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

 Responsibility for Policy/Service Development

 Assist in providing a comprehensive spiritual, pastoral and religious care service to the Trust, including provision of spiritual healthcare information. 

·       Share responsibility for the implementation of policy and service development within Trust parameters. 

·       Share in the implementation of pastoral, spiritual and religious healthcare polices. 

·       Contribute to the professional development of the chaplaincy team. 

·       Review own working practice in conjunction with line manager, and propose changes as appropriate. 

·       Contribute to making the whole Trust a place of equality for people of all faiths, beliefs, spiritualities and none. 

Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resource

·       Handle donations to chaplaincy from members of the public as needed, ensuring all correct procedures are followed. 

Responsibility for Information Resources

 Maintain adequate notes of referrals and work done, on chaplaincy work record and, where appropriate, in-patient medical notes. 

·        Access Lorenzo, Badgernet, Digit and EPR for patient information. 

Responsibility for Research and Development

Undertake surveys and audits necessary for own work and for research and development purposes. 

Physical Skills/Physical Effort

 The post holder needs to be able to access wards, departments and people’s homes, and be at ease by a patient’s bedside. There is also a degree of computer and desk work. 

·        Accompany relatives in viewing of deceased patients in the mortuary as required. 

Mental Effort

The work pattern is unpredictable and there are frequent interruptions. The post holder needs to be able to prioritise, and re-prioritise at speed. 

Emotional Effort 

·       The post holder needs to be able to handle highly distressing or emotional circumstances, e.g. in supporting families or staff following complex or terminal illness, bereavement, or sudden death of infants or children. 

·       The post holder needs to have a developed self-awareness and commitment to seeking help when needed. 

·       The post holder needs to be able to respond and minister with integrity to people who hold a philosophy, belief or faith system different to their own. 

·      Engage in regular reflective practice. 

·      Maintain a strong patient and family focus throughout the course of the patient’s care in the Trust. 

·        To participate in the emergency out of hours on call provision across the whole Trust.