Trust SPaRC Practitioner-Chaplain (Church of England)

Job summary

Closing Date: 14 August 2026

Shortlisting to take place after closing date: commencing 15 August 2026

Interview expected to take place in the week following shortlisting: commencing 24 August 2026

Make a meaningful difference where it matters most

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is proud to be growing ourSpiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care (SPaRC) Team, and we are seeking a compassionate and dedicatedChurch of England Chaplainto join us.

This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to provideholistic, person-centred care, supporting patients, families, carers and colleagues at some of the most important and vulnerable moments in their lives.

Main duties of the job

As part of ourmulti-faith SPaRC team, you will:

Deliver high-quality spiritual, pastoral and religious careacross our hospital sites

Respond tofaith-specific needs while supporting people of all beliefs–or none

Work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and multidisciplinary teams

Contribute to a culture where kindness, dignity and compassion are integral to care

You will also participate in anon-call rota, ensuring support is available when it is needed most.

We are looking for someone who:

Is ordained within the Church of England

Has significant experience providing sensitive, inclusive pastoral car

Demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Thrives in a multi-faith, multidisciplinary environment

Brings a compassionate, inclusive and forward-thinking approach to care

Is committed to upholding our Trust valuesand delivering high-quality, equitable care for all

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

• Substantial experience in Healthcare Chaplaincy.
• Demonstratable knowledge of tenets of own faith belief/tradition
• Knowledge of and engagement with faith belief/tradition beyond your own
• Significant work with people from diverse backgrounds, including of faith and no faith
• Offer spiritual care beyond own faith/ belief boundaries with evidence of commitment to an inclusive approach to chaplaincy
• Experience in pastoral techniques
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary setting and the ability to promote shared decision making
• A proven pastoral, spiritual and religious expertise in complex, emotional and distressing situations
• Demonstratable evidence of working with and respecting religious, spiritual and pastoral diversity and differences
• Engagement with safeguarding, information governance, audit, service evaluation or research
• An understanding of the NHS and SPaRC/Chaplaincy
• Knowledge of religious, spiritual and ethical issues related to healthcare
• Ability to represent the SPaRC Team
• Involvement in the recruitment of staff e.g., volunteers

Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent work or life experience) with demonstrable learning in a relevant field such as counselling, pastoral care, psychology, psychotherapy, religious studies or Endorsement by a recognised/established Christian Faith community
• Ordained member of Church of England and licensed by the Bishop of Bradford

Communication And Relationships (Including Management Responsibilities)

Essential

• The ability to regulate own workload and work on own initiative
• The ability to communicate sensitively with people who have mental and physical health problems, to request support and escalate concerns as required to Lead SPaRC Practitioner
• The ability to establish and sustain effective relationships in complex and challenging environments demonstrating empathy and compassion while taking personal responsibility and compassion
• To be trustworthy, showing careful attention to the individual and specific needs of those in their care and to have an approach that values and affirms the rights of those outside the chaplain’s own tradition to practice their beliefs appropriately
• Demonstrate appropriate personal and professional values and behaviours and practice in accordance with the UKBHC Code of Conduct
• A professional SPaRC identity rooted in one’s own religious/spiritual/pastoral heritage that integrates professional values and disclosure, positive use of power and authority, and clear and responsible boundaries, behaviours, skills and specialist knowledge
• Evidence of working collaboratively, contributing to team and sustaining positive working relationships with colleagues
• Enhanced use of self in SPaRC practice including emotional availability, cultural humility, appropriate self-disclosure, positive use of power and authority, and clear and responsible boundaries
• A high degree of personal stability and resilience to cope with significance stress on a sustained basisInterview/Application formE
• Supportive of the Trusts values
• To participate in the on-call rota which offers cover overnight and at weekends
• To deputise for the Head of SPaRC on operational issues as required
• Willingness to respond to urgent and unexpected event e.g., major incident supporting the Head of SPaRC.
• To have experience of supervising/mentoring others e.g., volunteers
• Car owner/driver or suitable alternative transport to enable you to travel between sites and respond to on-call referrals

Closing Date: 14 August 2026