RC (Roman Catholic) Chaplain

Job Introduction

Sodexo Justice Services has been operating in the United Kingdom since 1993. We operate five prisons in the UK and have a reputation for operating excellent, ethical, innovative and rehabilitative services. Our vision is to become a strategic partner of our clients by designing, managing and delivering quality of life services which make a meaningful difference to offenders by changing lives for the better.

HMP Northumberland is the newest addition to the SJS estate.  Our aim is to introduce the technology and initiatives that have been so successful in our other prisons whilst providing real work opportunities for prisoners which match those available in the community.

As Part Time RC Chaplain, you will provide pastoral needs for prisoners whatever their religion.

You will maintain and develop links with visiting Ministers from other faiths and with faith communities to develop support for reintegration, providing counselling when appropriate for prisoners and staff.

Role Responsibility

• Serve the needs of prisoners and staff by supporting religious faith and practice within the prison.
• Work together to create an ordered and caring community where individuals can discover and practice their religion and develop and strengthen appropriate links with their family and faith communities.
• Support prisoners of all faiths through facilitating religious prayers and teachings of Faiths representative of the prisoner population.
• To participate in the Equality and Inclusion Management Team meetings.
• To take on when necessary and appropriate generic chaplaincy duties including applications, new receptions, visiting prisoners in Separation and Care and in Healthcare centre.
• Represent the prison and company to the local community.
• Encourage the faith community outside the prison to take an active interest in the rehabilitation of prisoners.
• Help prisoners prepare for release.
• Provide pastoral support to staff and co-ordinate a Post Incident Care Team providing training as necessary.
• Work with other chaplains recognising and respecting the integrity of other faiths and promoting peace and co-operation.

The Ideal Candidate

Essential

• Experience of working in a similar role
• To have the necessary recognition from lead faith authorities.
• Great ability to work with the people of different ethnicities
• Ability and wish to work with clergy and volunteers of different faith backgrounds
• High level of inter personal skills including assertiveness and self-motivation
• The ability to challenge inappropriate behaviour

Desirable

• Experience of working in a people-facing role or with vulnerable groups
• Managing conflict

Package Description

£15,000 - £17,000 per annum

24 hours per week with some weekend and evening work required.

Applications will be accepted from Priests or Deacons. Lay Roman Catholics may also apply, as long as they are endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church and have the necessary qualifications to lead Services of the Word

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 35,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process.

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/ or Disclosure Scotland.

Please note all roles within Sodexo Justice are subject to security and recruitment checks which may include a Social Media Check. You will also be asked to provide 3 years’ worth of references and request employment history details from the HMRC