Information
Sheet
Selection and Appointment of Whole-Time Anglican Hospital Chaplains
and Chaplain's Assistants
1.
Recruitment of Whole-Time Hospital Chaplains
The
recruitment of Whole-Time Hospital Chaplains is done directly by
NHS Trusts and Hospitals. All Whole-Time Chaplaincy appointments,
both for Chaplains and Chaplain's Assistants posts are advertised
in the Church Times. Shortlisting and interviews are usually carried
out by a Panel which includes representatives from the Trust or
Hospital, the licensing Bishop or his representative, and a member
of the Panel of NHS External Assessors.
2.
Training
Potential
Chaplains and Assistants need to have formal training prior to appointment.
This will usually be theological training, followed by ordination
in the case of clergy.
3.
Qualifications
- To
be ordained as priest/deacon within the Anglican Communion.
- To
have served a minimum of 3 years and preferably 5 years in full
time ministry, and be eligible to hold the
Bishop’s Licence. 3 years would be acceptable for
a Chaplain's Assistant post. The 5 year minimum is normal in the
case of the senior post of Whole-Time Chaplain.
- To
have demonstrated an interest in chaplaincy or to have some kind
of chaplaincy experience within the National Health Service or
pertinent post-basic qualification.
4.
Preparation
Part-Time
Chaplaincy posts are dealt with by the Diocesan Bishop in liaison
with the Trust or Hospital. However in choosing a parish following
ordination this may be a factor to take into account, as opportunities
for Part-Time Chaplaincy are available in certain parishes, and
this may widen experience and strengthen a subsequent application
for a Whole-Time Chaplaincy appointment.
The
Hospital/Health Care Chaplaincy Training & Development office
which is sponsored by the the Hospital Chaplaincies Council of the
Church of England, the
Workforce Development Confederation, the Health Care Chaplaincy
Steering Group of the Free Churches’ and the Roman Catholic Bishops’
Conference of England and Wales - runs introductory
courses which are open to newly-appointed Whole-Time and Part-Time
Chaplains as well as others interested in chaplaincy work. It is
usual for applicants to be sponsored by a Trust, Health Authority,
Hospital, or Diocese. Chaplaincy Vocational Courses are also run
on an occasional basis. Details of all the forthcoming courses will
be found on the Training pages or
in the latest Training Bulletin issued by the Hospital/Health Care
Chaplaincy Training & Development Office. (Email: mary.ingledew
or Tel: 020 7898 1895.
The
Council publishes a variety of booklets and a Recommended
Reading List for New Chaplains, and recommends Being
There by The Revd Preb. Peter Speck [published by SPCK]
as being a good introduction to Hospital Chaplaincy.
5.
Further help
There
is a Bishop's Adviser on Hospital
Chaplaincy in each Diocese (see Diocesan Handbook for details).
Links
to other pages:
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