HOSPITAL/HEALTH CARE CHAPLAINCY

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:

This page was updated on 19 May 2010