Chaplain

Being open-minded and a caring individual is key in the job of a chaplain. Chaplains have a genuine interest in helping others and being a guide to those in their most vulnerable state.

Chaplains are appointed to serve a role in society, doing their part in supporting others in various organisations. You’re a key player in ensuring people have someone to listen to in their time of need.

What is a chaplain?

Chaplains are the heart of the community. They’re either people of faith or philosophical beliefs who offer spiritual, pastoral and religious (where appropriate) support to people who need it, across numerous secular organisations. As a chaplain, your role is to provide, help, support and offer guidance to those experiencing personal difficulty or in times of crisis. These issues can range from mental health conditions, relationship problems, illness, and bereavement to emotional issues.

Working within large organisations, chaplains are usually part of a full chaplaincy team who covers a range of faiths and is called a multi-faith chaplaincy. For non-religious chaplains, they’re known as pastoral support workers or pastoral carers. Chaplains work in many settings including prisons, workplaces, hospitals, shopping centres, universities and more. Their goal is to care for and support anyone in need of advice and guidance.

Chaplains either need to have a degree or professional qualification as well as experience in leading their faith community and within pastoral care.

As chaplains can work in numerous settings, there are many different types:

• Healthcare chaplains: These work in various healthcare settings including hospital chaplains, hospices, and assisted living centres.
• Prison chaplains: These work in prisons operated by the council as well as private facilities. They can work with a whole range of adults with different needs.
• Public safety chaplains: These serve in law enforcement agencies such as emergency services or border control.
• Education chaplains: These work within all educational settings including colleges, universities, schools and private schools.
• Corporate chaplains: These provide care in various workplace environments from small to larger organisations.

Responsibilities

As a chaplain, the responsibilities can vary depending on the type and who you’re working for. In general, these are the responsibilities:

• Create an open environment as a place for worship and provide religious support.
• Create a safe space to provide spiritual, pastoral guidance and counselling on a one-to-one basis for those with different or no faith.
• Plan and lead a range of prayer and faith-specific meetings.
• Be able to provide support to families, relatives, friends or carers in all settings (for example when someone’s relative is in hospice).
• Collaborate with multi-faith chaplaincies.
• Offer pastoral and spiritual support to staff in various secular organisations from universities to prisons.
• Understand safeguarding issues and be able to respond quickly when you notice them arising.
• Take the time to care for and develop your spiritual well being.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, keeping accurate records and writing reports.
• Collaborate with local agencies and communities to refer individuals.
• Develop ideas for your organisation's practice and procedures to improve the service.
• Aim towards being a trainer for other chaplains.

Salary

The chaplain's salary will depend on which organisation you’re working for, the type of chaplain you are and your level of experience. For example, the salary of healthcare chaplains will be different to prison chaplaincy.

At the NHS, chaplains^[1] are paid on the Agenda for a Change pay system. They usually start on band 5 ( from £27,000- £32,000) and can go up to band 6 or 7 (£33,000-£47,000) as a chaplain team leader with experience and chaplaincy training.

A school chaplain's salary is on average £24,000 a year^[2]. These positions typically start at the £22,000 mark and can increase up to £30,000 for the most experienced chaplains. Whilst, ministry of justice chaplains earn around £32,000 on average per year^[3].

Some chaplains can also be employed part-time or work voluntarily, and therefore, the pay completely varies.

Qualifications

Chaplains either need to have a degree or professional qualification as well as experience in leading their faith community and within pastoral care.

The degree or qualification you require to become a chaplain can vary depending on the type of chaplain you’d like to be. For example, as a religious chaplain, you’ll need to gain the appropriate qualification for the religion. Christian chaplains require a theological degrees or religious studies degrees as well as ordination training and experience within pastoral care. An Islamic chaplain will need a recognised qualification in Islamic studies at the graduate level. Similar training is available to become a Jewish, Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist chaplain within the recognised qualification in your faith community.

As a chaplain to armed forces, the entry requirements can differ depending on where you’re applying to. Although, you must be either a priest or minister from a Christian church or a religious leader in Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh or Buddhist faith communities.

The rise in non-religious pastoral support worker roles is growing. To enter this area, you’ll need to study for an MA in Existential and Humanist Pastoral Support courses at the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling.

Training and development

Training and developmentis also dependent on the sector you’re working in. Within the NHS, training is provided on the job from an introduction to healthcare chaplaincy and working with those suffering with mental health illnesses. You’re also able to study for postgraduate qualifications in either healthcare chaplaincy or counselling to help further your career.

For religious chaplains, you will require hands-on experience as a religious leader as you train for your formal qualification to become a chaplain.

In any chaplain role, it’s essential to have relevant work experience. Even with a degree, the job requires experience in a relevant discipline such as theology.

For non-religious pastoral support roles, training can be slightly different. Organisations including Humanists UK, train and accredit individuals to become part of their network, which includes volunteers and paid professionals. Their induction training offers insight into humanist pastoral care jobs and how it operates across different environments. The role play sessions as part of your training help assess whether you’re suitable for that level of care. When you’ve qualified, you’ll be a part of the network.

Within the armed forces, chaplains receive an in-service training programme which includes induction, training and continuing professional development (CPD) programmes. The CPD programmes are available in other sectors including education, the police and prisons.

It’s vital as a chaplain to continue developing your pastoral skills, spiritual job knowledge and faith throughout your career as you are responsible for your CPD.

Similar to when working in the NHS, within other sectors, you can study at a postgraduate level. There are many courses available in particular sectors from schools to healthcare.

It’s useful to join a professional body in your area of chaplaincy as they’ll provide a wealth of opportunities including resources, events, training and conferences. Some examples include the Association of Hospice & Palliative Care Chaplains and the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network.

Skills

Being a chaplain is a caring and collaborative role and requires various skills depending on your sector. The skills include:

• Strong listening and communication skills to build good relationships with individuals you’re working with.
• Being able to empathise with others and treat concerns with respect and sensitivity.
• The ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
• Have an open mind to people of all cultures and faith groups.
• Having an understanding approach to vulnerable individuals.
• The ability to respond to spiritual, religious and pastoral needs.
• Working both within a team and on your own.
• Confident with presentations and writing reports.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and boundaries between you and the client.
• Great with time management and organising a complex caseload.
• Patient and tolerable attitude with a flexible approach.
• Self-aware of what you’re saying and doing.

Work experience

In any chaplain role, it’s essential to have relevant work experience. Even with a degree, the job requires experience in a relevant discipline such as theology. This experience can involve leading workshops, organising faith activities and working within a counselling or pastoral capacity setting. The work can be either paid or volunteer, as long as it’s the appropriate experience.

The type of experience to consider is youth work, teaching, care work or personal counselling. Opportunities for this can be found widely in hospitals, care homes, prison services and police services. Whether it’s an internship, work placement or volunteer work, anything that’s hands-on can aid your career.

Career prospects

The chaplain role has a natural progression to it. Initially, you may start as an assistant chaplain before moving into a chaplain position. With experience, the next step up would be a senior position including a team leader.

Chaplains are the heart of the community. They’re either people of faith or philosophical beliefs who offer spiritual, pastoral and religious (where appropriate) support to people who need it, across numerous secular organisations.

Within the chaplain jobs, there are management roles available, typically within larger multi-faith chaplaincies and spiritual services. For management, you'll require relevant leadership skills and the ability to manage a wide team. Management roles are dependent on the location of your job. Many smaller-scale settings don’t have the growth for progression and therefore, you may want to move into a larger organisation.

The counselling skills gained as a chaplain can also be used in similar roles. Further training and experience could lead you into a teaching job or counselling role in various settings.