Job summary
Are you passionate about making a meaningful difference in people's lives at some of their most vulnerable moments? Do you believe in the power of compassionate listening, spiritual support, and human connection to promote hope, recovery, and wellbeing?

We are looking for an inspiring and compassionate Healthcare Chaplain (Band 6) to join our dynamic community Spiritual Care Team, delivering exceptional spiritual, pastoral, religious, and cultural support across our community and mental health services.

This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to work at the heart of holistic healthcare, supporting patients, families, carers, and staff across a diverse range of settings. You will play a vital role in helping people navigate mental health challenges, illness, recovery, loss, and life-changing transitions, while contributing to a culture of compassionate, person-centred care.

Whether supporting someone through crisis, facilitating moments of reflection and hope, or helping staff build resilience in demanding environments, you will be part of a service that recognises the profound impact of spiritual wellbeing on recovery and overall health.

The role is for acute Hospital Chaplaincy based in Dorset County Hospital and line managed by the head of Chaplaincy Dorset County Hospital.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

Main duties of the job
At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff.

Our Mission is to provide outstanding care for people in ways which matter to them, and our vision is Dorset County Hospital, working with our health and social care partners, will be at the heart of improving the well-being of our communities.

What You'll Do
As a valued member of our multidisciplinary teams, you will:

• Provide compassionate spiritual, pastoral, and religious care to patients, carers, families, and colleagues.
• Support individuals from all faiths, beliefs, cultures, and those with no faith affiliation, ensuring inclusive and personalised care.
• Work alongside mental health and community healthcare professionals to deliver truly holistic care.
• Facilitate worship, prayer, sacramental ministry, religious observances, and spiritual resources where appropriate.
• Contribute to recovery-focused care by helping people find meaning, hope, resilience, and connection during difficult times.
• Provide pastoral support for staff, including reflective practice, wellbeing initiatives, and critical incident response.
• Build strong partnerships with local faith leaders, community organisations, and voluntary sector networks.
• Help shape understanding of spiritual care through education, training, and support for staff and volunteers.

About us
We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidate's individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

Right to Work in the UK: This role is not available for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to support visa applications for this post in line with UKVI regulations.

Details
Date posted: 28 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Pro Rata Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 405-26-AHP485TC
Job locations: Dorset County Hospital, Williams Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2JY, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced chaplain who can demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• Recognised endorsement, authorisation, or good standing with a faith community or belief organisation.
• Relevant theological, religious, pastoral, or chaplaincy qualification.
• Experience providing spiritual or pastoral care within healthcare, community, social care, or similar settings.
• Excellent communication, listening, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work confidently within multidisciplinary teams.
• A strong commitment to equality, inclusion, and supporting people of all faiths and none.

Person Specification
EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential

• In good standing with own faith community and eligible to be duly accredited by a recognised authority within it.
• Appropriately authorised, licensed or commissioned for the role of healthcare chaplain.
• Bachelor's Degree level or higher in Theology or Pastoral Care or other related degree.

Desirable

• Registered as a Board-Certified Chaplain with the UK Board for Healthcare Chaplaincy.
• Member of the College of Health Care Chaplains and/or The Association for Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Chaplaincy.

Experience
Essential

• Experience in facilitating rites and meeting spiritual needs according service user's own faith/belief group.
• Experience of designing, facilitating and leading services of worship in a wide variety of settings.

Desirable

• Experience of providing teaching on spiritual care to healthcare professionals.
• Experience of training and supervising volunteers.
• Experience of working in a NHS environment
• Experience of working with volunteers

Skills and Knowledge
Essential

• Extensive knowledge and insight into pastoral, spiritual and religious care
• Working knowledge of faith and belief systems other than one's own and the ability to apply this knowledge in a diverse context
• Skilled in using Microsoft 365 products and other database systems
• Digital and verbal communication skills desirable for effective communication of information within the organisation and with the public.
• Ability to work with a non-religious model

Desirable

• Volunteer management skills
• Training and supervision skills

special requirement
Essential

• Able to meet the transport demands of the role-Must be able to access own transport to travel across Dorset

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Dorset County Hospital, Williams Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2JY, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Head of Chaplaincy Services
Jean Saddington
jean.saddington@nhs.net
01305255198