Job Description

We are looking to recruit the following Buddhist Prison Chaplain:


Be a committed Buddhist living by a moral standard of at least that of the Five Precepts and meditate regularly. Display a competent understanding of Buddhist teaching and practice. Have demonstrable knowledge of Buddhist schools other than the one to which you belong and be willing and able to help and encourage interest in, and practice of those schools, when required. Be willing to complete Angulimala's Prison Dharma course and attend two of Angulimala's training workshops a year. Have endorsement by the HMPPS Buddhist Faith and Belief Adviser (Evidence required before appointment).

Salary: 3,650

Hours: 4 hours

Mitie Care & Custody (C&C) is driven by a bold vision: to establish HMP Millsike as a place of restoration and rehabilitation, where prisoners can unlock their full potential and make meaningful, positive changes in their lives. We are excited by the opportunity Millsike presents: a blank canvas on which we can paint a bright future for our prisoners. Our mission is clear: to create an environment that empowers, inspires, and supports individuals to re-enter society with hope, purpose, and a life plan. To achieve this, we will set a culture of rehabilitation and restoration underpinned by integrity and high expectations. Prisoners will experience a dramatic shift from traditional prison environments. Millsike will be a vibrant, bustling community, teeming with industry, activity and opportunities for personal growth. Above all, we will ensure our approach offers a deep sense of safety/respect, through a supportive, uplifting environment, that helps prisoners to see their potential and that unlocks a brighter future for all.

Job objectives and responsibilities

As a Chaplain working alongside the Safer Custody and Equalities Function, you will ensure compliance with contractual requirements, company policies, and HMPPS standards including all relevant Prison Service Instructions and Policy Frameworks. You will deliver effective services across the prison, supporting the Managing Chaplain and Head of Safety and Equalities in creating a safe and rehabilitative environment.



You will be part of the Multi Faith and Belief Chaplaincy Team, ensuring you are accessible to all prisoners and staff regardless of faith or belief. Your responsibilities include providing pastoral care, organising and delivering worship and events, and assisting with prisoner resettlement. You will also offer expert faith and belief advice and support the observance of religious holy days and festivals.



You will develop relationships with support and volunteer groups, plan workshops and meetings, and contribute to safeguarding and diversity initiatives. Additionally, you will deliver awareness programmes for prisoners and staff, work closely with Safer Custody on policies and procedures, and support prisoners through major life events regardless of faith or belief.



Daily duties include interviewing new prisoners, visiting those in the Care and Separation Unit and Transitional Support Unit, responding to applications, and preparing reports. You will support the Managing Chaplain to ensure effective administration of Chaplaincy Services and provide support for other Chaplains and volunteers.



You will be involved in many other aspects of prison life, playing your part in safer custody by visiting those being supported by Assessment, Care, Custody and Team Work arrangements weekly, violence reduction, equalities meetings, Good Order and Discipline reviews, as well as groups such as the Segregation Monitoring and Review Group meetings. Chaplains of all faiths and beliefs play an important role supporting counter-terrorism activity on a routine basis.



You will also contribute to resettlement issues as appropriate, engage and build contacts with faith/belief communities towards aiding the resettlement of prisoners and support the Managing Chaplain's contact strategy with outside faith/belief-based agencies to help with the resettlement of prisoners including working with various support and volunteer groups.



You will support the Managing Chaplain in contributing to the establishment's standards, budget, and People Plan, and help implement local and national policies for Chaplaincy services. Ensuring health and safety compliance and helping to deliver actions from audits and reports are also key responsibilities.

Person Specification

The ideal candidates will have appropriate experience preferably but not necessarily in a custodial environment that caters to the predominant faiths and beliefs of the prisoner population. They must be a good communicator with well-developed influencing skills and be innovative and forward-thinking. The role requires professionalism and competence along with proven experience and skills in pastoral care, faith and belief, especially during crisis events.



A working knowledge of other faiths and beliefs represented within a prison is essential to function effectively in a multi-faith and belief environment. The candidate should be a focused and dynamic team player, capable of rapidly adapting to changing priorities and circumstances.



They must meet the HMPPS Chaplaincy and Faith Services' specified minimum faith eligibility requirements of their faith/belief tradition in the form of Faith/Belief Endorsement from the appropriate HMPPS Faith and Belief Advisor.



Applicants should make it clear which faith-based Chaplaincy role they are applying for and ensure they meet the eligibility criteria.



Additionally, the successful candidate must satisfy HMPPS and Mitie security and identity checks prior to taking up the post.



As a business, Mitie C&C is committed to diversity and inclusion and we would welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds including veterans, those looking for a career change, and people who have experience in social care or a learning environment. Full training will be given where applicable, and we would encourage anyone who might be thinking about a role in a secure establishment to get in touch.

Our purpose:

our expertise, care, technology, and insight create amazing work environments, helping our customers be exceptional every day.

Our promise to our people:

a place to work where you can thrive and be your best every day.

Our promise to our customers:

a trusted partner creating exceptional environments for your customers and people, adding value every day.

Our culture - our core values and how we behave

:

We are one Mitie:

we work as one to deliver a seamless, unrivalled service. We are all in it together, if we can help a customer or colleague in any way, we will. We are one Mitie.

We are built on integrity and trust:

integrity and trust are at the heart of all we do. We are the face of the company. We treat others as we would like to be treated. We are proud to work for Mitie.

We go the extra mile:

whether its keeping things running smoothly in a safe environment, looking for new ways to do things better or fixing problems, going the extra mile for our colleagues and customers, and keeping our promises is in our DNA.

Our diversity makes us stronger:

we are immensely proud of our rich and diverse culture and backgrounds. Our diversity creates ideas and insights. Everyone at Mitie has a voice and is treated as an equal.

Our customers' business is our business:

we are a partner, trusted for our expertise and for putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.