College Chaplain

Permanent position

3 days a week (22.5 hours), 39 weeks per year F1-F6 £14,894 - £17,201 (£27,860 - £32,176 FTE)

The College works in partnership with the Diocese of Guildford and the Diocese deploys a Youth Hub Leader who works in the school on supporting students develop and explore their Christian faith through an invitational approach rather than through proselytizing young people. The Chaplain will work closely with the youth hub leader to support their work ensuring that there is a joined up approach across the school but does not line manage them.

Job Purpose:

Christ’s College is a co-educational Church of England with Ecumenical partners school for pupils aged 11-16 years in the Diocese of Guildford. We are seeking to recruit a gifted person to lead this effective chaplaincy maintaining its unapologetic Christian character.

The Chaplain is the lead for the development and delivery of high quality Christian Collective Worship. The Chaplaincy is fully inclusive of people from all faiths and none, encouraging an open, honest and friendly dialogue, where all views are respected in a spirit of generous hospitality and mutual learning.

We are looking for someone who will demonstrate and model Christian leadership and be central to the whole community at Christ’s College. We have a strong Christian foundation, which we are committed to. The Chaplain is regarded as an important member of the school community and is expected to have an interest in every aspect of the school’s life.

The Chaplain is a key pastoral figure in the school in promoting Christian values and leading the spiritual development of students and staff in line with the Christ’s College Christian  ethos. The Chaplain forms part of the pastoral team and support the College Leadership Team to provide the best care possible for our young people and college staff.

The Chaplain has a major role in the pastoral care of all our students irrespective of their individual faith. It is the Chaplain’s task to bear witness to the reality of God’s love by the way they act throughout the college, in showing a profound interest and concern for all in our college community. We are looking for someone who clearly enjoys being with young people, who evidently listens to them, and who can quickly gain their confidence and trust. Among the various members of the staff and students might choose to seek out to discuss problems and issues, within the appropriate constraints of safeguarding policy, students must feel sure that their Chaplain can keep a confidence, and is a wise, discerning listener.

Main Duties / Responsibilities

The Chaplain has responsibility for key areas of school life. The following descriptions should not be seen as discreet entities, but as closely interrelated, nor are they exhaustive.

To maintain, support, develop and enhance the Christian ethos and Anglican character of the school by;

·       Promoting and actively supporting all members of the school community in living out the school’s vision statement to ‘Serve our community by providing a fully inclusive education that enables all to flourish and reach their God given potential’

·       Working alongside the Principal and the Leadership Team, local incumbent and RS department in preparing for Statutory Inspection of Anglican/Methodist Schools (SIAMS); and addressing the key areas for development.

·       Leading on the professional development on Christian ethos and Restorative Justice for staff and students

·       Organising and leading appropriate opportunities for worship, reflection, celebration, prayer and thanksgiving

·       Working with the hub leader and parish church to support the school to be a witness to the local community and building new networks and partnerships alongside current ones

·       Ensure the school environment and displays reflect the school’s Christian identity.

·       Developing a school retreat programme for pupils

·       Including the local parishes in school celebrations, where appropriate

·       Supporting and enhancing the RE curriculum, where appropriate

·       Having input into the school development plan, its operation and review

·       Challenging and supporting on standards, morals and the values of the Christian life

·       Co-ordinating the school’s service projects and in helping our students’ give of themselves in service to the school and the wider communities.

·       Attending where possible staff meetings and any other meetings as appropriate

·       Engaging with Continual Professional Development (CPD) relevant to the role of chaplain.

·       Using a collaborative style of ministry that encourages a team approach to chaplaincy to develop and lead a chaplaincy team.

·       Offering opportunities of prayer for staff and students.

·       Liaising with Diocesan agencies, groups and individuals, where appropriate

Chapel environment

·       To oversee the use of the Chapel and ensure it is used for its spiritual purpose

·       To ensure the Chapel environment reflects the school’s ethos

·       To organise whole school Eucharist services and other acts of worship as appropriate, in the Chapel and elsewhere, including the Communion in the Community programme

·       To organise and prepare relevant service sheets

·       To research and produce resources for worship and reflection as required

·       To be responsible for the and administer the Chapel budget and ensure the Chapel is appropriately resourced

Assemblies, Collective Worship and Key Church Services

·       To coordinate a system of daily acts of worship across the whole school

·       To monitor, advise and provide resources for school assemblies / Mentor meetings for Christian theological content

·       To provide Christian themes of the week for assemblies and mentor group sessions

·       To engage outside speakers

·       To offer opportunities of prayer for staff and students.