Practitioner Spiritual & Psychological Care

Pastoral Care at Marymount University Hospital & Hospice seeks to address the emotional and spiritual needs of palliative care patients and their families as part of the organisation’s holistic approach to care. Pastoral Care services also extend to staff who care for palliative and elderly care patients, supporting them to give of their best in line with Marymount’s Mission, Philosophy, and Ethical Code.

While rooted in the Catholic origins of the hospital, this Ethical Code recognises and respects the increasing diversity of society and is committed to meeting the needs of individuals of all religious denominations, spiritual traditions, and of none.

The Pastoral Care Member will be an active contributor within a small, highly professional team, accompanying patients and families through times of suffering, upheaval, bereavement, and change, and offering comfort and inner healing through presence, conversation, or sacramental ministry. The role may also support Marymount staff during periods of work-related stress or personal difficulty.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical and Pastoral Care

In this role, the successful candidate will:

• Contribute to multidisciplinary meetings, care planning, and the delivery of care, with particular focus on the spiritual dimension of care, maintaining effective communication and positive working relationships with the multidisciplinary team.

• Ensure the appropriate conduct of bereavement ceremonies, sacramental liturgies, and religious and spiritual services to a high professional standard.

• Provide appropriate opportunities for emotional support, reflection, prayer, and professional counselling, in line with individual needs and wishes.

• Maintain awareness of current ethical issues in healthcare and engage constructively with hospital leadership where ethical matters arise.

• Respond to requests from staff for emotional, spiritual, and religious support, including facilitating access to professional supervision, the Employee Assistance Programme, and staff wellbeing initiatives (e.g. prayer, mindfulness, yoga).

• Respond to internal or external events affecting patients or staff where a collective response or ritual may be appropriate.

• Take responsibility for the Ministry of the Eucharist and sacristy.

• Ensure that any religious or spiritual service providers not accredited by the Hospital receive prior approval.

• Promote and maintain best practice within the Pastoral Care service to ensure consistent quality of care.

Patient and Family Support

The successful candidate will also:

• Ensure patients and families are visited in a timely manner following admission, with visits tailored to identified needs.

• Conduct emotional, spiritual, and religious needs assessments professionally, respecting patient and family preferences regarding ongoing contact.

• Provide direct pastoral care in line with individual wishes, with particular competence in supporting loss, grief, and bereavement.

• Liaise with patients’ own ministers of religion or spiritual advisors, where appropriate.

• Participate in the Hospital’s on-call service via the pager system, in line with duty arrangements. Pastoral Care services are offered to all patients and families in a manner respectful of faith, culture, and belief.

Teamwork and Collaboration

In relation to teamwork, the candidate will:

• Communicate effectively as a member of the Pastoral Care and wider multidisciplinary teams.

• Demonstrate understanding of roles, responsibilities, and group dynamics within professional team structures.

• Respect diversity and deal constructively with conflict to ensure service-user-focused care.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive and supportive team culture.

Professional Commitment and Governance

In relation to professional and organisational responsibilities, the candidate will:

• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development through training and engagement with relevant professional bodies.

• Uphold the Hospital’s professional codes of conduct and engage with the Mission Committee as required.

• Uphold Marymount’s values to an exemplary level in character and practice.

• Develop relevant competencies aligned with the Palliative Care Competence Framework.

• Participate in research, education, audit, and training activities, including induction and mission training for new staff.

• Ensure compliance with mandatory training requirements and relevant hospital policies.

• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all patient, family, staff, and hospital information.

• Engage in external professional supervision as appropriate and support education planning for team members.

Planning and Organisation

In relation to planning and organisation, the candidate will:

• Plan and deliver the duties of the role effectively within a person-centred care framework.

• Comply with all record-keeping and reporting requirements to an excellent standard.

• Manage competing priorities, multitask appropriately, and work within structured systems.

• Anticipate challenges and take preventative action where possible.

• Demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, and openness to change in a busy healthcare environment.

While the above outlines the core duties of the role, it is not exhaustive. The role will evolve in response to service needs, organisational priorities, and the changing context of care, and the post holder will be expected to undertake additional duties consistent with the nature and level of the role.

Confidentiality

The post holder will have access to sensitive personal and organisational information. All such information is strictly confidential and must not be disclosed except in the proper performance of duties or when authorised to do so.

Candidates must, on the latest date for receipt of completed applications:

1. Meet one of the following qualification requirements:

o Have successfully completed Clinical Pastoral Education (minimum of three units); or

o Hold a professionally recognised pastoral care or chaplaincy qualification; or

o Hold an accredited counselling or psychotherapy qualification;

and

o Have a minimum of two years’ post-qualification professional experience.

2. Possess the requisite knowledge, skills, and suitability for the proper discharge of the role, including a well-developed understanding of the spiritual, religious, ethical, and psychological issues experienced by patients with life-limiting illness and their families.

3. Demonstrate excellent teamwork skills, with experience in fostering a culture of welcome and inclusion for people of all faiths and of none.

4. Demonstrate personal maturity, empathy, sensitivity, integrity, and resilience, together with appropriate levels of emotional and spiritual intelligence.

5. A clearly articulated philosophy of pastoral care, with insight into professional competencies, boundaries, and self-care.

Desirable Qualifications and / or experience

1. Demonstrated experience in pastoral care within a healthcare or palliative care setting, including bereavement support.

2. A sound understanding of palliative care principles, including the integration of spiritual, emotional, ethical, and psychosocial dimensions of care.

3. Knowledge of diverse religious, spiritual, and philosophical traditions, and the ability to work inclusively with patients and families of all faiths and none.

4. Experience of collaborative practice within multidisciplinary teams, with an interest in education, reflective practice, and relevant research.

Please note this is a part-time position consisting of 28 hours per week on a 2 year fixed term contract.

Closing date: Monday 5th October at 12:00 pm