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Hospitaller
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The Position
The Parish of Great St Bartholomew and Barts Health NHS Trust wish to appoint a
stipendiary priest as Hospitaller, a new position at both the Parish and the Hospital,
serving both institutions and maintaining and developing the close partnership between
them. The priest will be based in the parish office, under the direction of the Rector, and
focus their activities in the hospital, which is the significant part of the parish.
Context
The Parish
In 1123, Rahere, Henry I’s Court Jester founded two institutions which are still here 900
years later: a Priory Church and a Hospital. St Bartholomew’s Hospital is Britain’s oldest
hospital – and has been free to use from the very
beginning. St Bartholomew the Great is London’s oldest
church, having survived fire and bomb to minister to the
people of London in the twenty-first century.
The parish has witnessed great moments in history: the
execution of William Wallace, the Peasants’ Revolt, and
the burning of Tudor Protestant and Catholic martyrs all
took place outside its gate in Smithfield. The annual St
Bartholomew’s Fair was celebrated in Cloth Fair until
being banned in 1855 as a "school of vice which has
initiated more youth into the habits of villainy
than Newgate [prison] itself." The artist William Hogarth
was baptised in the Great while Inigo Jones, who lived in
the Parish, was baptised in St Bartholomew the Less in
1573; the poet John Betjeman was a parishioner, and the
church features in a number of poems written when he
lived across the road; the great American polymath Benjamin Franklin worked in the
printers’ workshop which had taken over the east end of the church during the 18th
century.
The Hospital Church of St Bartholomew the Less (‘the Less’) is the second church of the
parish. Also founded in 1123 it is the only parish church to be situated physically within
a hospital and serves the hospital’s patients, staff, and relatives as well as the people of
the parish, in particular families with young children.
The Less was one of five mediæval chapels for the brethren of the Hospital. The
original church had been much larger than now and had extended over the area of the
recently created Princess Alice Garden. It had become badly damaged by 1789 and was
reconstructed by George Dance the Younger who had been the Hospital Surveyor. He
proposed a radical change in design: an octagon within the mediæval nave, which led to
the clearing of the interior of the church including many of the monuments. However
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the timber rotted and it had to be rebuilt in 1825 by Philip Hardwick, also the Hospital
surveyor, whose grandson restored the church in 1865 and donated the marble
pulpit. Memorials which remain include those of Lady Anne Bodley and Robert
Balthrope, a surgeon to Queen Elizabeth I. There are brasses dating from 1439.
When Barts Hospital was granted to the City in 1546, it
had been agreed that the precincts of the Hospital
should constitute a parish with St Bartholomew the
Less as its parish church. This concept was, and
remains, unique in England. The Letters Patent stated
that there should be appointed a Hospitaller, a Vicar, a
Parish Clerk, a Sexton and a Visitor to Newgate
Prison, but the posts of Hospitaller and Vicar were
combined from 1671. The role of the Hospitaller had
been to receive the food bought by the Steward, give it
to the cook and then be present to see that every
patient received the right quantity, whilst the Vicar
looked after the parishioners.
There are glowing opportunities for the Parish in the
next few years which come from many quarters: the completion of the Crossrail station
at Farringdon will bring 40% of the UK’s population within a 45 min journey time from
the churches, thousands of new commuters, major local redevelopments including new
housing and a new home for the Museum of London in the old Smithfield market will
bring many visitors, and more people will work and live within the Parish.
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Liturgy and Ministry
The two churches of the parish have different liturgical styles and the candidate must be
able to engage fully in both.
Services in the Less are in contemporary language, following the norms and structure of
Common Worship. The main service in the Less is a 10:00 Family Service on Sunday.
There are 19 on the Children’s Electoral Roll, most of whom have either been admitted
to Holy Communion or have been Confirmed, who turn up regularly, if not weekly. The
post presents a wonderful opportunity to develop a distinctive children’s
ministry in this small part of London. The service is designed around the interests
and needs of the children who take part in regular consultations. This was what three of
the regular children said when asked for their opinions on the service for a recent
parish brochure:
Lexi says: ‘I like the fact that it has become so interactive, and we get good hymns, and to help set up Communion. I think it is important that all the children have something to do in the service’. Tay thinks: ‘What I like is being involved. I did the hymn numbers on Sunday, and lit the candles, and sometimes get to take the collection. It feels like the service is for us children, and not aimed at the adults and playing slow long hymns. This is really important because I find it much easier to remember the sermon/service afterwards when I have been involved in it’. And Breck has this to add: ‘I like the sermons where all the children get involved and do something, that leads into learning about Jesus. Two weeks ago I was blindfolded and guided round the church which was fun! (Parents: and he was talking about it for the rest of the day!). I also like ringing the bells whenever I can, helping set up Communion, and doing readings, which I have just started to do and would definitely like to do more of.’
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Currently the only other service in the Less is a 12:30 Eucharist on a Tuesday for
patients and staff at the hospital, which follows Common Worship and is attended by an
average of four. One of the key roles of the Hospitaller will be to consider ways of
expanding the parish’s liturgical and pastoral reach into the hospital.
The Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great is
steeped in the Anglo Catholic tradition. The language
of all of its services is Cranmerian and the Authorized
Version of the Bible is used. On Sundays there is an
early morning Communion, an east-facing High Mass,
and a Choral Evensong (with Benediction once a
month). The Book of Common Prayer and the
traditional language resources of Common Worship
are used.
This is a great opportunity for someone who will
revel in traditional language and liturgy as he or
she will be on a rota for all of these services. The
church has an excellent reputation for preaching
which will be a key consideration when making the
appointment.
The Church also has a vibrant and active wedding ministry (26 weddings have taken
place or are booked for 2019) of which the Hospitaller will be expected to take a fair
share. The past year has seen a healthy number of catechumen and confirmands with
twenty adult candidates being prepared and presented, and frequent infant baptisms
taking place on Sunday after the main service.
There is a growing catechetical side to the parish, with art courses and Greek classes
being laid on this year. We are hoping to develop this ministry considerably over the
next few years, especially focusing on recent university graduates. The ability to
engage credibly and intelligently with highly intelligent adults, both formally and
informally, is one of the most exciting parts of this position. Similarly, being able to
engage online, through our active social media accounts, is hugely important.
The special services in Holy Week Easter and Christmas have very different attendance
profiles. Easter Day is typically attended by anything up to 300 people across the day.
Midnight Mass and Christmas morning are up to 600 across the available services.
As well as the primary ministry to the Hospital, the Hospitaller will have the
opportunity to develop a ministry among the many livery companies who use St
Bartholomew the Great as their livery church.
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The Hospital
Barts Health NHS Trust is one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers and the largest
trust in the NHS. It was created on 1 April 2012 by bringing together three trusts: Barts
and The London NHS Trust, Newham University Hospital NHS Trust and Whipps Cross
University Hospital NHS Trust. The new trust has a turnover of approximately £1.1
billion and approximately 15,000 employees.
Together our hospitals - Newham University Hospital in Plaistow, St Bartholomew’s
(Barts) in the City, The Royal London in Whitechapel, Whipps Cross in Leytonstone -
deliver high quality clinical care to the people of east London and further afield.
Barts Health provides a full portfolio of services that serve the needs of the local
community, while Barts Hospital itself is home to some of Britain’s leading specialist
cancer and cardiac centres.
Our vision is to create a world-class health organisation that builds on strong relations
with our partners and the communities we serve – one dedicated to ending the historic
health inequalities in east London. We will build an international reputation for
excellence in patient care, research and education. And as members of UCLPartners, the
largest academic health sciences system in the world, we will ensure that our patients
are some of the first in the country to benefit from the latest drugs and treatments.
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Job description
Remuneration
• The position will be full time
• The position will be stipendiary under Regulation 29 of the Clergy Terms of
Service. This is a time limited post for three years. Extension may be possible,
subject to funding.
• There is a genuine occupational need for the Hospitaller to live within easy reach
of the parish. A budget is available to support the provision of housing within a
short distance of the hospital and parish.
• Time spent “on call” will be remunerated at the appropriate NHS level, which will
add significantly to the annual take-home pay.
• The position will initially be for three years, pending renewed funding.
Ministry at St Bartholomew the Less
• In conjunction with the Rector, to take any services at the Less.
• To be willing to be a part of an increased rhythm of services at the Less.
• To work with the children of the Parish to develop their faith and worship,
especially as the current crop move from childhood to adolescence.
• To be a pastor to the congregation which attends the Less, and a counsellor for
those who make use of the Less while at the hospital.
Ministry in the wider Parish of Great St Bartholomew
• To be on the ministry team of the parish and share in the offering of worship at
the Great.
• To assist in the pastoral care of the congregation at both churches.
• To engage an intellectually stimulating congregation intelligently.
• To assist in the ministry to the City of London and the livery companies involved
in the life of the parish.
• To be actively and innovatively involved in the use of social media.
Ministry in Barts Hospital
• To join the Chaplain Bank at Barts Trust and be willing to be on call for two
nights and one weekend a month.
• To discern, assess and provide for the spiritual and religious needs of patients,
their visitors, staff and students. This will include ministering the sacraments as
appropriate and making appropriate referrals to other team members.
• To visit patients, their relatives and staff in wards and departments regularly and
when requested, to minister appropriately to the seriously ill or dying and those
who have been bereaved.
• To co-operate with other members of the chaplaincy team to provide regular and
appropriate services of public worship.
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• To provide 24/7 ‘on-call’ cover for Christian patients’ religious and spiritual
needs, in collaboration with the team and parish.
• To be available to members of staff throughout the Trust who wish to receive
confidential counsel or support.
• To conduct Trust contract funerals (adults and babies) as required and take part
in such memorial services and other corporate or public events as the Trust
requires.
• To be a highly-skilled communicator.
• To be able to establish and maintain relationships, sometimes in pastorally
challenging, unpleasant and hostile environments.
• To be able to negotiate and work within and assess highly complex and sensitive
situations and to provide such spiritual advice and care as deemed necessary.
• To be able to train others within this area of work, particularly with regards to
bereavement, cultural, spiritual and ethical issues.
• To be able to make independent, specialised judgements regarding spiritual care,
depending upon the particular situation.
• To be able to adapt to unpredictable and/or unpleasant working conditions
when required and to respond, or try to arrange response, to all emergencies
notified to the department.
• To be able to offer such training to the Trust as required for their own particular
faith community and to offer specialised training in spiritual, ethical, cultural and
multi-faith issues.
• To share in the selection, training and supervision of chaplaincy volunteers and
honorary chaplains.
• To have a specialised knowledge of own faith community religious traditions and
to be willing to learn about other faith traditions and religions and spiritual,
cultural and ethical issues relating to healthcare.
• To be aware of, and sensitive to, the varying religious and spiritual needs of
people in a multi-cultural setting and to assist staff in responding to these needs.
• Whenever possible to co-operate with medical, nursing and other staff in
departmental meetings and other meetings as appropriate.
• To be available for consultation with faith group leaders concerning the pastoral
care of members of their communities who are in hospital, whilst not breaching
the rules of confidentiality by which all NHS employees are bound.
• To maintain the quality of service required through fulfilling the agreed quality
standards.
• To contribute to the professional development of the chaplaincy team and in
consultation with your line manager to ensure appropriate personal in-service
training and development.
• To observe the regulations concerning Health & Safety and any other Trust
policies and procedures.
The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be
altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation
with the postholder.
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Skills and experience
Qualifications and knowledge
• Ordained as a Priest in the Church of England for at least two years
• To have degree level ordination training
• To have a good degree from a well-regarded university
• To be an excellent preacher
• To be immersed in the Scriptures and ready to lead intelligent people in Bible
study
Experience
• To have some experience of counselling or offering pastoral/religious support
• Have experience with ministry to children and young people
• To have served a curacy
Skills
• The ability to form good relationships quickly and foster trust and confidence
with staff, patients and their relatives
• Willing to work in a multi-faith and diverse context
• To be willing to understand the views of those from whom you differ
• To be able to work well as part of a team
• To be able to work under pressure
• To be self-motivated and able to work on own initiative
• Excellent computer skills
Communication
• Ability to communicate with staff, patients and others in difficult and sensitive
situations
• An ability to express ideas clearly and effectively in speech and writing
• Proven interesting use of social media either professionally or personally
Specific requirements
• To be available for the on-call rota to provide emergency spiritual and pastoral
care
• Liturgical competence in the Anglo-Catholic tradition
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Key working relationships
The Parish
The post-holder will be a full member of the clergy team at the Parish of Great St
Bartholomew, sharing responsibility for the Less with the Rector, to whom he or she
will report. Key relationships include the Churchwardens, members of the PCC,
parishioners, and the Livery Companies associated with the Parish.
The Hospital
Although based exclusively at Barts Hospital, the post-holder is expected to work within
a multi-faith chaplaincy team based across the Trust and to establish and maintain
positive interpersonal relationships with other staff members characterised by trust,
mutual respect and open and honest communication.
Internal Relationships at the Hospital
• Patients
• Nursing Staff
• Trust Chaplaincy Team
• Multidisciplinary Teams
• Matrons
• Clinical Staff
• Nursing Directorate Team
• Practice Development Team
• Bereavement Officers
• Mortuary Staff
• Volunteers
External Relationships to the Hospital
• College of Healthcare Chaplains (members only)
• UK Board of Health Care Chaplaincy
• Local Religious / Faith Bodies
• Local community groups
• Funeral Directors
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Appendix: Barts NHS Trust values
Barts Health value based leadership
Our leaders ensure a focus on health where patients are at the centre of all we do. They
work to create a culture where innovation is promoted and encouraged. They lead by
example and demonstrate value based decision making as being integral to the ways of
working within the Trust.
Barts Health leaders are role models who demonstrate those attitudes and behaviours
which will make us unique. Our leaders are passionate about delivering high quality
patient care, take pride in the work that they do and are committed to the delivering the
Barts Health NHS Trust 10 pledges of:
1. Patients will be at the heart of all we do.
2. We will provide consistently high quality health care.
3. We will continuously improve patient safety standards.
4. We will sustain and develop excellence in research, development and innovation.
5. We will sustain and develop excellence in education and training.
6. We will promote human rights and equalities.
7. We will work with health partners to improve health and reduce health
inequalities.
8. We will work with social care partners to provide care for those who are most
vulnerable.
9. We will make the best use of public resources.
10. We will provide and support the leadership to achieve these pledges.
Our leaders are visible leaders who believe in spending time listening and talking our
staff, patients and partners about the things that are important to them and the changes
they would like to make to continuously improve patient care.
Barts Health leaders work with their teams to develop organisational values, embed
them in our ways of working and create the cultural changes required to ensure that we
consistently provide an excellent patient experience, regardless of the point of delivery,
in an environment where people want to work, regardless of where they work or what
they do.
Health and safety at work
The postholder has a duty of care and personal obligation to act to reduce healthcare-
associated infections (HCAIs). They must attend mandatory training in infection
prevention and control (IP&C) and be compliant with all measures required by the trust
to reduce HCAIs. All postholders must comply with trust infection screening and
immunisation policies as well as be familiar with the trust's IP&C policies, including
those that apply to their duties, such as hand decontamination, personal protective
equipment, aseptic techniques and safe disposal of sharps.
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All staff must challenge noncompliance with infection, prevention and control policies
immediately and feedback through the appropriate line managers if required.
Safeguarding adults and children
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them to maintain the
wellbeing and protection of vulnerable children and adults. If employees have reason
for concern that a patient is 'at risk' they should escalate this to an appropriate person
i.e. line manager, safeguarding children's lead, matron, ward sister/change nurse, site
manager, consultant. (October 2002). www.nmc-uk.org/
Conflict of interest
The trust is responsible for ensuring that the service provided for patients in its care
meets the highest standard. Equally it is responsible for ensuring that staff do not abuse
their official position for personal gain or to benefit their family or friends. The trust’s
standing orders require any officer to declare any interest, direct or indirect with
contracts involving the trust. Staff are not allowed to further their private interests in
the course of their NHS duties.
Confidentiality and data protection
All employees are expected to comply with all trust policies and procedures related to
confidentiality and data protection and to work in accordance of the Data Protection Act
1998. For those posts where there is management or supervision of other staff it is the
responsibility of that employee to ensure that their staff receive appropriate training
(e.g. HISS induction, organising refresher sessions for staff when necessary).
Equality and diversity
The trust values equality and diversity in employment and in the services we provide. It
is committed to promoting equality and diversity in employment and will keep under
review our policies and procedures to ensure that the job related needs of all staff
working in the Trust are recognised. The Trust will aim to ensure that all job applicants,
employees or clients are treated fairly and valued equally regardless of sex, marital
status, domestic circumstances, age, race, colour, disablement, ethnic or national origin,
social background or employment status, sexual orientation, religion, beliefs, HIV status,
gender reassignment, political affiliation or trade union membership. Selection for
training and development and promotion will be on the basis of the individual’s ability
to meet the requirements for the job.
You are responsible for ensuring that the trust’s policies, procedures and obligation in
respect of promoting equality and diversity are adhered to in relation to both staff and
services.