Pagan Chaplain

Pagan Chaplain
HMP Ashfield, Pucklechurch, South Gloucestershire
Part-Time (8 hours per week)
£6,944.80 per annum + Benefits

Are you someone who finds purpose in compassion, dignity, and walking alongside others through moments of change?

Do you believe in every person’s potential to grow and transform – no matter their past?

At Serco, we’re offering a meaningful opportunity for a Pagan Chaplain at HMP Ashfield, an adult male prison in Gloucestershire dedicated to the safe management and rehabilitation of people convicted of sexual offences. This isn’t just a job – it’s a calling. It’s about being a presence of care, integrity, and hope for those navigating one of the most complex and challenging chapters of their lives.

Use your belief system and skills to help create a supportive environment where dignity, respect, and rehabilitation can thrive.

This role is for you if you:

• Want to support personal change and spiritual growth in others.
• Are committed to values like empathy, fairness, and ethical responsibility rooted in Pagan tradition.
• Believe in building inclusive spaces where people can find meaning, peace, and direction through ritual, reflection, and community.

You’ll be part of a diverse and inclusive multi-faith team, supporting individuals in custody to reconnect with purpose and rebuild their lives. You’ll also build bridges with your wider Pagan community to aid in spiritual care and support throughout resettlement.

What you’ll be doing:

• Offering pastoral care, emotional support, and spiritual guidance to prisoners, colleagues, and their families when requested.
• Leading open rituals, seasonal observances, and reflective gatherings for residents of various Pagan traditions.
• Planning and delivering opportunities for study, worship, and Pagan-specific rites.
• Collaborating with other Chaplains and the Managing Chaplain to maintain inclusive and accessible spiritual services.
• Supporting those in crisis, including involvement in significant life events, trauma, grief, and reconciliation.
• Promoting awareness of Pagan traditions and coordinating the recognition of key festivals and rituals.
• Mentoring volunteers and contributing to the ongoing training of chaplaincy staff.
• Participating in boards, meetings, and discussions on the spiritual care and resettlement of residents.
• Contributing to chaplaincy administration, local policy development, and maintaining accurate records.
• Being available for on-call duties (to be discussed with the hiring manager).

• Facilitate and deliver opportunities for worship study and religious programmes
• Contribute towards the development of local policy, procedures and practice
• Provide mentoring and personal support for other chaplains and volunteers including following incidents 
• Plan and lead worship and prayer / faith specific meetings
• Provide pastoral care to prisoners and help to provide support and bring resolution to crisis situations where required 
• Work collaboratively with other Chaplains and Managing Chaplain on the maintenance and provision of facilities for worship and prayer
• Contribute to training programmes and materials for staff and volunteers
• Attend relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member
• On call duties, which will be discussed with the hiring manager

What you will need to do the role:

• Recognition as a practising Pagan with in-depth knowledge of your tradition and experience officiating in open ritual and rites of passage.
• Ability to submit a formal endorsement from your Pagan faith community (e.g. The Pagan Federation), to be submitted to the Prison Service Pagan Faith Adviser, before taking up your post.
• Proven experience working in a similar pastoral or spiritual care role, ideally within a custodial or complex environment.
• Confidence in engaging a diverse community of Pagan practitioners within a structured setting.
• Ability to fulfil all spoken elements of the role in English (or Welsh where required).
• Strong communication skills, emotional resilience, and a calm, compassionate approach.
• Good IT literacy and the ability to maintain administrative records and contribute to service development.
• Willingness to undergo all required identity and security checks.

 Why Serco

• A place you can make an impact: You’ll be delivering essential support to people whose lives are at a turning point, with the potential to make a real and lasting difference.
• A place you can count on: From learning opportunities to career progression, Serco offers a world of pathways to develop your career in public service.
• A place for you: We are a diverse and passionate team working together in a supportive, inclusive environment. You'll have access to training, development, and a network of professionals who value your contribution.

What we offer:

• Up to 6% employer-matched pension
• Access to a benefits portal for high-street, leisure and dining discounts

• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme, Health Cash Plans, free flu jabs, and more
• A wealth of career development and training opportunities to suit your future aspirations, including role-specific training, leadership coaching, and formal study.

• A culture that values integrity, inclusion, and your personal growth

A little bit about us
At Serco, we’re a fast-growing company, serving governments around the globe. Our work spans a wide range of sectors including Justice, Immigration, Defence, Leisure, Healthcare, Transport, and Citizen Services. We’re committed to delivering, improving and redesigning public services for the benefit of everyone, guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation, and Pride.



Our inclusive recruitment process: We see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We’re a proud holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard, a Disability Confident Leader, and a top three Great British Employer of Veterans, championing fair access to employment and equal opportunities for all. As such we’ll make reasonable adjustments from interview through to employment.

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

Apply Now
If this sounds like the kind of work you were meant to do, we’d love to hear from you. Click Apply to begin your journey.

About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services.  We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging. 

Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. 

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.  For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.
 

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.