Pagan Chaplain

Serco: HMP Thameside, London SE28 0FJ
Permanent, Part Time (8 hours p/w)

£7,135.26 pa + LWA £1,300 pa pro rata

Ready to impact a better future?
As a Pagan Chaplain in our Chaplaincy Team, you’ll support people through some of the most meaningful and challenging moments of their lives. You’ll help create opportunities for reflection, connection and faith‑based support inside the prison community, contributing to a calmer, safer and more positive environment for everyone.

You’ll play an important role in ensuring people of all faiths, beliefs and none can access pastoral care that’s respectful, inclusive and grounded in compassion. Your work will help individuals find stability, meaning and personal growth — creating a positive impact on the future for those in our care and the communities they return to.

What you’ll do as a Pagan Chaplain
You’ll be entrusted to:

• Act as a faith and belief adviser, offering pastoral care and spiritual welfare to prisoners, colleagues and families. 
• Facilitate and deliver opportunities for worship, meditation, study and religious programmes.
• Contribute to the development of local policy, procedures and best practice within the Chaplaincy.
• Mentor and support chaplains and volunteers, including after incidents.
• Plan and lead worship, meditation, prayer and Pagan faith‑specific meetings.
• Provide pastoral care and support people in crisis situations.
• Coordinate services provided by contractors and volunteers.
• Acquire and distribute appropriate religious literature, supplies and materials.
• Support the organisation and delivery of Faith Awareness Training for colleagues.
• Take responsibility for your own spiritual wellbeing, including time for prayer, study and retreat.
• Attend relevant meetings and contribute as a chair or team member.
• Undertake administration, data collection and reporting related to targets and service delivery.

Does this sound like you?
You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have…

• Proven experience within your own Pagan faith, including at least three years delivering services or activities within a custodial environment.
• The ability to work collaboratively within a multi‑faith chaplaincy team.
• Strong spoken English skills to confidently deliver all aspects of the role.
• A proven and continued membership within the Pagan community, including evidence or references supporting your training and practice. 
• Theological competence across more than one Pagan tradition.
• In‑depth knowledge of Pagan practice and the ability to teach across traditions.
• Commitment to continuing professional development, including regular reflection, training and maintaining endorsement from the HMPPS Pagan faith and belief adviser.

Vetting and checks
This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you may need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.

Discover all you need to keep growing
We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.

What we offer

• Competitive annual leave entitlement
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
• Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco‑managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Paid volunteering day, tax‑free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
• Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.
• Free on site car parking

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.

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.