The mission of The Bield is summed up in three words: Hospitality, Spirituality & Healing. In service of that mission, we are recruiting for a Pastoral Worker to work four days each week or two part-time workers to split this between them

 

 

Responsibilities

Working under the direction of the General Manager and the Board and in collaboration with the other members of the Pastoral Team, responsibilities include:

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Emotional and Spiritual Support

The Pastoral Worker provides emotional, mental, and spiritual acccompaniment support to residents or staff, helping them navigate their healing journeys and strengthen their relationship with God, self, and others.

 

Administrative Tasks

The role includes administrative tasks such as handling and securing sensitive information, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, safeguarding and ethical practice. Also communicating with the wider community through occasional blogs and digital media. Develop and offer or facilitate programme days. Supply quarterly reports to the Bield Board.

 

Team Collaboration

Working as part of a team, the worker will be accountable, seek guidance when needed and engage in reflective practice for personal and professional development. As part of the pastoral team the worker will share in the worship rota and in welcoming and sharing meals with guests.

 

Training and Development

The role requires continued training and commitment to enhance personal and spiritual development.

 

Communication

Communication is essential for interacting with guests and staff, providing guidance, and facilitating the implementation of pastoral support. 

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Essential Characteristics

Suitable applicants will be able to evidence the following essential criteria

 

Hospitality

• Be sufficiently at home in their own skin that they can make the other, rather than themselves, centre of attention

• Have a warm and engaging manner

• Evidence their ability to create space for others and put them at ease

• Have a proven track record as a listener 

• Be trained in spiritual accompaniment 

• Have a proven track record of managing the boundaries between personal and professional needs (includes ability to manage confidentiality, accountability, complexity)

• Be willing to be supervised and mentored to deepen their availability and skill

 

Spirituality

• Have a personal spiritual practice 

• Manifest inner spiritual freedom

• Be sufficiently at home in their own spiritual journey that they have no need to impose their own path or approach on others 

• Have the capacity to facilitate the spiritual quests of others in imaginative and creative ways

• Have a proven record of accountability in their spiritual practice (ie training; supervision; mentoring; continuing professional development)

 

Healing

• Be a person of hope

• Be no stranger to life’s challenges

• Know from life experience and not just from theory the life cycle of orientation (confident identity) disorientation (losing one’s way) and reorientation (facing the future having learned from the past) 

• Be able to enter the darkness with others without trying to fix or rescue or fast forward them into brighter futures

• Have personal experience of being accompanied on the healing journey by others

 

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References

• A reference will be requested from the applicant’s supervisor, mentor or spiritual guide.

• An additional character reference will also be required.

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To apply please send a CV, a covering letter and details of two references to Gwen@bieldatblackruthven.org.uk

 

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Assessment process

Suitability for the post(s) will be assessed through

• · Application by 5pm 7th November

• · References

• · Informal visit by shortlisted candidates – time to be decided prior to interview.

• · Meeting with General Manager – as above

• · Meeting with Pastoral Team – as above

• · Interview 28th November