Bishop Philip is the 98th Bishop of Winchester, chief pastor of the Diocese and one of the five senior Church of England Bishops. He shares his ministry as Bishop with Bishops Debbie and David, the Suffragan Bishops of Southampton and Basingstoke respectively, the Dean of Winchester Cathedral, the Archdeacons of Winchester and Bournemouth, and the Director of Ministry who, together with the Diocesan Secretary & Chief Operating Officer and the Bishop’s Chaplain, form his Bishop’s Staff team.

As well as his responsibilities in the Diocese Bishop Philip also has a number of national responsibilities, including membership of the House of Lords and the Chaplain will also be expected to support him in these roles.

The Bishop’s Staff Team form a friendly and lively group with an emphasis on sharing and collective decision making.

The Bishop’s office is currently located in Wolvesey, and his personal staff consist of The Bishop’s Personal Assistant and an Administrative Assistant.

The Bishop of Winchester is seeking a mission-minded, pastorally sensitive, theologically able, socially aware, liturgically literate and administratively competent ordained Anglican to act as Chaplain to support him in his episcopal ministry in the Diocese, nationally and internationally.

Personal qualities and competencies sought include excellent interpersonal skills; genuine emotional intelligence, a high level of I.T competence; the ability to deal with delicate and sensitive matters in a professional manner; capacity to work in a close-knit team; at ease in a role that is of its nature self-effacing with little public recognition.

A house will be provided close to the Bishop’s House to enable the Chaplain to carry out their duties,

The Chaplain’s main place of work is the currently the Bishop’s Office at Wolvesey though this will be subject to change.

An enhanced DBS check with Children’s and Adults’ Barred list will be required.

The closing date for applications will be: Friday 27th October 2023

Interviews will take place at Wolvesey on: Friday 10th November 2023

For full information, please see the job description attached below.

The main responsibilities for this role are:

General

• Be a companion to the Bishop in mission and ministry, prayer and theological reflection.
• Resource the Bishop’s ministry in the Diocese, national and world wide Church by undertaking theological research, providing briefings and drafting material for speaking engagements and in particular, prepare resources that relate to the Bishop’s national church portfolios.
• Support the Bishop in his role in the House of Lords (including briefing papers), liaising with key NCI colleagues, monitoring political, social and policy developments and resourcing the Bishop’s portfolio responsibilities.
• Act as the Bishop's personal representative with individuals, to parishes and at particular events/meetings, and on task groups within the Diocese.
• Work with the Bishop’s PA and the Administrative Assistant to assist the Bishop with daily routine matters, including contact - face to face, by telephone and correspondence - over matters of a pastoral, theological, liturgical and disciplinary nature, drafting letters and references in the Bishop’s name and responding in his/her own name to letters addressed to the Bishop where appropriate.
• As part of the Bishop’s staff team take a turn in doing routine tasks: photocopying, making tea, welcoming visitors, answering the phone etc.
• Drive the Bishop to functions that they are attending together.
• Undertake whatever other tasks the Bishop may reasonably require.

Administration

• Maintain effective and efficient communication among the Bishop’s Office Staff, the Suffragan Bishops and Archdeacons and between the Bishop’s Office and other offices, particularly those of the Diocesan Secretary, the Cathedral Chapter, the Diocesan Communications Team, the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, and the Diocesan Registry.
• Service the Bishop’s Staff Team meetings by acting as secretary and keep the Bishop informed of the business of Northern and Southern Archdeaconry meetings. Attend, as an observer, the Bishop’s Council and Diocesan Synod.
• Liaise with the Diocesan Secretary, the Archdeacons, the Registrar, the Bishop’s PA, the Clergy Appointments Assistant and others involved with the appointments process for beneficed and licensed office holders in the Diocese to ensure that it operates smoothly, particularly with regard to the Bishop’s responsibilities.
• Work with the Bishop’s PA to ensure that the Bishop is fully and appropriately briefed for all engagements. Prepare papers for House and College of Bishops meetings and the General Synod.
• Work with the Church Commissioners, and particularly the Bishoprics and Cathedrals Department, to ensure the adequate provision of support for the Bishop’s Office and the proper maintenance of the Bishop’s House.
• Liaise with the communities and colleges for which the Bishop has responsibilities as Visitor.
• With other office colleagues, take responsibility for organisational support for the Bishop in his role as Chair or member of Boards or Councils.

Legal

• Liaise with the Registry and the Diocesan HR Adviser with regard to ordinations; the issuing of licences; and other legal documents.
• Act as the Bishop’s Data Protection Compliance Officer for ensuring that the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 are followed; this includes processing subject access requests, maintaining clergy files (Blue Files), and providing advice to the Bishop.
• Liaise with the Registry and others on matters relating to Clergy Discipline, Capability and Grievance processes.

Liturgy and Worship

• Share with the Bishop and other colleagues in prayer during the day.
• Liaise with the Dean and the Precentor in relation to episcopal/diocesan services in the Cathedral and with parochial clergy in relation to services at which the Bishop will preside in parish churches and chapels. Prepare the Bishop’s orders of service and check draft orders prepared by parishes.
• Attend the Bishop in the Cathedral on principal feasts and at ordinations, and other major services. Attend the bishop on occasion at institutions, licensings and confirmations in the Diocese.

Pastoral

• Act as confidant and pastor to the Bishop, providing counsel and spiritual support to the Bishop in his own ministry; praying constantly for the Bishop and sometimes with him.
• Be available as someone to whom the Bishop can talk in complete confidence.

The person appointed will:

Be episcopally ordained in the Church of England or a Church in full Communion with it. This post has attached to it an occupational requirement under the 2010 Equality Act, Part 1, Schedule 9.

Spirituality

The person appointed will:

• Be mature in outlook with a deep and secure faith with a rich pattern of daily worship and well established spiritual discipline.
• Be spiritually motivated and able to see opportunities for service and the proclamation of the gospel even in the most routine matters.
• Be liturgically sensitive and skilled.
• Support the Bishop’s vision and priorities for his ministry recognising that much of the Chaplain’s work, and the credit for it, is inevitably of a ‘hidden’ nature.

Skills and Competencies

The person appointed will:

• Be willing to help others in the Bishop’s Office develop by giving clear feedback and encouragement, and also stretching the office to develop in new areas.
• Make timely, informed decisions that take into account the facts, goals, constraints and risks. Understand and work within appropriate boundaries and/or allocated remit.
• Be able to build rapport and maintain long term relationships. Have the ability to establish relationships with, and influence complex networks of people whose cooperation is needed for the success of the diocese.
• Be self-confident in their own knowledge and abilities, willing to contribute resourceful ideas and have a ‘can do’, solution-orientated attitude.
• Be organised, able to prioritise tasks and work to deadlines. Have ability to take in a range of information, think things through logically and plan for the future.
• Be emotionally and spiritually mature and resilient, able to operate with a degree of ambiguity. Have the ability to take setbacks and difficulties in their stride so that they remain focused on completing what they have to do.
• Be a collaborative team worker, be willing to act as part of a team and work towards achieving team goals and outcomes.
• Keep up to date with issues that may impact on the Diocese. Have good political judgement and ability to spot implications of particular issues and courses of actions.
• Have proven administrative, drafting and research skills; be computer literate, familiar with e-mail, word processing packages and the use of data bases.
• Be able to communicate sensitively and effectively through a variety of communication methods with a wide range of people belonging to institutions, organisations and other groups beyond the Church of England.

Qualifications and Education

The person appointed will:

• Have a lively and robust intellect and be theologically literate; be able to relate theology to the mission of the Church and issues of contemporary culture and society.
• Hold a full driving licence and access to own transport.

Personal

The person appointed will:

• Be confidential and able to handle sensitive information. Be able to exercise pastoral care in a sensitive and practical way

Non-clergy staff will be automatically enrolled into the in the Pension Builder 2014 Pension Plan (PB2014) in line with legislation unless they choose to opt out. Clergy already in the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme (CEFPS) will have the option of either remaining in this scheme or joining the PB2014 scheme.

Bishops Staff have an income protection insurance arrangement. To be eligible for cover under this policy an employee must be a member of the (PB2014) scheme. Please note that insurance cover is not necessarily automatic, and that underwriting may be required by the schemes in some instances (for example if you do not join the scheme at the first available opportunity or opt out of the scheme and subsequently re-join). Cover will be subject to any terms and conditions laid down by the insurance company.

As we are a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, we welcome applications from those who have served in our Armed Forces and their families

We are committed to building a culturally diverse workforce. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from people, regardless of their background. As a Disability Confident committed employer, it is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practical or appropriate to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria* due to high volume. We limit the amount of interviews conducted to five applicants per open post we advertise.

*Where applicable depending on post requirements.