NORTH Wales Police are looking to recruit volunteer chaplains to offer additional support to police officers, staff and their families across the force area.

Chief Officers, the Workforce Representation Team, alongside the Citizens in Policing Team have been focusing on the development of additional multi-faith volunteer chaplains, to help provide pastoral and spiritual care for the police service in an increasingly challenging time.

The chaplaincy service provides ‘a listening ear’ and where required, additional spiritual support for staff and officers who attend major incidents. They also provide support through individual appointments.

Applications are welcomed from both ordained and lay individuals of any gender, faith, or ethnicity in line with our mission to truly reflect the communities we serve.

Chief superintendent Simon Williams, of North Wales Police, said: “We are seeking to appoint chaplains who can help provide compassionate support to officers and staff facing situations, which are at times harrowing and stressful. Policing can be a tough job and clearly this will require really good listening and communication skills.

“The primary role of a multi-faith chaplain will be to provide pastoral and spiritual care to all employees of North Wales Police and their families. They will also establish professional relationships and will build links within the operational policing environment.

“A multi-faith chaplain should be a good listener who is also able to initiate difficult conversations. They should be compassionate and non-judgemental. They may be required to deal with sensitive situations and should be able to maintain appropriate levels of confidentiality in addition to their duty of care.

“We know that for our officers and staff to be able to deliver the best service to the public, they themselves sometimes require a little bit of extra support, and need to have access to a range of support offered within the force.

“Our people and their wellbeing is a priority for us, and ensuring that our workforce is fit, healthy and happy in mind, body, and work-life will enable us to achieve our vision of making North Wales the safest place in the UK.”

The successful candidate will be expected to become a member of PCUK (Police Chaplains UK) and will be required to attend an initial induction course. The Force already has one multi-faith chaplain but are seeking to expand the team.

The successful applicants will be supported directly by the Force Citizens in Policing Team, who deal with volunteer recruitment and after appointment pastoral care, administration and personal development. Applicants are also supported operationally by the health and wellbeing department.

Chief Superintendent Williams added: “The North Wales Police Volunteering Programme aims to enable members of the local community to actively engage with their local policing teams and support the Force with keeping communities safe and reassured.

“Those who give us just a little bit of their time can have a real impact on the area where they live. In return North Wales Police can offer personal development, a sense of achievement, new and improved skills and an opportunity to meet new people.”

The service provided by multi-faith chaplains will complement other departments such as occupational health, welfare and counselling, wellbeing, and staff networks and associations. They can also signpost to other organisations if required.

Those applying will need a good knowledge of their own faith as well as being able to relate to those of a different faith or of no faith at all.

This post will be subject to vetting at the same level required for police officers due to the nature and sensitivity of the work involved. It is important an application is supported by your own faith organisation.

An online awareness session will be held at 6.30pm on Tuesday, September 1.

Book a place or ask questions about the role by emailing PC 2746 Rae Ellis on PositiveAction@nthwales.pnn.police.uk