THE IRISH PRISON Service (IPS) is currently seeking to recruit a number of full and part-time chaplains.

In partnership with the IPS, Cpl Healthcare is currently recruiting chaplains for a number of permanent full and part-time vacancies in prisons across the country.

A panel will be formed from which current and future vacancies will be filled. Interviews will take place in Dublin in August.

Current vacancies exist in the following prisons:

• Mountjoy Campus
• West Dublin Campus
• Arbour Hill
• Cork
• Limerick
• Castlrea
• Shelton Abbey

Future vacancies will exist across the network, which also includes Portlaoise Prison Campus and Loughan House Open Centre, Co Cavan.

The salary for a permanent full-time contract ranges from €37,143 to €46,953, based on 37 hours per week on a rostered basis over seven days, with 25 days of annual leave.

The role would include the following:

• Encouraging prisoners to work towards positive lifestyle change and motivating and assisting them in addressing offending behaviour and engaging with prison services as well as attend to the spiritual needs of prisoners
• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Encouraging and supporting prisoners in adapting to prison life
• Preparing prisoners for life post-release as law-abiding, valued members of society
• Visiting prisoners in all parts of the prison and seeking to build relationships based on trust, respect and confidentiality
• Responding, intervening and being present at times of trauma, crisis, illness and grief affecting prisoners, visiting prisoners in hospital if necessary
• Assisting prisoners in efforts to keep in touch with their families.
• Promoting mutual respect between prisoners, and between prisoners and staff

Applicants are required to hold a recognised professional qualification in pastoral care or equivalent, a recognised professional qualification in theology, and have a minimum of one year’s pastoral experience in a community, school, hospital, prison or other similar setting.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 3 August. More information can be read here.