Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide multidenominational spiritual and religious services to inmates at the Kenora Jail. To co-ordinate the community Faith Groups in the provision of spiritual and religious care for inmates with diverse needs and security requirements.

Duties / Responsibilities :

In a maximum security detention centre with an operational capacity of 167 beds, housing male and female inmates with diverse needs, complex healthand mental health issues with related security requirements, the incumbent is responsible for:

1. Providing comprehensive multidenominational spiritual and religious care to inmates.

2. Representing chaplaincy services on orientation committee for new admission as required.

3. Promoting and monitoring issues from a spiritual and religious perspective.

4. Providing leadership in the development and sustaining of spiritual communities within the Institutions.

5. Guiding and co-ordinating activities of students and faith community volunteers.

6. Co-ordinating and sustaining applicable local faith community involvement in the provision of spiritual and religious care.

7. Co-ordinating and monitoring the activities of all applicable multidenominational community volunteers active within the institution.

8. Relating with applicable community faith groups and their leaders and the Ontario Multi-faith Council toward establishing community oriented or based programs.

9. Maintaining good relationships with multidenominational community Faith Groups and their leaders toward establishing community oriented or based programs.

10. Submitting spiritual and religious care services budgets to senior institutional official and administers the allocated funds.

11. Overseeing and reviewing inmate application for religious diets. Responding to inmates request for special diets for religious reasons.

12. Providing orientation, training and ongoing support for spiritual and religious care volunteers.

13. Incumbent reports to the Deputy Superintendent, Programs; senior managers have the right to assign additional duties.

Staffing and Licensing :

Requires endorsement from a recognized Faith Group.

Knowledge :

Good knowledge of multidenominational groups as well as religious beliefs and practices, normally acquired by a combination of university, theological school, and three years' professional experience or equivalent. Ability to plan, organize and implement spiritual care programs and religious services.

Understanding of the operations of correctional institutions and the legislation under which they operate.

Demonstrated administrative skills, guiding and training students and other spiritual and religious visitors.

Effective communication skills to deal with inmates, their families and staff.

Skills :

Requires good supervisory skills in order to co-ordinate and provide supervision for faith group chaplains and community religious leaders, and in adapting and interpreting in many different capacities, and in the selection of religious educational programs for residents.

Strong counselling skills to address issues with inmates/families and with supervisory staff, refers major problems affecting institutional policy to the Deputy Superintendent. Failure to accurately assess needs could impact on the effectiveness of spiritual and religious care services.

Demonstrated administrative skills, guiding and training students and other spiritual and religious care visitors.

Effective communication skills to deal with inmates, their families and staff.

Freedom of Action :

Developing and sustaining programs of the spiritual community; developing overseeing and co-ordinating of community faith groups; involvement in the provision of spiritual and religious care to inmates within the Institution, and as they are released back into the community. Poor inaccurate interpretation of spiritual and religious care education programs, indiscretion or lack of understanding in dealing with inmates or failure to successfully participate as a chaplain on the institutional team could reflect a weak, ineffective spiritual program. Incumbent has responsibility for the control, security and inventory of any equipment and supplies in accordance with Institution policy and guidelines.