Assistant to Lay Chaplain

The College is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to the post of Assistant to Lay Chaplain as we continue to expand our thriving Chaplaincy provision at Notre Dame. The person appointed will be a practising Catholic who is inspirational and ambitious in their commitment to the provision of the highest quality chaplaincy and who will hold the needs of the students at the centre of their decision making. You will genuinely enjoy engaging and working with students aged 16-19, have a track record of outstanding success and be committed to equality and diversity. You will be able to demonstrate a proactive approach in getting to know staff and students, engaging with them and establishing a positive presence amongst them. You will be fully committed to nurturing and helping students to grow, spiritually, academically and socially in a Catholic Sixth Form and Christian environment.

Catholic Life at Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College

At Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College we are extremely proud of all our students’ achievements, especially the individual progression that they each make in their time with us.

Our aim is to offer a ‘World Class Catholic Education’ by providing the best care, support and outcome for each individual student. As a Catholic College we make Christ known to all members of our extended community through the way we work and the way we act. The virtues of faith, hope and love are at the centre of our teaching, support and guidance. Notre Dame is more than gaining qualifications and passing exams. We believe in the importance of encouraging spiritual and moral growth and developing important core skills and knowledge which add to the breadth of education.

The post offers the opportunity for an experienced or aspirational individual with a track record of outstanding success. You will be motivated to make a significant contribution to the future of Notre Dame within a supportive, friendly environment, with a commitment to the personal and academic development of all students.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

· To have full regard to the principles and values expressed in the College’s Mission Statement.

· To support the Lay Chaplain in ensuring all members of the College community are offered opportunities for spiritual development and support appropriate to their stages in faith.

· To support the Catholic ethos of the College through the provision of opportunities for Sacramental life, prayer, celebration and reflection.

· To support the Lay Chaplain to develop student leadership in both prayer and liturgy and in the chaplaincy.

· To nurture student engagement with chaplaincy drawing on your recent successful experience of working with young people age 11-18 yrs.

· To support the Lay Chaplain in developing and coordinating chaplaincy activities for students and staff to include but not limited to: trips to Lourdes, visits, residentials including Walsingham and retreats for staff and students.

· To support the Lay Chaplain by being pro-active in supporting the College Chaplaincy Team made up of students and staff.

· To support the Lay Chaplain in the provision of an engaging student assembly programme, to be planned, developed and led on by a breadth of students which follow the liturgical calendar and key annual calendar events.

· To support the Lay Chaplain in the liaison with Catholic partner high schools and all schools from whom the College recruits students, across the Diocese and Leeds.

· To support the Lay Chaplain in the development of the charitable work of the College both locally, nationally and internationally, in conjunction with students and staff.

· To support the Lay Chaplain in the implementation, preparation and monitoring of the criteria to meet outstanding for Chaplaincy and Collective Worship as described in the Catholic Inspection (CSI) framework.

· To support the Lay Chaplain in developing and coordinating an annual operating plan for the Chaplaincy and the programme of Chaplaincy activities.

· To provide administrative support for College Chaplaincy meetings and activities, including prayer spaces.

· To establish and maintain a positive presence around student and staff communal areas.

· To be an excellent ambassador for the College at all times.

· To support the Lay Chaplain in college liaison work: Taster Days, Information Evenings, and Open Events etc. ensuring a full keeping with the Mission & Ethos.

· To support links with the wider Church and community, in particular with parishes and external agencies.

· To inform local parishes, Diocese of Leeds and appropriate Church groups of the chaplaincy work within the college.

· To liaise with College Marketing team and Diocesan Marketing communications to publicise and communicate chaplaincy activities of the college.

· To support the communication both timely and regularly of the chaplaincy activities to all key stakeholders.

Other

• To demonstrate a commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons in line with College policy.

• To have full regard for the College’s Equality and Diversity and Health and Safety requirements.

· Be aware of and adhere to all College policies and procedures, including Financial Regulations.

• To take responsibility for continuing personal and professional development and to keep abreast of developments at local and national chaplaincy, Diocesan, CES, Notre Dame Schools and Colleges and ACVIC to inform and facilitate all aspects of the post.

· Support the strategic aims and objectives of the College.

· To participate in appraisal arrangements, as and when required.

· To undertake other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the nature of the post, and as may be requested by the Principal.

Being a Chaplain means:

· Accompanying and sharing the story of young people at a particular stage of their journey through life.

· Helping young people to recognise their need for God and communicating His personality and revelation to them.

· Giving young people not simply answers to life’s problems but rather helping them to shape the questions.

· Being a living witness to the Christian way of Life.

· Be willing to develop students’ talents and use them for the good of others, especially the most needy.

· Spending time in the student communal areas and staff room.

· Animating the liturgy.

· Giving encouragement where and when it is needed.

· Being friendly, happy and confident and being able to work with patience and generosity, assured that with God students can do great things.

· Having the courage to try things out and then to reflect on failure as well as success.

· Experiencing a great variety of situations.

· Knowing your people – the students, staff and all who work within and for the College.

· Being what you need to be – prophet, presence, bridge-builder.

· Appreciating and enjoying the happiness and inspiration that young people can give.

The is an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities and is not intended as an exhaustive list. The job may change over time to reflect the changing needs of the College, as well as the personal development needs of the post holder.

What we can offer you;

Staff and their welfare are paramount to a successful and happy college.

These are just some of the benefits offered to staff, along with some key facts:

• Free on-site car parking

• Located in the University District of Leeds and close to Leeds City Centre (easily accessible by public or private transport)

• The framework for Ethical Leadership in Education underpins everything we do

• The College has been rated again as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted (March 2022 and September 2024) and is always oversubscribed.

• The West Yorkshire Travel Plan Network which gives 12% discount on Annual Metro Cards

• Cycle to work scheme

• On-site canteen facilities, with a separate Starbucks café

• Feel good lunches - every half term (Different days on rota)

• Training and CPD

• Enhanced sick pay above statutory entitlement

• Enhanced payment for maternity, paternity and adoption leave (subject to qualifying period)

• Flu jab re-imbursement

• Various wellbeing initiatives, some staff led (i.e. yoga, knitting, College choir, Time to talk/ Mental Health and Wellbeing) + support to chosen charity of the year (voted by staff) with money raising initiatives.

• On-site College counsellor (mainly for students but staff can benefit from this or use the services of our EAP*)

• *Employee Assistance Programme through Health Assured offers free and confidential advice available 24hrs, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

• Various discount platforms offering savings across a broad range of categories, including retail, fitness, well-being, and more (Blue Light, UniDays etc)

• Access to Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) – Teachers only

• West Yorkshire Pensions – Support staff only

• Access to the beautiful chapel with regular services for staff to attend

• End of year College BBQ for staff + Mission and Ethos ' day, Staff Retreat Day

• Lots of celebration and fundraising reasons for cake baking (or just eating!)

To apply for a job, you must be eligible to work in the UK.

The application form plays a most important part in our selection process. Please do not send us your standard CV (curriculum vitae). It is vital that you fill in the form as fully and accurately as possible.

At the initial shortlisting stage, we will pay particular attention to how well your experience and skills fit the criteria of the Person Specification and you should address each of these clearly in your application.

The College is committed to Safeguarding and promotes the welfare of young people and expects all staff, students and volunteers to share this commitment.

In promoting equality, we welcome applications from all sections of the community.

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check under the Protection of Children and Young Persons procedures. The post is also subject to a satisfactory Social Media check. If you are selected for interview, you will be required to consent to the necessary enquiries being made.

Completed applications should be returned via the TES Portal.

Closing date: 9AM on Wednesday 6th May 2026

It is intended that interviews will take place week beginning 11th May 2026

Applicants who have not been contacted within four weeks of the closing date should assume that, on this occasion, their application has been unsuccessful.

Thank you for your enquiry and interest in this post.