The Steeple Church Parish Nursing Project is seeking to appoint a Parish Nurse (part-time). Please click the links below for further information.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 6 May 2013
Job Description
Person Specification
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Application Procedure
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Parish Nursing is an international movement, started in the 1980’s in the USA, and in the UK after 2003. There are currently over 100 Parish Nurses (PN’s) in the UK. Parish Nursing Ministries UK (PNMUK) is the coordinating and governing body in the UK. It is an interdenominational Christian movement. Parish Nurses undergo a specific education programme to prepare for this work. Each PN’s work will be unique and will depend upon many factors; their professional knowledge and skills base, the circumstances and needs of the faith community in which they will be working, the hours that they are able to contribute and their personal calling to their role. PN’s cannot carry out any invasive treatments or procedures; people would be referred to their General Practitioner, Practice Nurse or appropriate agencies.
An essential component of practice is the need to work in a complementary and communicative way with both health care professionals and ministers of religion. As a first-level currently Registered Nurse the PN is accountable to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of the UK, which sets rigorous standards of practice and conduct. Accountability to PNMUK and to the church in which the project is based assures spiritual mentoring and theological discipline. Most Parish Nurses work on a voluntary basis, while some are paid, some are full-time, and many work part-time. They are employed by and serve the church in their local community, respecting people of all faiths and none.
The important difference between a PN and a Community-based Nurse is that the PN works for the church rather than the NHS. The PN has no agenda to proselytise, to drag people into churches. The aim of Parish Nursing is to give people the opportunity as and when appropriate to consider their personal faith status, whatever that is, and how it may contribute to their whole wellbeing. A PN may with discretion offer to pray with or for a person if the person wishes.
The project at The Steeple Church commenced in October 2009. The work currently has two main streams of activity:
Outreach health clinics for people who are homeless or in vulnerable housing situations run in partnership with NHS Tayside’s Health and Homeless Outreach Team. A Dental Hygienist attends regularly and some clothing, toiletries and towels are available to those who need them. There are close links with the City Council emergency housing team. Very importantly a group of volunteers from the Steeple and other churches provides lunch for those who come along.
The PN also offers free health checks to people in the surrounding community, in shops and offices. A very supportive relationship exists between the church and the city. On several occasions during summer 2010 a Health Promotion stand was sited in the Overgate shopping mall, reaching hundreds of people with health advice.
When the need arises the PN may offer advice or support to people in the church congregation as well. The role of the PN is dynamic and exciting, growing and developing in ways that God directs, reaching out and showing God’s care for the wellbeing of people in our city centre.
The Parish Nurses at The Steeple Church are Barbara MacFarlane and Davina Dickson and they may be contacted by email or telephone for further information
email: parishnurse@thesteeplechurch.org.uk
telephone: 01382 227350
mobile: 07596 930 904
Updated April 2011
Further information about Parish Nursing in the UK can be found at www.parishnursing.org.uk
