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A part-time Pagan is being sought to lead religious rituals at Dartmoor Prison.



The £29k position is being advertised for a Pagan to offer Rites of Passage services in HMP Dartmoor, Channings Wood and Exeter.



The successful candidate will also be required to offer religious advice and support to Pagan prisoners and Prison Service staff.



Paganism encompasses a diverse community including specific traditions, practices s such as ecology, witchcraft, Celtic traditions or certain gods.



Wiccans, Druids, Shamans, Sacred Ecologists, Odinists and Heathens all make up parts of the Pagan community.



Paganism is one of Britain's fastest-growing religious sectors, and prisoners have their right to practise their religions while behind bars enshrined in law.



"This is a chaplaincy job in an establishment which provides pastoral and faith specific care to prisoners and staff," the job description reads.



"The job holder will provide for the religious care of prisoners and staff in the Pagan faith tradition and appropriate pastoral care for all irrespective of faith or tradition.



"The job holder will work with colleagues to ensure the delivery of the specification

"Faith and Pastoral Care", and also the broader work of chaplaincy in delivering faith and non faith based courses.



''Will contribute to the process by which the Governor and Head of Chaplaincy/Profession at HQ are assured that the specification is being delivered.



"The job holder will engage with, and build contacts with their own faith community towards aiding the resettlement of offenders.



"This is a non-operational job with no line management or supervisory responsibilities."

(Image: Getty Images)





The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:



*Act as faith advisor in the establishment providing advice, pastoral care and spiritual welfare to prisoners, staff and their families as requested

*Facilitate and deliver opportunities for worship study and religious programmes

*Contribute towards the development of local policy, procedures and practice

*Provide mentoring and personal support for other chaplains and volunteers including following incidents

*Be part of the provision of available and accessible chaplaincy care at all times

*Plan and lead worship and prayer / faith specific meetings

*Provide pastoral care to prisoners and help to provide support and bring resolution to crisis situations where required

*Nurture Chaplaincy volunteers in their contribution



The successful candidate for the 18.8 hour a week job will have to:



*Possess and prove an in-depth knowledge of, and experience in, your own Pagan Tradition,

*Require an eclectic approach, so a working knowledge of other traditions is essential.

*Possess the confidence and expertise to lead open ritual, officiate in Rites of *Passage, and run workshops for mixed Pagan traditions within the prison system.

*Have formal endorsement by the candidate's faith community - through the Prison *Service Pagan Faith Adviser (Evidence required before appointment)

*As well as a competitive salary, a civil service pension and generous holiday allowance is up for grabs.



Candidates should visit the civil service job website here.