The role of the Community Chaplain is to:
- provide pastoral and spiritual support to members of their community within the limits of their volunteered time and capacity to do so;
- develop ways in which the spiritual development and well-being of their community, of all faiths and none, may be promoted;
- strengthen their local community by linking and signposting resource to match need. Community Chaplains are therefore expected to meet, map and understand their community in order to do this;
- be catalysts to social action within their community, with particular reference to helping prevent poverty, social exclusion, isolation and loneliness;
- be relational bridge builders between the wider local church and its resources, and their local community;
- develop trusting relationships with civic and support agencies such as the police and community safety partners, NHS and health services, charity and voluntary services, schools and educational services. Some Chaplains may also develop trusting relationships in the private sector.
- engage voluntary support from the wider community for non-pastoral social action, for example: the clearance and improvement of a garden for an elderly person in need of that help, or support for a housing estate wishing to provide an area for young people’s play.
- engage with their local Police, NHS, local authority, voluntary and private sector. Where necessary they will be helped to do so by the charity and its networks.
- offer their service to all within their local community but Chaplains may undertake a particular direction of support according to their local demographic environment, opportunity and calling. For example, towards the elderly, in support of a community hub, at a local supermarket, with community policing, or with sport provision.
- carry easily portable on-duty identification badges and accessories to be used at the discretion of each Community Chaplain. Chaplain helpers will have similar identification badges to be used when supporting a Community Chaplain.