The College is seeking to appoint a committed *practising Catholic who can support the Lay Chaplain in the provision of a high-quality pastoral ministry for the staff and students of Notre Dame. We are looking for an Assistant to Lay Chaplain Apprentice who is committed to engaging and working with students aged 16-19.
You will be committed to equality and diversity and 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.
This is a rewarding vocation and would be ideal for a person wanting a future career working in Catholic Education, directly supporting children and young people. Experience of working with children and families would be an advantage.
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.
APPRENTICESHIP SUMMARY
Working Week: Monday to Friday (including 1 day a week for study). Full Year Post
Total hours per week: 37
Expected duration: 2 years
Possible start date: September 2025
Apprenticeship level: Level 4
Training:
Training Organisation: St Mary’s University, Twickenham (distance learning)
Contact time: 120 hours (10%)
Placement/work-based learning: 800 hours (66.6%)
Guided-learning: 120 (10%)
Independent study: 160 (13.3%)
Upon successful completion, apprentice candidates will receive the award of: Certificate of Higher Education in Working with Children, Young People and Families (School Chaplaincy and Youth Ministry) and will have met the standards of the Children, Young People and Families Practitioner Apprenticeship.
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.
- Committed to personal and professional development and to keep abreast of developments at local and national chaplaincy levels.
- 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 job description 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.
Closing date: 9am on Wednesday 25 June 2025.
It is intended that interviews will take place week as soon as possible following the closing date.
For further details and an application pack please visit:
https://www.tes.com/jobs/employer/notre-dame-catholic-sixth-form-college-1022683 and scroll down to see our live vacancies.
The College is committed to Safeguarding and promotes the welfare of young people and expects all staff, students and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to satisfactory references, an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check and a satisfactory Social Media check. Further information regarding our safeguarding practices, including our Safeguarding Policy can be found on our website.
In promoting equal opportunities we welcome applications from all sections of the community.
The above post is not a Leeds City Council vacancy and has been advertised on behalf of the relevant organisation. To apply please follow their application instructions.
