Pastoral Lead

POSITION:                             Pastoral Lead

LOCATION:                            FMDM Ireland, based at Franciscan Convent, Ballinasloe 

(and visiting FMDM Sisters in other locations as required)

REPORTING TO:                   General Manager

ROLE SUMMARY:

Franciscan Convent Ballinasloe is the community home and care centre for FMDM Sisters in Ireland. The Sisters who reside at Franciscan Convent receive varying levels of 24-hour daily care and support from the Convent’s multidisciplinary care team, a skilled team of Nurses and Care Assistants, supported by pastoral, catering, housekeeping, maintenance, administrative staff and drivers.  The Sisters and staff all play a part in making Franciscan Convent a prayerful, welcoming, hospitable and safe place for all who live, work and visit there.  The Convent campus includes the adjoining FMDM residences of St. Clare’s, La Verna, Bethany, San Damiano, Assisi and Cana, whose resident Sisters live more independently, but with care and support from the Convent’s multidisciplinary team when required.  The Sisters who live independently elsewhere in Ireland, or who are visiting from abroad, are always welcome at Franciscan Convent Ballinasloe. 

The Pastoral Lead will head-up the pastoral team in providing spiritual, emotional and social supports to the Sisters residing on the Franciscan Convent campus, creating a compassionate and nurturing environment that honours the spiritual and personal needs of the Sisters, fostering their well-being and ensuring they feel individually valued and connected within the community. Additionally, the Pastoral Lead will co-ordinate the activities of the pastoral team to ensure consistent, high-quality, person-centred care, in a manner that reflects and expresses the spirit and mission of FMDM community life. The Pastoral Lead will continually foster a sense of presence and attentive listening to Sisters individually and collectively, and will animate the spiritual life of the community, taking account of the expressed preferences of individual Sisters and of the community as a whole. 

Through strong leadership, the pastoral team, working with the multidisciplinary care team, will support each of the Sisters to live out their ebbing lives and ministry with grace and dignity, to the most meaningful extent possible for each individual, until they are called home to the Lord.  The pastoral team will accompany and support the Sisters on the path of their choosing.  

This goes beyond the immediate care needs of the Sisters, providing opportunities for the richness, texture and value of their voice to be heard, and encouraging participation in community and liturgical events on the level of their comfort.  The team will encourage the open participation of those Sisters who are of quieter disposition and less likely to volunteer engagement in community discussions and activities.  In carrying out their role, the team will ensure that universal Franciscan values are central to all decisions and actions relating to the Sisters, and especially the Franciscan value of inclusiveness, which is so central to the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi.  In ministering to and supporting the Sisters as a team, there must be no “favourites”. 

This will require careful time management, to ensure fair, respectful and consistent attention to all of the Sisters at Franciscan Convent and campus who choose to avail of pastoral support. Effective, sensitive and respectful communication, together with right relationships, underpin the team’s approach.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBLITIES:

Specific responsibilities attaching to the post include the following:

PROFESSIONAL:

The Pastoral Lead shall:

1. Lead and supervise the pastoral team, ensuring that all members are aligned with the mission and values of the FMDM.

   1. Co-ordinate the schedules and duties of pastoral team members to ensure consistent and effective support for the Sisters across the seven-day working week.
   2. Provide ongoing training, guidance and mentorship to the pastoral team, fostering their professional and spiritual development.
   3. Attend and contribute to the multidisciplinary meetings and planning of care, especially in relation to the pastoral dimensions of care. 
   4. Ensure that any matters of concern that come to your attention (or to the attention of another pastoral team member) in relation to the safety or wellbeing of the Sisters are communicated without delay to the Care Manager or her deputy.  Any such matters of a hugely personal or confidential nature should (where such disclosure is appropriate or necessary) be discussed in the first instance with the FMDM Congregation’s Lead Person for Ireland, or her designee.
   5. Support compliance with safeguarding requirements by ensuring that all decisions relating to Sisters residing at Franciscan Convent are made by FMDM leadership or are delegated to the responsible team at Franciscan Convent, after full consultation with the Sister(s) involved, but dependent on their capacity to engage in such consultation. 
   6. Support the multidisciplinary team in ensuring that the cognitively capable Sisters are enabled to make decisions for themselves, with the confidence and assurance that they will always to consulted-with and listened-to regarding what happens to them, for them and around them. 
   7. Maintain effective communication on a daily basis with all members of the multidisciplinary team, especially in relation to any matters affecting the spiritual, emotional or social wellbeing of the Sisters.
   8. Ensure the provision of liturgical and sacramental celebrations in collaboration with the wider FMDM Ireland community.

   1.10   Offer companionship and an attentive listening ear to the Sisters, helping them reflect on their spiritual journey and find meaning in their experiences.

   1.11   Provide personalised spiritual care tailored to the individual needs and stated preferences of each Sister, encouraging practices that resonate with their faith.

   1.12   Support the Sisters in maintaining their spiritual life through conversation, reading and other reflective activities.   

   1.13   Provide one-on-one pastoral care and support, addressing any concerns, fears or challenges the Sisters may face.

   14. Encourage Sisters to contribute to liturgical and prayer services, Scripture readings, quiet reflection times etc., by ascertaining their choice of prayers, scriptures, reflections and songs, and facilitate their participation in those services, no matter how small such participation may be.
   15. Provide and co-ordinate pastoral visits to a Sister in hospital or other external care facility, according to the Sister’s wishes and in liaison with the Care Manager. 
   16. Encourage and facilitate ongoing communication between Sisters and their families, friends and the broader community.

   1.17   Ensure the provision of sacramental and other spiritual supports, particularly as a Sister’s end-of life approaches, in consultation with other FMDM Sister(s) who have close connection with the dying Sister, and with utmost sensitivity to the expressed or known feelings and preferences of the individual Sister who is dying. 

   1.18   Ensure the dignity and appropriateness of funeral services for Sisters by leading other team members in the arrangement of funerals, in the preparation of the liturgy and the chapel, in the preparation of all materials for the funeral, in the conduct of the liturgical services of the funeral, and in the provision of hospitality and direction to family members and close friends attending the funeral services.

   1.19   Following the death of a Sister, be alert to the needs of family members, staff and Sisters affected by the bereavement, and provide whatever physical and listening supports are feasible in the circumstances.

   1.20   As often as feasible, be present to the Sisters during their morning and afternoon community gatherings, and use such opportunities to share news and information of importance and relevance to the Sisters.

   1.21   Foster a sense of community within the Franciscan Convent, ensuring that all Sisters, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, feel included and supported.

   1.22   Foster healthy relationships with Sisters who live outside the Convent and are members of the FMDM Ireland community.

   1.23   In liaison with the Care Manager, House Manager and all other relevant persons, develop and implement social and leisure activities, workshops and special events that enhance the community life and personal well-being of the Sisters, with particular consideration for Sisters with special needs (e.g. hearing, sight or sensory limitations, dementia, severely restricted mobility etc.).

   1.24   In liaison with the Care Manager and House Manager and all other relevant parties, co-ordinate the provision of other activities offered by visiting professionals on a regular or occasional basis, subject to individual acceptance by the Sisters. 

   1.25   Assist in organising the celebration of feast days, birthdays and, in collaboration with the wider FMDM Ireland community, the celebration of Jubilees, FMDM feasts and other liturgical Feasts, as well as other seasonal events as required. 

   1.26   Establish a good relationship with the wider FMDM community in Ireland, staff, Mission Partners, Trustees and the broader FMDM Congregation worldwide, and support their engagement and activities with the Sisters in Franciscan Convent.

   1.27   Maximise the use of technology such as the internet, phones and tablets to enable the Sisters to stay connected with family and Sisters across the world and to take part in events and conversations throughout the Congregation.

   1.28   Assist the Sisters with letter writing, emails, telephone calls where appropriate, and in downloading or printing personal documents that they receive through the internet.

   1.29   Visit FMDM Sisters who are not living within the Franciscan Convent campus, subject to their agreement and availability. 

   1.30   Contribute to the induction programme for staff, with particular reference to pastoral, spiritual, ethical and religious issues.

   1.31   Ensure regular pastoral team meetings, with notes taken and follow-up actions monitored. 

   1.32   Attend Management Team or FMDM Ireland Trustee meetings as and when required.

GENERAL:

The Pastoral Lead shall:

1. Adhere to and promote the Policies & the Mission, Vision and Values of FMDM Ireland at all times.

   2.2     Carry out any other duties appropriate to the post that may be required by the Line Manager, by the FMDM Ireland Trustees or their designee.

   3. Conduct all assignments and communications in a professional, efficient and confidential manner.
   4. Conduct annual performance / personal development reviews of all assigned staff, and participate in own annual staff development review provided by the Line Manager or designee.
   5. Comply with all FMDM Safeguarding policies and participate in any activities to improve or update Safeguarding procedures in place at Franciscan Convent.
   6. Represent FMDM Ireland at external events as agreed with the Line Manager.

EDUCATION / TRAINING:

The Pastoral Lead shall:

3.1    Update skills and knowledge as per legal requirements, i.e. Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act    2005 (as updated to 5 April 2024), Freedom of Information Act, 2014 (as updated to 14 August 2025) and the Data Protection Act, 2018 (as updated to 23 December 2024).

3.2     Participate in in-service training on site or at external locations as required by the Line Manager or designee.

3. Participate in Clinical Supervision and related personal support / development programmes.

   3.4     Participate in FMDM Congregational Formation Programmes when required.

HEALTH & SAFETY:

The Pastoral Lead shall:

1. Maintain a safe work environment in co-operation with the FMDM Trustees and with reference to the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, as updated to 5 April 2024.
   1. Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to safety of self and all other persons in the workplace.
   2. Report accidents or incidents involving vehicles, equipment, Sisters, staff members or the public to the Line Manager in a timely manner as per policy & support the recording and investigation of incidents when requested by the Line Manager.
   3. Because safeguarding is of the utmost importance, it is mandatory that any staff member who becomes aware of a current or historical abuse issue relating to an FMDM Sister or a staff member MUST report the matter in accordance with the ‘Policy for Safeguarding Elderly and Vulnerable Persons in FMDM Residential Settings in Ireland’, reference CO-01.

The post holder may be required to carry out other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the Line Manager / FMDM Ireland Trustees or designee.

This Job Description is an outline of the current broad areas of responsibility and accountability and should not be regarded as a comprehensive listing.  Given the nature of this role the post-holder will be required to be fully flexible, and the role may be reviewed and updated with the post-holder in line with service requirements and changing circumstances relevant to the post. 

There is a genuine occupational requirement for the role holder to be a committed and practicing Christian / Catholic and to have the relevant pastoral / counselling qualifications and experience to carry out this role.  

SALARY:                               €50,000/per annum

WORKING HOURS:              39 per week – (5 days over 7) on-site

ANNUAL LEAVE:                  23 working days plus Public Holidays

GARDA VETTING:                Garda Vetting is a pre-requisite for this role

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title:        Pastoral Lead, FMDM Ireland

Service:          The Pastoral Lead will lead and work with the pastoral team in providing spiritual, emotional and social supports to the Sisters residing on the Franciscan Convent campus, and elsewhere in Ireland.