The Diocese of Ely recognises that many people support the work of, and volunteer in, their local church school.
We want to strengthen this partnership between the church and the local church school through the development of a two-stage chaplaincy programme. Training to be an Authorised Chaplaincy Assistant (ACA) is the first stage of this process and will provide a basis for the development of the chaplaincy programme.
This online course is delivered in partnership with Ridley Hall Theological College, Cambridge, and provides a foundation for those wanting to contribute to the church school community. After completion of the training, ACAs have the opportunity to continue working with their local church school as an ACA or may wish to consider further training as a Licensed School Chaplain (LSC).
The main purposes of the ACA in the church school are pastoral & social support; spiritual and ethos development; Christian presence; and to support the development of theological understanding. The online training is divided into three units of six modules, interspersed with regular facilitator led discussion groups. The course starts in early January and runs through until mid-July, following normal school term times.
This course is open to all those who are interested in working in a voluntary capacity in a Diocese of Ely church school. All applicants will need to supply references, complete required safeguarding and to undertake an enhanced with barred list check.
Here is a short video* as an introduction to life in a church school.
Register your Interest
- If you wish to register your interest, please download and complete the Register of Interest form (download here)
- Once completed, please return this form by email to missionandministry@elydiocese.org
- We will hold your details on file (in accordance with our Privacy Policy which can be viewed here) so that we are able to make contact with you with further information and to provide you with a full Application form, as they become available.
- If you want to contact us in the meantime, please email missionandministry@elydiocese.org
- Please note, we will aim to acknowledge safe receipt of your expression of interest within 5 (five) business days. If for any reason you have not heard from us within this time, please feel free to follow-up on the email address missionandministry@elydiocese.org to ensure your application has been received safely [Note: please do not reattach your application when following-up your enquiry, as if there was a problem with receipt of the original email, this might be the reason].
What is the application process?
- See the relevant details on the advert, talk to your vicar and/or the Headteacher of your local Church school
- If you wish to register your interest, please complete the register of interest form (download here)
- An application form will be sent to you with a role description and "person specification"
- The application form should be completed by the applicant in discussion with the incumbent and returned as directed on the form
- You will be invited to a short one-to-one meeting with the Development Officer for Schools' Mission in the November of your application year
- You will be invited to a preliminary meeting in mid-December of that year to explain how the course will work, to meet your course tutor mentor and to answer any questions you may have
- You will normally start the course in the first week of January [Note: the 2023 intake will start in May 2023]
Find out More
- If you’d like to find out more, please contact the Mission & Ministry department at missionandministry@elydiocese.org
*Usage Information: Recording made with permission from the Schools involved. This video is not to be reused by third parties for any purpose.