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Public Administration & LegalISCO 2636

Chaplain

A chaplain is a person who conducts religious activities within secular institutions, and who advises and provides spiritual and emotional support to the people in them.

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Rate 5 of the 10 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

provide social counselling

interpret religious texts

provide charity services

perform religious ceremonies

provide spiritual counselling

About chaplain

The chaplain works in secular institutions such as hospitals, prisons, the armed forces and care homes, supporting the people who stay in them spiritually and emotionally.

The chaplain gives spiritual advice, answers questions, provides advice on social matters and reinforces positive behaviour. The chaplain is available to people who want to talk about what is happening to them, and stays with them at difficult moments such as illness or time in prison.

The chaplain conducts and promotes religious activities, such as services and prayer, and interprets religious texts. Counselling methods are part of the work. The chaplain also provides charitable services and cooperates with priests and other religious ministers to support religious activity in the community. Appointment is made by the religious body concerned, in agreement with the institution. The work calls for knowledge of religious texts and of counselling methods.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (10)

psychological counselling methodspsychological counselling methodsThe various psychological counselling, training and coaching methods for persons of all ages, groups and organizations considering medical aspects.provide social counsellingprovide social counsellingAssist and guide social service users to resolve personal, social or psychological problems and difficulties.interpret religious textsinterpret religious textsInterpret the contents and messages of religious texts in order to develop spiritually and help others in their spiritual development, to apply the appropriate passages and messages during services an...provide charity servicesprovide charity servicesProvide services for charity causes, or perform an independent activity related to community service, such as providing food and shelter, performing fundraising activities for charitable causes, gathe...perform religious ceremoniesperform religious ceremoniesPerform the ritual acts and apply the traditional religious texts during ceremonial events, such as funerals, confirmation, baptism, birth rites and other religious ceremonies.provide spiritual counsellingprovide spiritual counsellingAssist individuals and groups seeking guidance in their religious convictions, or support in their spiritual experience, so that they are affirmed and confident in their faith.respond to enquiriesrespond to enquiriesRespond to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public.observe confidentialityobserve confidentialityObserve the set of rules establishing the nondisclosure of information except to another authorised person.reinforce positive behaviourreinforce positive behaviourReinforce positive behaviour in people during rehabilitation and counseling activities, to ensure that the person takes the necessary actions for positive results in a positive manner, so that they re...promote religious activitiespromote religious activitiesPromote events, attendance to religious services and ceremonies, and the participation in religious traditions and festivities in a community in order to enhance the role religion plays in that commun...
Optional (20) — show
canon lawcanon lawThe study of the legal organisation and system of the Catholic Church. Body of laws including rights, set of rules and obligations elaborated by the ecclesiastical authority. Canon Law regulates Catho...quranquranThe content and interpretations of the religious book of Islam.vocal techniquesvocal techniquesThe various techniques for using your voice correctly without exhausting or damaging it when changing voice in tone and volume.Bible textsBible textsThe content and interpretations of the bible texts, its different components, the different types of Bibles, and its history.develop educational resourcesdevelop educational resourcesCreate and develop educational resources for visitors, school groups, families and special interest groups.perform fundraising activitiesperform fundraising activitiesPerform activities which will raise funds for an organisation or campaign, such as speaking with the public, gathering funds during fundraising or other general events, and using online fundraising to...assist missionary workassist missionary workAssist in the tasks fulfilled by missionaries, such as improving health care, education, spiritual guidance, literacy, social justice, and other charitable tasks, in a specific area, in order to sprea...communicate in healthcarecommunicate in healthcareCommunicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.establish educational networkestablish educational networkEstablish a sustainable network of useful and productive educational partnerships to explore business opportunities and collaborations, as well as stay current about trends in education and topics rel...develop artistic educational activitiesdevelop artistic educational activitiesDevelop speeches, activities and workshops in order to foster access and comprehension to the artistic creation processes. It can address a particular cultural and artistic event such as a show or an ...coordinate educational programmescoordinate educational programmesPlan and coordinate educational and public outreach programs such as workshops, tours, lectures and classes.memorise scriptmemorise scriptMemorise a set of lines or specific information in order to convey it correctly to a target audience.apply knowledge of human behaviourapply knowledge of human behaviourPractice principles related to group behaviour, trends in society, and influence of societal dynamics.mentor individualsmentor individualsMentor individuals by providing emotional support, sharing experiences and giving advice to the individual to help them in their personal development, as well as adapting the support to the specific n...apply socially just working principlesapply socially just working principlesWork in accordance with management and organisational principles and values focusing on human rights and social justice.manage fundraising activitiesmanage fundraising activitiesInitiate fundraising activities managing the place, teams involved, causes and budgets.teach religious textsteach religious textsTeach the content and interpretation methods of religious texts in order to facilitate spiritual or theological learning.guide conversionguide conversionGuide individuals who wish to change their faith in the processes related to the conversion to a particular religion, in their religious development on their new religious path, and performing the con...support volunteerssupport volunteersFollow up volunteer activity.prepare religious servicesprepare religious servicesPerform the necessary actions for the preparation of religious services and ceremonies, such as gathering the necessary props and materials, cleaning tools, writing and practicing sermons and other sp...

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a chaplain do?

Chaplains perform religious activities in secular institutions. They perform counselling services and provide spiritual and emotional support to the people in the institution, as well as cooperate with priests or other religious officials to support religious activities in the community.

What skills does a chaplain need?

A chaplain needs 10 essential skills, including psychological counselling methods, provide social counselling, interpret religious texts, provide charity services, perform religious ceremonies.

Will AI replace chaplain jobs?

The AI disruption score for chaplain is 14/100 (very low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: respond to enquiries, observe confidentiality, canon law. Most resilient: perform religious ceremonies, vocal techniques, provide spiritual counselling.

AI Replacement Risk

14/ 100
Very Low Risk
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Quick Facts

SectorPublic Administration & Legal
ISCO GroupLegal, social and cultural professionals
Essential Skills10

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