Imam

Muslim Chaplain (Imam) Job – Nottingham

Ministry of Justice Recruitment 2026

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is recruiting for 1 permanent Muslim Chaplain (Imam) position at Lowdham Grange in Nottingham.

This is a HEO-grade Civil Service position offering a salary of £37,417 – £39,214 per year.

The successful candidate will provide faith, spiritual and pastoral care to Muslim prisoners and staff while working as part of a wider multi-faith and belief chaplaincy team.

Closing date: 7 September 2026

Important: This vacancy has specific Muslim faith/belief eligibility and qualification requirements. Applicants should carefully review these requirements before applying.

Job Overview

Job Title: Muslim Chaplain (Imam)
Employer: Ministry of Justice / HMPPS
Business Unit: Lowdham Grange
Job Reference: 21010
Grade: HEO
Salary: £37,417 – £39,214
Number of Vacancies: 1
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time
Location: Nottingham
Region: East Midlands, National
Closing Date: 7 September 2026
Security Checks: DBS Standard and Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

About the Role

The successful candidate will provide faith, belief and pastoral care to prisoners and staff within their faith tradition.

The role also requires an understanding of other faiths and beliefs because the successful candidate will work within a multi-faith and belief chaplaincy team.

The Imam will support the pastoral needs of people of other faiths, beliefs and those with no religious belief where appropriate.

The role is described as non-rotational and non-operational, with no line management or supervisory responsibilities.

Main Purpose of the Role

The successful candidate will work with colleagues to support the delivery of the relevant HMPPS faith and pastoral care framework.

Responsibilities include contributing to the wider work of chaplaincy, including:

Faith-based courses.
Non-faith-based courses.
Pastoral care.
Spiritual welfare.
Worship and prayer.
Religious education and programmes.
Prisoner resettlement.
Support for prisoners preparing for release.

The successful candidate will also build relationships with their local Muslim faith community and explore opportunities for those communities to support prisoners after release.

Key Responsibilities

The Muslim Chaplain (Imam) will be expected to:

Provide guidance on Islam within the establishment.
Provide pastoral care and spiritual welfare to prisoners, staff and their families when requested.
Liaise with Faith and Belief Advisers where appropriate.
Plan and lead worship, prayer and faith-specific meetings.
Provide accessible chaplaincy care.
Facilitate worship, study and religious programmes.
Work collaboratively with other chaplains.
Work with volunteers and external groups.
Support the maintenance and provision of facilities for worship and prayer.
Contribute to local policy, procedures and practice.
Provide pastoral support during crisis situations.
Support and mentor other chaplains and volunteers.
Help develop chaplaincy volunteers.
Work with the Official Prison Visitor Liaison Officer.
Promote awareness of the Official Prison Visitor scheme.
Ensure prisoners are informed about relevant Islamic faith events.
Coordinate establishment support for relevant faith events.
Source and distribute appropriate faith literature, artefacts and materials.
Contribute to training programmes for staff and volunteers.
Participate in Faith Awareness Training.
Represent the chaplaincy team at establishment meetings and committees when required.
Actively support the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process.
Attend relevant boards and meetings.
Contribute to meetings as a chair or team member when required.
Take on additional roles where agreed with management.
Build links with local Muslim communities and relevant agencies.
Explore ways local communities can support prisoners after release.
Support initiatives designed to improve outcomes and achieve targets.
Complete relevant administration and data collection.
Assist with Probation Approved Premises and other HMPPS-funded community initiatives where required and agreed.

Muslim Faith Eligibility Requirements

This is one of the most important sections for applicants.

The Ministry of Justice states that Muslim Chaplains must meet specific faith/belief eligibility requirements.

Applicants must either:

Hold a recognised qualification in Islamic Studies at Alimiyyah / graduate level; or
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of Islam at an equivalent level.

In addition, applicants must:

Be proficient in Tajweed, including correct pronunciation of Arabic.
Have demonstrable knowledge of the different schools of thought and denominations within Islam.
Be willing to help, encourage interest in and facilitate the practice of different schools of thought and denominations when required by different parts of the congregation.
Obtain formal endorsement from their faith community through the HMPPS Muslim Faith and Belief Adviser in Chaplaincy and Faith Services at headquarters.

Evidence of the required endorsement must be provided before appointment.

Essential Experience and Eligibility

Applicants must meet the relevant Chaplain faith/belief eligibility requirements.

Candidates must also be able to fulfil the spoken and written aspects of the role confidently in English.

The position requires candidates to demonstrate the appropriate Islamic knowledge, religious understanding and practical capability required for the role.

Technical Requirements

The successful candidate must complete specific training required for the qualifications associated with the area of specialism.

Technical assessment will focus on:

Proficiency in Tajweed.
In-depth knowledge of Islam.
Knowledge of different Islamic schools of thought and denominations.
Ability to facilitate and support different practices within the congregation.
Relevant Islamic Studies qualification or equivalent knowledge.

Civil Service Behaviours

The application and interview process will assess the following Civil Service behaviours:

Communicating and Influencing
Managing a Quality Service
Making Effective Decisions
Changing and Improving
Working Together
Delivering at Pace

Application Form Assessment

Applicants will be assessed through their CV or work history, alongside behavioural and technical assessments.

The application form includes behavioural questions with a 250-word limit.

Technical questions also have a 250-word limit.

Technical Application Assessment

The technical assessment includes:

Being proficient in Tajweed.
Demonstrating in-depth knowledge of Islam.
Demonstrating knowledge of different Islamic schools of thought and denominations.
Demonstrating willingness to support different segments of the congregation.
Meeting the specified Islamic Studies qualification requirement.

Interview Stage

Interview dates are currently listed as To Be Confirmed.

The interview will assess all six listed behaviours:

Communicating and Influencing
Managing a Quality Service
Making Effective Decisions
Changing and Improving
Working Together
Delivering at Pace

Strengths will also be assessed, although they are not disclosed in advance.

The technical assessment will again focus on Islamic knowledge, Tajweed and understanding of different schools of thought and denominations.

Other Assessment

The recruitment process may also include a:

Role Play

Applicants should therefore be prepared to demonstrate how they would respond to realistic situations relevant to the chaplaincy role.

Working Hours

This is a full-time position.

Standard full-time working hours are:

37 hours per week

The vacancy is described as non-rotational and non-operational.

Working Arrangements

The Ministry of Justice offers hybrid working where business requirements allow.

However, applicants should note that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Any working arrangement will be discussed with the successful candidate and remains subject to business requirements and review.

Salary

£37,417 – £39,214 per year

The position is advertised at Civil Service HEO grade.

Annual Leave

The holiday year runs from 1 March.

Leave entitlement is calculated according to the working pattern, with part-time arrangements calculated on a pro-rata basis where applicable.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

Employees receive an entitlement equivalent to 9 days / 66 hours 36 minutes in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays.

Some work on public or bank holidays may be required depending on the operational needs of the establishment.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, providing employees with options depending on their circumstances.

Work-Life Balance

HMPPS supports alternative working arrangements where operational requirements allow.

Flexible working opportunities may be available subject to the relevant requirements and policies.

Season Ticket Advance

After two months of service, eligible employees can apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and their workplace.

Training and Development

HMPPS provides training and development opportunities, including areas such as:

Equality and Diversity.
Dealing with Challenging Behaviour.
Suicide Prevention.
Anti-Bullying Programmes.
Security training.
Diversity training.
Role-specific training.
Individual induction programmes.

There may also be opportunities to access promotion programmes.

Eligibility and Pre-Employment Checks

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks before taking up the position.

External candidates are subject to a six-month probationary period.

The advertised security requirements include:

DBS Standard
Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

Civil Service Nationality Requirements

The vacancy is broadly open to eligible:

UK nationals.
Republic of Ireland nationals.
Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK.
Eligible EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein nationals and qualifying family members with the appropriate EUSS status.
Certain individuals with limited or indefinite leave who meet the relevant historical EUSS eligibility requirements.
Turkish nationals and qualifying family members who have accrued the relevant right to work in the Civil Service.

Applicants should check the official Civil Service nationality requirements if they are unsure about their eligibility.

Disability and Reasonable Adjustments

The Ministry of Justice is a Disability Confident employer and is committed to providing candidates with opportunities to demonstrate their skills and abilities.

Reasonable adjustments can be requested during the application process.

Eligible disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria may be offered an interview, subject to applicable campaign exceptions.

Veterans

The Civil Service operates the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Eligible former members of the Armed Forces who meet the required criteria may benefit from the applicable guaranteed interview arrangements.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

The Ministry of Justice also participates in the Redeployment Interview Scheme for eligible Civil Service employees who are at risk of redundancy, subject to the applicable requirements.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be maintained for up to 12 months.

Candidates placed on the reserve list may be considered for the same or similar positions during that period.

Important Information About AI-Assisted Applications

The Ministry of Justice states that AI can be used to support an application.

However, applicants must ensure that all examples and statements are:

Truthful.
Factually accurate.
Based on their own experience.

Applicants should not submit AI-generated experiences or examples as though they were their own.

Applications may be withdrawn where plagiarism or misrepresentation is identified.

Application Deadline

7 September 2026

Applicants should submit their applications before the closing date and allow sufficient time to complete all required assessments.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through the official Ministry of Justice recruitment portal.

Job Reference: 21010

Apply here:
https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/ApplicationMethods?jobId=21010&record=21010

Official Job Details

Position: Muslim Chaplain (Imam)
Location: Nottingham
Employer: Ministry of Justice / HMPPS
Salary: £37,417 – £39,214
Grade: HEO
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time, 37 hours per week
Vacancies: 1
Closing Date: 7 September 2026
Job ID: 21010
Security: DBS Standard + CTC

Who Should Consider Applying?

This vacancy may be particularly suitable for qualified and experienced Islamic scholars, Imams and Muslim faith professionals who meet the Ministry of Justice’s specified eligibility requirements and are interested in providing pastoral and spiritual support within a prison environment.

Applicants should ensure they meet the Alimiyyah/graduate-level Islamic Studies or equivalent knowledge requirement, Tajweed requirement, faith-community endorsement requirement and other technical criteria before applying.

Key Points at a Glance

1 Muslim Chaplain position available

Salary up to £39,214

Permanent Ministry of Justice position

Location: Nottingham

HEO Civil Service grade