Clergy HR


This information provides advice and guidance for clergy regarding your ministry and informs you about the support and services available within the Diocese.  This information is live and will be kept up to date and enriched with new material from time to time to reflect the changes in national church legislation as well as diocesan policy reviews.  Any significant changes will be communicated via the diocesan E-news.

Much of this information also appears on the Church of England website. The content is similar but not identical as it reflects the approach of our Diocese, however, should be familiar to all clergy serving in the Church of England.

If you have any questions or points of clarification on the Diocese of Oxford policies, practices and procedures please raise them in the first instance with the Area Dean, Associate/Archdeacon who may then refer you to a member of the HR team, for further advice and guidance.

We hope you will enjoy your ministry in the Diocese of Oxford.  The staff at Church House, together with the Bishops and Archdeacons, are here to help and support you and are happy to answer any questions you may have.

If you are new to the Diocese, you may want to  familiarise yourself with how we do things in the diocese by reading the Welcome Booklet.

Poli Shajko
Director of Human Resources & Safeguarding

Announcing great new benefits for clergy

A great deal of work has been going on within the Diocese in the area of wellbeing for some time now.  There has been some fantastic work on clergy wellbeing with the introduction of the Flourishing in Ministry booklet and this is now moving on to the second phase looking at ‘Flourishing Together’ within the parishes which will be presented to Synod in November.  Our Education team have established an excellent wellbeing programme working with Headteachers and continue to explore wellbeing for the wider school teams.

Part of the work carried out has included re-evaluating our approach to the provision of clergy pastoral care due to an increased need over the last few years and as a result of this, we are pleased to announce that the Diocese has recently entered into an agreement for the provision of an Employee & Clergy Assistance Programme (EAP) for all members of clergy as part of its commitment to creating a healthy culture and environment that supports wellbeing.

With effect from 1 September 2020, you have access to the EAP with Health Assured.  Benefits included with the programme include:

  • 24-hour confidential helpline, 0800 028 0199, offering information and support for:
    • Counselling and emotional support
    • Family issues
    • Bereavement
    • Trauma
    • Relationship issues
    • Stress related conditions
    • Money management and debt support
    • Legal advice
  • Telephone counselling sessions
  • Up to six face to face counselling sessions, per issue, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
  • My Healthy Advantage smartphone app with features and health checks
  • Wellbeing Portal with a library of wellbeing information

A welcome document for the programme along with details for the services available is available here.  The welcome document includes login details for the ‘My Healthy Advantage’ smartphone app and the Wellbeing Portal.

The HR team continue to work on developing a wellbeing strategy that will support the Dioceses mission and values for both clergy and employees.

For any further information please contact Susie Sigsworth, HR Officer (Reward & Wellbeing), susie.sigsworth@oxford.anglican.org.