Employment Guidance
Many parishes within the diocese employ workers to help them with their mission. These workers include administrators, secretaries, youth and children's workers, community workers and caretakers. In addition the Church of England is resourced by the loyal commitment of an army of volunteer workers.
However, the employment of staff and the use of volunteer workers can fall into a legal minefield which deters some parishes from wishing to become an employer.
The Dioceses of Chester, Liverpool and Manchester originally partnered with the Church Urban Fund to produce a guide to employing people and working with volunteers. The guide, Just Employment, updated by the Diocese of Chester, with the support of the Diocese of Carlisle, contains information on many aspects of employment: recruitment; documentation; pay and reward; performance management; dismissal and redundancy; policies, volunteers and health & safety.
It also includes a section giving useful contact details - Just Employment Guide (July 2025 version)
There are numerous templates which accompany the guide: a suggested Contract of Employment; various policies; template letters; job description and person specification. Just Employment Supplementary Documents (April 2022)
Parish job descriptions
Parish Administrator Secretary
For further information or advice, contact Liz Geddes, Diocesan Director of Human Resources.