HOSPITAL/HEALTH CARE CHAPLAINCY

The Work of Chaplaincy

 

It is a mistake to believe that patients only talk of 'religious' matters (such as prayer and churchgoing) to the chaplain, and it is equally a mistake to think that these are the only matters with which the chaplain is concerned or in which he/she is interested. A more positive way of stating this is to note that true 'religion' is concerned with all aspects of the life and care of the patient.

The extract below is taken from "Caring for the Spirit - a strategy for the chaplaincy and spiritual care workforce" published in November 2003 by the NHS South Yorshire Workforce Development Confederation.

 

"32. Chaplains are unique among the health professionals in that their caring task is primarily focussed upon religion and spirituality. As people formed within a distinctive faith tradition and representative of a faith group, chaplains are experts in religious belief, knowledge and practice. This professional distinctiveness enables them to function effectively in the NHS and to make a specialist contribution to health care. It is out of the integrity of their personal spirituality that chaplains are sensitive to and supportive of the diverse spiritual and religious needs of patients, carers and staff.

33. Chaplains are representatives of their faith communities which require them to live out the commitment of those communities to the wider world, in this case in a healthcare context. They must therefore be learned in the ways of the faith group and knowledgeable about the basis for its decisions and guidance. In this role, chaplains are accountable to the faith group for embodying its ethos and teaching appropriately. A regular checking-back and refreshment of this representative role is necessary.

34. Chaplains have to deal with some of the most difficult human experiences that result from illness and injury. They are often uniquely placed to relate to people in these circumstances, to discern their needs, and to provide forms of pastoral care. Chaplains also nurture well-being, foster hope and support people through the transitions that accompany a period of ill health. Consequently within the health care team a chaplain can become a key professional for a patient and an important link with carers, other agencies and the wider community.

35. One important aspect of the chaplain’s role is in the ability to represent both the spiritual and the religious embodiment of faith for other people. Such an embodiment leads the observer to project on to the chaplain their views and expectations. These may be simple or complex, confused or clear, placid or angry. Without compromising his/her integrity, the chaplain is expected to express the spiritual needs of the individual in a meaningful and relevant way.

36. In understanding the relationship of spirituality to health care, chaplains recognise that values, meanings and beliefs play an important role in the life and work of the health care organisation. This distinctive perspective enables chaplains to be a resource to the hospital/service as an institution and provide insights into a wide range of issues. Chaplains work throughout an organisation and move easily across professional boundaries. They are therefore in a position to be able to listen to the stresses and strains of the organisation, to be an affirming and supportive presence, and to be a powerful reminder of the vocational aspects of care.

37. The specialist education and training received by chaplains and their experience in working with people in challenging situations can be a distinctive educational resource to health care organisations. Chaplains can contribute to training and development across staff groups and in a number of important subjects including communication skills, religious and cultural diversity, and bereavement care. In addition chaplains offer placement opportunities to students, provide input into the academic work of a health care organisation and collaborate in research programmes.

38. Chaplains provide effective links between the health care organisation and the faith group communities that can benefit both. This supports the move to wider public involvement and representation in the NHS and enables the provision of services that are sensitive to the needs of particular communities. Chaplains can facilitate community-based pastoral care resources. Many chaplaincies use trained volunteers from local faith groups. Models of practice and service

39. The way in which much of spiritual healthcare is delivered is based on the guidance and models of care which existed at the inception of the NHS. Broadly speaking, this is the parochial model based on individual priests/ministers (mostly Christian) dealing with a predominantly bed-based clientele. Although some changes in healthcare have been reflected in changes in chaplaincy, for example in mental health care, and especially in a community setting, bed visiting by clergy is the prevailing model.

40. In more recent years, others have examined chaplaincies to derive a wider range of models and a broader analysis of activity within individual institutions. In particular, Helen Orchard’s recent study in London7 suggested modelling practice for 15 different polarised service parameters in sponsor-defined and in employer-defined areas. There are other models in place but no consistent approach or shared understanding."

 

Increasingly, members of staff have been turning to the chaplain for advice, support and pastoral friendship. It is 'a sign of the times' that as the National Health Service grows, staff feel isolated in the midst of a huge secular institution at a time of great change and in need of someone to talk with and so they turn increasingly to the chaplain who represents no 'authority' except from the 'management role' and not part of the many and various 'hierarchical structures' within the National Health Service, and hence, they turn to the chaplain, not just a a priest or minister or deaconess, but as a friend who has the time to listen in absolute confidence.

Links to:

 

Links to other related pages:

 

This page was updated 26 January 2012