Efficacy Research Commissioned
The need for an evidence base to support the work of chaplaincy and spiritual care in England was identified during preparation of the Caring for the Spirit Strategy (Cfs). A small evaluation panel, led by Revd. Preb. Peter Speck, invited tenders for a literature research of this area. The panel recommended to the Cfs project group that a contract be awarded to Mowat Research based in Aberdeen. Mowat Research is led by Dr Harriet Mowat who has experience researching chaplaincy in Scotland in association with Prof. John Swinton. Recent relevant publications of theirs are 'Practical Theology and Qualitative Research' and 'What do Chaplains Do?'
Work on the project began in October andresults are expected within six months. It is hoped that the outcome of this work will indicate the areas of practice that are already evidenced as well as those that require deeper research. The outcome should serve to inform a program for future research within chaplaincy. It should also inform current chaplaincy practice and enable chaplains to offer to their Trusts a reasoned basis for their activities.
A New Website for Chaplains
From January a new web site has been active for anybody to access but it has been designed for use by the Caring for the Spirit Chaplaincy Collaboratives.
Each collaborative has its own area on which latest notes from the collaborative, news of activities and general information may be placed.
There are areas for Strategy information, the newsletter, a library of guidance notes, links to other chaplaincy sites, and a search facility.
It offers a forum for the exchange of your best practice. Your audit and research results may be contained for use by others.
It is hoped that in time the site will become interactive and information be developed by its users.
Control of the website is via the Webmaster and in time it is envisaged that each collaborative will nominate one of their members to take local responsibility for posting and updating information.
The Website is just a part of the Caring for the Spirit Groups latest Communications Strategy. Its address is
http://www.nhs-chaplaincy-collaboratives.com/siteindex.htm
Data Protection Act - Confidentiality
Working towards and agreed operational standard for data protection
Susan Hollins, Caring for the Spirit Lead Chaplain for London and the East is heading work with the NHS Information Standards Board to produce an Operational Standard for ‘Patient Consent to Spiritual and Religious Care.'
She intends to form a consultative group of chaplains to work with members of Connecting for Health and DH They will trial pilot studies to ensure that there will be consensus for a working document.
It is a demanding piece of work but should bear fruit for patient care in the form of a consistent practice and record keeping.
It will establish the process whereby patients of all faiths and none may exercise their entitlement through offering their consent to receive spiritual and religious care. Such care will then be built into their care plans.
With the advent of electronic patient records chaplains will be able to enter and access necessary information regarding individual patients needs.
Should the standard be acceptable then it could pass through its necessary stages and be operational in 2008.
The Worcester Acute Hospitals NHS Trust proposals
Proposals by Worcester Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to reduce its chaplaincy staffing
The project group noted that Worcester Acute Hospitals NHS Trust had made proposals to reduce its chaplaincy staffing to a minimal level.
This had attracted adverse comment in the media. Questions had also been raised within the Houses of Parliament. The difficulty had also been raised by the Archbishop of Canterbury with the Minister of State (Health) who had agreed to discuss this with the StHA Chair.
Subsequently, it has been reported that the Trust has agreed revised arrangements with the three Churches locally .
The Future Shape and Structure of NHS Chaplaincy Provision
A direction for future provision
Revd Kevin Skippon, Chaplaincy Services Manager, Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is heading a Strategy workstream on the future shape and structure of spiritual healthcare.
The context for this work is the changing provision of healthcare under the reconfiguration that has been implemented in 2005.
It will centre on consideration of future service models; the preparation and guidance for commissioners; and the implications of these changes for the chaplaincy and spiritual care workforce.
A project group has begun its work. It comprises chaplains, faith leaders and PCT managers from the East Midlands, as well as representatives from CHCC, APHCC and Caring for the Spirit.
News from Collaboratives
'I never realised that chaplains could do that.' 'That's one of those light-bulb moments'
A Trust CE on learning what chaplains do
Caring for the Spirit Chaplaincy Collaboratives are now running for most of the areas of England. There are a few exceptions in the new Strategic Health Authorities where organization has yet to be defined.
Chaplains meeting in collaboratives are finding common issues that they are tackling. Among them there is a felt need to define the work of the chaplain in ways that can be easily communicated to co-workers.
Chaplains are often not understood properly in their workplace and therefore can easily be undervalued Many chaplains are beginning to explore ways in which their work can become more integrated to the patient's general healthcare by a multidisciplinary team approach. Areas such as Palliative Care and Mental Health offer areas for development
The value of the Strategic support that can be offered to the collaborative by the SHA is important. They may offer chaplains the opportunity for more involvement in engaging with policy implementation.
Common support and development for part-time chaplains has been realized. 2007 is a year for collaboratives to consolidate their program and establish their area relationships. .
The NHS SE Coast Collaborative meeting
Some Caring for the Spirit ‘News in brief'
A survey of chaplaincies' progress in 2006
Martin Kerry has agreed to coordinate a further survey of chaplaincies to capture progress made in 2006 along similar lines as that in 2005.
Departures:
Membership of the Cfs Project Group Revd Lesley McCormack has resigned from the project group in order to give priority to her work commitments in Kettering,
Alan Wittrick who was the Acting Chief Executive of the old South Yorkshire SHA has resigned. Under the NHS reconfiguration he has been appointed as Chief Executive, Wakefield PCT.
Arrivals of new members balance the departures.
We welcome two new members; Revd George Cobb on behalf of the Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains
( A representative) on behalf of the Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy in place of Rabbi Martin van den Bergh who has recently accepted a new position in Hong Kong
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Healthcare Chaplains
A meeting between members of the Chaplaincy Academic and Accreditation Board (CAAB) and the Caring for the Spirit NHS Project Group (NHS PG) was held in Sheffield on Monday 30 th October 2006.
Discussion centred on the CPD portfolio produced by CAAB and the CPD strategy published by the NHS Cfs project group. It was recognised that both of these publications were useful for chaplains and that they provided a completeness of approach to CPD which was to be welcomed. Both organisations would publicise the other's contribution in their gen eral publicity and on websites.
As an adjunct to this discussion, it was noted that the NHS Project Group had not been able to accept a tender for work to develop National Occupational Standards in spiritual healthcare submitted by Skills for Health in 2005 because of general budgetary constraints.
NHS Yorkshire & the Humber
National Projects
Caring for the Spirit Strategy Address
Don Valley House
Saville Street East
SHEFFIELD S4 7UQ
Contact Details:
- Lead Chaplains London and East - Susan Hollins, e-mail Susan.Hollins@eoe.nhs.uk
- Northwest - Mark Folland, e-mail mark.folland@sasha.nhs.uk
- Northeast -Martin Kerry, e-mail Martin.Kerry@nuh.nhs.uk
- South - Peter Ellmore, e-mail Peter.Ellmore@Southwest.nhs.uk
- National Projects Manager: Derek Thomson, e-mail Derek.Thomson@Yorksandhumber.nhs.uk
- Cfs Project Officer: Tim Battle, e-mail tim.battle@c-of-e.org.uk
Caring for the Spirit Vision Statement
We believe that, with support from policymmakers, managers and lead clinicians, chaplains and other members of the spiritual healthcare workforce will be able to make a greater contribution to healthcare by providing patients, staff and organisations with modern spiritual healthcare. We envisage that, by 2010, chaplains
- Delivering evidence-based spiritual healthcare for all users needing such care in a patientcentred fashion and to agreed standards within agreed resources;
- Working as members of the healthcare professional workforce in multi-disciplinary teams which reflect the specialty and expertise of the chaplain in a variety of care settings;
- Supporting multi-faith working which respects the validity of all faiths as a pre-requisite for effective chaplaincy and acknowledges that patients and staff can expect all reasonable efforts to be made for them to receive spiritual care appropriate to their beliefs.
- Demonstrating professional standing through education pathways and attainments common to all chaplains and authorised appropriately by faith group mechanisms acceptable to all;
- Contributing to the leadership of healthcare services by effective management of spiritual healthcare and positive support to organisational and corporate objectives whilst also being able to give voice to those whose views do not accord with those of the organisation;
- Building effective and useful links with community groups and with faith groups locally and nationally.
Other chaplaincy news
The Mirfield Report
The project group noted that the Mirfield Report appeared to have been well received. Alan Wittrick had indicated that SYSHA wished to leave the door open to any initiative which might reduce tensions between the chaplaincy bodies. In this regard, the decision of the Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy to host an event in 2007 at which chaplaincy bodies could discuss ways to work together in partnership was to be welcomed. It was also noted that discussions were to continue about the finalising of leadership competency statements
Progress of the MFGHC with the review of authorisation systems
The MFGHC has reported satisfactory progress with its review and development of authorisation processes for the world faiths. Slow but steady progress was being made with the Muslim, Sikh and Jain communities faring well. It was hoped that these communities would join the Christian traditions and the Jewish faith community in having authorisation arrangements available in 2007.
