| SACH Scottish Association of Chaplains in Healthcare |
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Scottish
Journal Volume 6 No. 1 May 2003 EDITORIAL In the
course of the opening act of worship at the recent ‘Chaplaincy for Tomorrow’
conference, of which more in the Autumn edition of the journal, the
chaplain made reference to the words of Christ to the church at Philadelphia
(Rev. 3:8) :-‘Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one
is able to shut'. The metaphor of the open door set be-fore us seems
particularly apposite and resonant in the context of healthcare chaplaincy
today. The long awaited and much anticipated publication of the Guidelines
on Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care in the NHS in Scotland is evidence
that a door is well and truly open, enabling a level of communication,
sup-port and mutual working between chaplains and the institutions we
serve, which has the potential to lead to the enrichment of both. Particular
encouragement can be found in the document’s early exposition of the
background and broader role of chaplaincy. The changing role of chaplaincy
in a changing society is set out with clarity, and what to many has
proved an immensely helpful explanation of the distinction between religious
care and spiritual care is given. There follows a sensitively framed
description of the nature of spiritual need and spiritual distress with
which healthcare chaplains are called upon to deal, and an affirming
acknowledgement of the importance of spiritual care to the person centred
health-care which the modern NHS aims to provide. Much of this is hardly
news to some of us; yet it will help greatly in our sometimes less than
coherent attempts to explain to our colleagues in healthcare the nature
and value of what we do. Print
Editorial (PDF Format) |
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CONTENTS GUIDELINES
ON CHAPLAINCY AND SPIRITUAL CARE Pages 3-12 Full Text (PDF Format) SPIRITUAL
CARE IN NHSSCOTLAND Pages 13-14 The author welcomes ’Spiritual Care in NHS Scotland’ as evidence that spiritual care provision has been acknowledged as a vital part of NHS healthcare. The establishment of spiritual care committees will enable a strategic overview of spiritual care services, and will give chaplains themselves the opportunity to influence the direction and future shape of chaplaincy. Welcome too is the emphasis upon the support, training and development of chaplains. However, concern is expressed over the issue of funding the proposed changes, in the absence of any pledge of new money from the Scottish Executive. Derek Brown is chaplain at Raigmore Hospital and the Highland Hospice, Inverness, and is President of The Scottish Association of Chaplains in Healthcare. Full Text (PDF Format) SPIRITUAL
CARE IN NHSSCOTLAND Pages 15-16 On behalf of CHCC Scotland, the author welcomes ‘Spiritual Care in NHSScotland,’ while recognising that much depends on its local implementation. Its clarification of the nature of spiritual care, the role of the care giver and the sharing of patient information is timely. Reservation is however expressed about the role of the proposed Spiritual Care Committee. John Birrell is chaplain at Perth Royal Infirmary and Scotland Representatives on the Council of the College of Health Care Chaplains Full Text (PDF Format) SPIRITUAL
CARE IN NHSSCOTLAND Pages 17-18 ‘Spiritual Care in NHS Scotland’ emphasises spiritual care as broader than religious care, and makes clear the importance of well resourced spiritual and religious care within healthcare. In response, chaplaincy must become more accountable and professional. There are implications for ongoing training and registration of chaplains, and this may well create difficulties for part time and volunteer chaplains, as well as for church authorities. However, the Guidelines are to be welcomed as a means to improving practice in healthcare settings. Alison Wagstaff is chaplain at St Columba’s Hospice, Edinburgh, and chairperson of the Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains (Scottish Branch). Full Text (PDF Format) SPIRITUAL
CARE IN NHSSCOTLAND Pages 19-20 While welcoming some of the provisions of ‘Spiritual Care in NHSScotland’ the author regards part time chaplains as being ‘conspicuously absent’ from the guidelines, despite the implication that their numbers might increase if more faith communities decide to appoint. Concern is expressed that the lack of attention to the development of part time chaplaincy might seriously undermine what has hitherto been considered to be an important aspect of the chaplaincy service. Ken Coulter is chaplain at Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow Full Text (PDF Format) SPIRITUAL
CARE IN NHSSCOTLAND Pages 21-23 Spiritual Care in NHSScotland’ carries forward key emphases of earlier policy documents, regarding patient centred services, patient involvement, and cultur-ally appropriate services. It reflects the values of openness, respect, accountabil-ity and inclusion. The challenge is to reflect upon the values which underpin change, and to apply them to create a positive spiritual environment within healthcare. The guidelines are welcomed as moving in the direction of a truly person centred NHS.
(Author’s details are available on request from the editors) Full Text (PDF Format) SPIRITUAL
CARE IN NHSSCOTLAND Pages 24-26 ‘Spiritual Care in NHSScotland’ seeks to differentiate between religious and spiritual care. Yet the latter is not adequately addressed as a separate concept, and the definition which is given of it is unduly dependent upon established psychological theories. The author poses the question as to whether the education of staff in spiritual care, as opposed to religious care, ought necessarily to be the province of the chaplaincy at all. Roderick McKenzie is Community Psychiatric Nurse at Osprey House, Invenress. Full Text (PDF Format) SPIRITUAL
CARE IN NHSSCOTLAND Pages 27-28 The author identifies the best practice of spiritual and religious care as encompassing the ‘non-religious, alternatively religious and differently religious’, an approach which accords well with the Unitarian tradition. He therefore welcomes the recognition in ’Spiritual Care in NHS Scotland’ of the breadth of spiritual care which the NHS chaplain is called upon to provide, but expresses concern lest ‘the spiritual element’ should become simply another NHS specialism, when it is the concern and province of all. Andrew M. Hill is minister at St. Mark's Unitarian Church, Edinburgh Full Text (PDF Format) SPIRITUAL
CARE IN THE N.H.S.SCOTLAND Pages 29-32 A retired
hospital physician considers the practical implications of the David Short is Honorary Physician at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Full Text (PDF Format) MANAGING
CHAPLAINCY SERVICE DELIVERY Pages 33-38 Audit, accountability and clinical performance all form what is now understood in the National Health Service (NHS) as Clinical Governance (CG) and it has profound implications for all who work in the NHS including Chaplains. CG is something they will need to comprehend and implement. This paper seeks to describe the service the Chaplaincy provides, our customers are identified, as are the difficulties of assessing whether or not we can/are delivering a quality service. I consider what criteria/performance indicators I would be looking for from an economical, efficient and effective Chaplaincy department. Then as a “customer facing organisation”, I explain some of the difficulties of finding out what our customers think of our service/role and cite examples of surveys from other Trusts. Key words: Chaplaincy, Clinical Governance, customers, effectiveness, quality, value for money Chris Johnson is Chaplaincy Manager, Bradford NHS Trust. Full Text (PDF Format) OFF
THE EDGE? A THEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF SCOTT’S “PERIPHERAL STANCE” OF
CHAPLAINCY Pages 39-43 In the light of the recent Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD) Guide-lines, the author examines the validity of the late Tom Scott’s “peripheral stance” of institutional chaplaincy, with specific reference to contemporary healthcare chaplaincy. Scott’s views are discussed in the context of the premise of secularisation. By drawing on Gill’s critique of Hauerwas, the author cites recent events in the aftermath of the Alder Hey inquiry to claim that healthcare chaplaincy can be defined as a central activity: one that is socially significant and capable of influencing society. By redefining chaplaincy as a form of “community church” (Moltmann), the author concludes that the question of the precise locus of chaplaincy is transcended by adopting a “double strategy” that enables chaplaincy to maintain an authentic Christian presence but at the heart of the hospital community. Key words: secularisation, spiritual care, peripheral, double strategy, community. Mike Ward is chaplain for NHS Orkney Full Text (PDF Format) PALLIATIVE
CARE : A THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION OF PALLIATIVE
CARE IN THE LOCAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY Pages 44-46 n the last of his four part exploration of a theological foundation for palliative care, the author, writing from a Roman Catholic perspective, considers the place of the local Christian community in the holistic care of the sick. The Christian community plays a vital role in such care, and needs to be equipped to fulfil this calling by the establishment of pastoral care teams. The ‘body of Christ’ cares for its members, and such care extends beyond the care of the terminally ill to encompass the care of the bereaved. Through such attention to emotional and spiritual need, the Christian community bears witness to the continuing compassion of Christ. Key Words: Holistic, palliative care, pastoral care, spirituality, bereavement care, befriending. George Beuken is Pastoral & Spiritual Director at St. Andrew’s Hospice, Airdrie. Full Text (PDF Format) |
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BOOK REVIEWS Pages 47-51 Books Reviewed Psychotherapy
and spirituality: integrating the spiritual dimension into therapeutic
practice
Ethics,
Management and Mythology: Rational Decision making for Health Service
Addiction:
Pastoral Responses This
is the Day: Readings and meditations from the Iona Community Full Text (PDF Format) |
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| THE
ORERE SOURCE
The Rev. W. Noel Brown, A CPE Supervisor, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago.is the editor and puiblisher of THE ORERE SOURCE, a bi-monthly compendium of his abstracts from the pastoral care literature. Full Text (PDF Format) |
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