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SACH
Soundings Contents
Chaplaincy for Dummies?I recently conducted the funeral of a man who loved books. He could easily get lost in whatever he was reading and his family used to marvel at, and sometimes get irritated by, the way he could find a book in his collection which illuminated the topic of conversation. However, I don't think that even his extensive library could have helped Michelle with whom I spoke the other day. She was very distressed as she was trying to decide whether or not to offer her baby for adoption. She said, “If only there was a book for it.” I had to agree that it would have made things much simpler. There are lots of self help books on the market and no doubt sales will increase markedly over Christmas. It's not hard to see why they are popular. Lose a Stone in Seven Days Without Getting Out of Bed would do it for some while Meditate Your Way to a Better Job might do it for others. What would our professional self help book be like? Chaplaincy for Dummies perhaps? There are lots of unanswered questions in the wider realm of healthcare chaplaincy that it would be good to get a handle on. We need to be thinking about what SACH offers its members and what shape it will have in the future. How will regulation as a healthcare profession statutorily or self administered impinge on our practice? What effect will the chaplaincy standards have on the way we see ourselves? We know all too well that no such book exists. This is particularly true when we interact with the people we meet every day. People like Michelle. As chaplains we inhabit a world in which there are no manuals. A world of difficult choices, messy decisions, no quick fixes. Our job is to help another person come through that process as emotionally and spiritually unscathed as possible. It's a difficult business. Without a Rough Guide to Humanity all we can usefully rely on are the resources we find within and around us; our faith, our compassion, our common humanity, sometimes just our gut instinct. It can be a drain on our own resources of course and working in uncharted territory can be both stimulating and exhausting so I hope that you will make the time to recharge the batteries during the festive season. As for Michelle, I hope that I can help her to write even the first page of her own book. Derek Brown
We won't have a Christmas this yearby Verna S Teeuwissen We won't have a Christmas this year, you say |
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Bereavement Study Day in FifeThe background to this study day was a summary report on the Robert Gordon University, Joanna Briggs Institute literature review, “Bereavement and Bereavement Care” (2006). Facilitated by the Department of Spiritual and Pastoral Care the day was offered to staff of all grades and disciplines across NHS Fife. The Department wanted to offer to staff an experience which contributed to well-being as well as to learning. In recognition of this concern, welcome food and a lunch was provided for all and members of the Spiritual and Pastoral Care team remained available to participants throughout the day. The stated aims of the day were two-fold: • To explore current issues in bereavement care and consider the implications for our own practice. • To provide an opportunity to network, share stories and experiences. The Programme The day began with two “Firsthand Accounts” and stories by carers/loved ones of the grief journey. The second core presentation followed on how, in order to provide care for others, staff should also be looking after themselves. The afternoon session examined a project at the Borders General Hospitals which offers, on a drop-in basis, some ongoing, informal bereavement support for individuals along their grief journey. Before lunch and again, towards the end of the afternoon session, participants broke into small groups for workshops. Topics covered were: “ Working with families and children”, “Communication issues”, “What makes a good funeral?” “Reflections on Bereavement Care and Policy” and “In the Event of Death—Procedures and the Law”. Workshops were led by various members of NHS Fife staff, a representative of Rachel House, Kinross and a local Kirkcaldy Funeral Director. Evaluation Feedback and Analysis 98% of the possible feedback forms were returned. The evaluation forms asked for value comments on each of the core presentations and the workshops as well as the venue location and use of audio-visual aids. The value markers were on a range from “Excellent”, “Very Good” “Good” “Fair” to “Poor”. No-one used the “Poor” marker in answer to any of the evaluation. 89% marked the event as “Excellent” or “Very Good” - 93% marked the venue as “Excellent” or “Very Good” In addition to the value assessment, participants were asked to write comments in response to four questions including an invitation to make suggestions as to how to improve on the day. The feedback was entirely positive and good to receive. Even comments which perhaps reflected areas where the programme was weaker or a little wide of the aims and expectations, were given in a positive and affirming way! This is indicative of success in providing staff with a study day in which they felt valued and at the heart of what was going on, so much so, they were happy to engage with all the themes. In addition to the value assessment, participants were asked to write comments in response to four questions including an invitation to make suggestions as to how to improve on the day. We received a long list of comments, here are just a few of them: “Found everything informative. Especially first hand accounts of those who were recently bereaved. Felt humbled and emotional hearing them.” “This was a very good day. I feel I have learned a lot and although we shared grief , I felt supported and cared for.” “To recognise that nurses do need to take care of their own emotions and adopt coping strategies” “Ensure that all NHS Staff get the opportunity to take part in this” A second Bereavement Study Day is now set for Friday 28 March 2008. The programme for the second bereavement study day will build upon and respond to feedback within this report. Ian McDonald
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30 October 2007 You must have been in a restaurant where you have been presented with a menu that overwhelms you because there are just too many choices to be made. It's a welcome difference from the days of school dinners when the choice was,take it or leave it. Having too much choice is probably just as bad as having too little, especially when thinking about the choice of topics that we, as chaplains, can choose from. Would you care for a starter of competencies, a main course of registration followed by a sweet CPD? A recipe for indigestion, I think. SACH exists first and foremost to represent the interests of members. This we do in a formal way through our participation in the various bodies that have an interest in chaplaincy and we also provide support in less formal ways to individual chaplains or departments. We continue to work very closely with both the College of Healthcare Chaplains and the Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains, most notably on the issue of Registration and through the Chaplaincy Academic and Accreditation Board. I also met with the Presidents of the College and AHPCC and a representative of chaplains in Northern Ireland in Edinburgh last month when we talked about issues of common interest. A joint statement has been prepared and it will be published on the website in due course. One of the issues we discussed was the establishment of a UK wide panel of assessors who would be available to Health Boards and Trusts when making chaplaincy appointments. We continue to support the work of CAAB, the Chaplaincy Academic and Accreditation Board. It has a specific remit looking at, for example, the qualifications needed to become a chaplain and the awarding of CPD points to courses and study days. We are also represented on two bodies whose roles compliment each other, the ACTS Chaplaincy committee and the Spiritual Care Development Committee which provides NHS Scotland with a multi-faith perspective on spiritual care matters. We also attend meetings of the advisory group which assists the Training and Development Unit in its work and through our representative we can take any ideas or training needs you may have to Chris Levison. We also have been involved in the piloting of what is known as an e-portfolio for CPD. It might be just as well because the paper CPD folders which I've been talking about for months still haven't appeared! The ‘e' version is envisaged to be interactive and dynamic and might save the odd rain forest. In March this year a number of us were privileged to be at the Conference celebrating 10 years of the Scottish Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy which was a great success. If you weren't able to be there you will have been able to read the proceedings in the issues of the Journal published this year. In April I was honoured to be asked to address the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Chaplains which is the major American professional chaplaincy body. It was unfortunate that they were meeting in San Francisco but I take greetings from Scotland nonetheless. I was not only overwhelmed by the 850 delegates at the conference but also the commitment the newly certified chaplains displayed in achieving their award. I came away thinking that I would never have made the grade. At last year's AGM there was a good deal of discussion about the changing world of chaplaincy. Back then there was the prospect of all whole time chaplains transferring to NHS employment and what that might mean. That was coupled with talk around the role of the union in negotiating on behalf of chaplains. It was agreed that the Executive should try to take stock of the discussions and assess what response SACH might make. This has taken a lot of time and effort and I know that it has been worthwhile getting to grips with what we discussed and taking soundings from the College and the Amicus representatives. I won't repeat here all the arguments because you will have had a chance to read that elsewhere. Suffice to say with the new employment arrangements and with the benefits accruing from union negotiations we concluded that while we weren't yet at the stage of merging with the College, we could, for the first time acknowledge the role that the union now called Unite has played. This we can do by association- though SACH is not a trade union we would encourage those members wishing the benefits of trade union membership to join Unite. I would like to express my thanks to all the Executive…Dawn, Iain, Margery, Mark, Evelyn, Ken; to Iain, Janet and James for the Journal; to Fred who looks after the website and edits Soundings and to the Aberdeen Secretaries Sheena and Gillian for their invaluable support. You can read the draft minutes of the AGM on our website: |
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President Secretary Treasurer Ordinary Members More information on the Executive Page |
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The AGM agreed that the SACH membership Subscriptions should remain the same for 2008. • Whole-time chaplains • Whole-time chaplains' assistants • Part-time chaplains • Chaplains Members are invited to contribute a voluntary extra £10 per year to the Conference Fund. Your subscription will be due on 1 February 2008. Those who pay by Bank Standing Order will receive a confirmation letter in February. Those who pay by cheque will receive an invoice in January. Remember you can pay by instalments if you wish. Membership enquiries and information about paying by Standing Order should be sent to:
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Notes from the Executive Meeting ISSUES FROM AGM A review of the AGM brought discussion on the following points: (i) The numbers were small, barely a quorum, indicating possible lack of interest. (ii) The suggestion by Chris Levison that the AGM of both SACH and CHCC be held on same day as a training event which included CPD points should be pursued. (iii) Discussion at the AGM indicated need to look at what SACH represents - The Scottish dimension needs to be retained - The Journal and union membership are less important than moving forward together with the Scottish branch of CHCC as Chaplains together in Scotland. (iv) How to move this forward? The original remit of SACH included support and fellowship. Training is now delivered by NES - therefore there is a need for another type of event apart from the AGM training day. (v) What would be the best use for members of SACH Soundings? Perhaps develop along the lines of PlainViews—an on-line chaplaincy site - sharing of resources, liturgy, etc. (vi) The Website could be utilised better along similar lines for resource sharing It was agreed that Derek Brown write to reps of the CHCC Scottish branch suggesting the two bodies move forward together - initially with a) a joint AGM and training day to be held on a mutually agreed date, possibly in October b) one joint Executive meeting per year - suggesting 25th Feb 2008 in Dunblane. From this initial move should come discussion and ideas for closer working together. CONSTITUTION REPRESENTATION ON COMMITTEES a) National b) International REPORTS a) Spiritual Care Development Committee b) Dunblane ACTS c) Registration Steering Group d) Presidents Meeting (SACH AHPCC CHCC NIHCA)
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Why not write for the JournalThe new editorial board of the Scottish Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy s settling in well. It has been a steep learning curve for the editors, but now that Vols. 10.1 and 10.2 are in print there is a very positive feeling and a growing confidence with the job. The editors would want to express their thanks to the members of the editorial board for their willingness to serve and for work well done. The editors want, as usual, to encourage articles and letters. The Journal, which is growing in its reputation internationally, is only as good as the material submitted for publication and that means chaplains keeping an eye out for good material and writing articles themselves. So, if you are at a conference and hear a particularly helpful speaker - feel free to mention the journal as a possible place for publication, or pass on the contact details to the editorial board. Equally, if you feel you have something to say yourself, or if you have some research findings to report, please be in touch. We are hoping to have a research themed edition for Vol.11.2, going to press in September of 2008. We would be keen to hear from those involved in chaplaincy research projects (at whatever stage) and those who supervise such research, in order to encourage this activity and highlight some of the issues. Details for submission of articles are at the back of each journal, but either of the editors would be happy to hear from any chaplain with any ideas for the SJHC. The editors are: Rev Dr Janet Foggie , Mental Healthcare Chaplain Rev. Dr Iain Macritchie Senior Chaplain E-mail: journal@sach.org.uk |
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Print problems with the JournalIt was only after mailing out the last issue Volume 10 No 2 2007, that we discovered ‘printing' problems with some of the Journals. Two different factors to do with setting after page 33 and trimming have been found. The printers have accepted full responsibility for the errors and have helpfully offered a number of financial and reprinting solutions. While a number of copies are not as they should be, they are perfectly readable and I am reluctant to undertake a full reprint. If however, your copy is not acceptable, please contact me directly and I will arrange a replacement.
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You
can find this (and previous) editions of SACH Soundings in full colour
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The next edition of SACH Soundings will be
published in March 2008.
Tel: 01224
553166 |
