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SACH
Soundings Contents
Listening is our stock in trade
I was feeling very pleased with myself recently. I had mastered the art of downloading a podcast and transferring it to my iPod. Yes, I know that millions of people do that every day, but I hadn't. So off on my bike I went, miraculously tuned into my favourite radio programme, From Our Own Correspondent . I noticed pretty quickly that things were different. The sheep in the fields were muffled. The breeze through the trees was muted. The oystercatchers on the shore were hushed. All the sounds that I was used to hearing, apart from the occasional passing vehicle, were deadened by the digital voices coming through the earphones. Of course that wasn't such a surprise. What I was taken with was how much I missed listening to the soundscape of the countryside. As a chaplain listening is my stock in trade. Like you I do a lot of it. Sometimes it is exhausting, challenging and harrowing. But my escapade on the bike reminded me that listening can also be uplifting, inspiring and healing. As if to underline that, I came across a website all about the National Day of Listening sponsored by National Public Radio in the USA. The idea is that people should set aside an hour and listen to someone's story, recording it for posterity. You can talk to family, friends or someone in the community. The website says, “Everyone has a story, and every life counts. Help your family, friends, and community members get involved in the National Day of Listening and… spread the word that listening is an act of love.” I can't disagree. When we listen to another person we are engaged in the most fundamental element of spiritual care. Listening intently and responding appropriately to the stories that people share enables us to understand, to value that person and help them to express their true feelings. Listening is so deceptively simple and yet so hard to do well. It's one thing that people using the NHS value highly. How do we help ourselves and others abandon our agendas and shelve our suppositions? In Inverness, chaplaincy has been providing a course called Learning to Listen for staff which has been very well received and participants come to have a greater awareness of how listening improves understanding and through that better understanding, comes better care of the patient. As I've said already we do a lot of listening. But what do we do with people's questions and fears and hopes and disappointments. What do we do with all that stuff? If we're not careful we can become a bit overloaded. Maybe we could take a little time to tell our story to someone. Maybe we can find a process which is safe, secure and supportive which will enable us to carry on doing what we do well. Why not share good practice with your colleagues through these pages? You can be sure that we'll be ready to listen. Derek Brown
News from the November Executive MeetingUKBHC Derek Brown reported on the progress of the new UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy. He had attended a meeting of senior chaplains in Cambridge and made a brief presentation on registration. As all data will be captured through the website it is crucial to have this working well before going live. The Executive agreed that all members of SACH should be encouraged to sign up once it is possible to do so and instructions have been given about using the site. Members will also be encouraged to be assiduous in keeping CPD portfolios to comply with the registration process. Discussion ensued about the amount of CPD part time chaplains would be expected to undertake. A well-defined pro rata amount has been worked out.
AGM It was agreed that the decision to hold the AGM during the conference at Clydebank in September was correct. Time and money which would have been spent on organisation were saved. More people were present and the length of meeting was suitable, both for those staying at the conference and those who travelled only for the meeting. Enjoying a meal beforehand added to the social nature of the event. It was agreed that a similar arrangement be sought next year. The Executive were very grateful to Chris Levison for allowing space in the programme for this to happen. CEL (2008) 49 Derek reported from information received at the Spiritual Care Development Committee on the final changes made to the Chief Executive's Letter on Spiritual Care before being sent to Boards. The document is to be circulated later this month. Points covered include: 24/7 cover, promotion of research and evidence base, encouragement for education & training in spiritual care for all staff, basis for staffing numbers, new certificate in chaplaincy, training for chaplain assessors, spiritual care in the community and data protection. Andy Graham suggested chaplains use the format of NHS in presenting a business case when more chaplaincy staff is needed. Derek described work done in Highland in training volunteer listeners. It was suggested that information on such schemes should be published in SACH Soundings or the Journal.
Finance The treasurer intimated the main account at approx £3500 and the training fund approx £4000. It was noted that although funds are healthy, approximately £900-1000 will be needed to fund the start of the new UK Board as previously agreed.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ELECTED AT THE AGM President: Derek Brown Secretary: Margery Collin Treasurer: Andrew Graham Members: Jim Simpson (Chaplain in Mental Health & Acute in Aberdeen) has now been co-opted onto the committee. We are still one member short but hope to co-opt someone soon.
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Scratchings from the TDOThe CEL is finally delivered. It has changed very little following the consultation last June. Hopefully it will provide an ongoing stimulus for boards to develop their spiritual care services. It is a further development of the 2002 document with an emphasis on the further integration of chaplaincy within the NHS. I am hoping that there will shortly be a booklet produced which incorporates the CEL, the full report on the guidelines revision and the former HDL. We will have in one document both the recent developments and a pointer to the way ahead which carries the approval of the Scottish Government Health Department. The challenge now is that we use it well in our many different situations. I have recently been to London to talk with chaplains there about what is happening in Scotland and they seemed very interested. In a couple of days from now I will be telling military chaplains near Southampton what is happening in Scotland and it will be interesting to learn of similarities and differences. The new UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy is another indication of interesting things happening. A NES project which is taking up time just now will, I hope, result in a learning resource for NHS staff in spiritual care. With a group made up of different healthcare representatives, we are preparing a series of brief chapters on various aspects of such care. Our hope is that it will be both a companion to the Multi Faith Resource and a useful handbook for any who are interested in, and for those who have to teach or explain to others, what is meant by and what is the breadth of good spiritual care. The plan is that this will be launched in March next year. The Autumn cycle of study days and conferences is now completed and it is time to begin thinking about plans for next year. As I am retiring from post at the end of March it is limited what plans I can make - but I am sure you will continue to support the work and the person of my successor. It has been fun and stimulating and the colleagues have been great.
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It has just been announced that Ewan Kelly is to succeed Chris Levison as Programme Director for Healthcare Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care. Ewan is currently chaplain at St Columba's Hospice in Edinburgh but has had a wide ranging career which gives him an almost unique preparation for the Programme Director's post. Chris Levison is delighted that Ewan will be taking on the role which he has enjoyed for the past 7 years. He said, “big challenges lie ahead but I'm very confident that Ewan will do a great job. I'm sure he'll continue to receive the support from his fellow chaplains that I have enjoyed during my time in the post." Ewan trained first as a doctor, then as a minister of the Church of Scotland. He became a hospital chaplain in 1995 at the Southern General in Glasgow, moving 3 years later to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. From there his commitment to research and teaching were recognised when he was appointed as a lecturer in Practical Theology at New College in Edinburgh. Ewan's PhD, which he completed while working as a hospital chaplain and latterly as a lecturer, is entitled: “The role of ritual co-constructed by parents and a chaplain following the death of a baby in-utero ”. Speaking after his appointment, Ewan said, “I'm delighted to have been appointed to a role which brings opportunities to act as a champion for the ongoing development of the provision of spiritual care, especially chaplaincy, within the NHS in Scotland. Chris has been such a great advocate for chaplaincy as well as a lynchpin in helping chaplaincy develop in significant ways north of the border. It is a real pleasure to follow in his footsteps. I hope to maintain his collaborative way of working. I also look forward to renewing old friendships and acquaintances, as well as forming new ones in the months ahead as I travel around the country. I already gather a significant way of meeting the spiritual needs and training requirements of chaplains involves selecting conference venues with decent food and accommodation and, of course, a bar!” |
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Confidence with Research MethodsFrom Idea to ProposalA short distance learning course for hospital chaplains and those working in the field of spiritual care in health and social care settings The aim of this distance learning course is to provide research support through a variety of innovative distance learning media, including on line discussion, research coaching via telephone or teleconferencing, and written feedback on proposal formation and course associated homework. The programme starts in 2009 and runs for seven months. Each participant will be given two days equivalent material and coaching per month. These materials will be sent out on the 1 st of each month with an agreed date for research coaching at the end of the month. Participants are expected to complete the course work prior to each research coaching session. The intention is to support the development of a research proposal which can be prepared for funding application. This includes
The course is to some extent customised to suit the needs of each participant. The cost is £60 plus VAT per month (£420 plus VAT). This includes all materials, a one hour research coaching session per month and on line support as required. For more information and application form please contact Dr Harriet Mowat Mowat Research Ltd |
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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 2009.
Tel: 01224
553166 |
