Chaplain

The Chaplain will work as part of the CWIUH Pastoral Care team to provide pastoral support and guidance to patients and staff. Such support may focus on the emotional or spiritual needs by providing assistance in crisis situations, including bereavement care, family or relational issues.

The Chaplain will work collaboratively alongside other health care professionals. As part of the multi-disciplinary team, the chaplain will provide holistic care within the hospital community. 'Holistic care' is concerned with the whole person and includes not only a person’s physical health but also their social, emotional and spiritual health and well-being.

The chaplaincy team will also provide support and advice for staff.

Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

1. Visiting

The Chaplaincy team will ensure that patients on all wards, and clinical departments are visited as soon as possible after admission. The patient will control continuing contact. Patients who specifically request no Chaplaincy visit will have their wishes honoured.

2. Pastoral Care

The Chaplain will respond to the pastoral need of patients, relatives and staff within the resources available by:-

· Developing an integrated pastoral care ministry of support, guidance, nurture and encouragement.

· Assisting patients to cope with the psychological, social and spiritual aspects of their illnesses and difficulties arising from them.

· Offering pastoral listening skills related to issues that patients might share with a professional chaplain i.e. fear of death, guilt, and forgiveness.

· Working with the bereavement midwives and multi-disciplinary teams to provide bereavement support.

· Practical support for families relevant to Burial and Cremation arrangement

· Working with staff to support patients.

· Participating in case conferences regarding patients

· Engaging in appropriate research to strengthen the pastoral services department

· Exploring spiritual resources for rehabilitation, healing and growth

· Providing information on faith traditions and access to resources and rituals

3. Spiritual/Religious

The Chaplain will:

· Help identify spiritual and religious 'filters' and ensure that other people’s belief systems are recognised and valued.

· Develop a multicultural society through co-ordination with representatives or minister of all faiths and none.

· Facilitate individual and corporate prayer and worship as appropriate to faith and culture.

· Be responsible for the distribution of religious materials within the hospital.

· Provide to the Sacramental ministry.

· Plan and organise annual services e.g. celebration / thanksgiving and remembrance.

· Plan and organise a mortuary / removal service and prayers in line with the wishes of bereaved families to bring their experience in Hospital to a dignified conclusion.