Merger of Healthcare Chaplaincy in England

We are delighted to announce an exciting new development for Healthcare Chaplaincy in England through a merger of the two main bodies in Healthcare Chaplaincy in England.

The Network for Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care in Health (NPSRC) and the Chaplaincy Leadership Forum (CLF) have agreed to merge the two groups in order to create a new one-group structure for the strategic development of Healthcare Chaplaincy in England.

The new name of the group will be the Healthcare Chaplaincy Forum for Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care.

The new forum will be made up of representatives of the Chaplaincy Bodies - CHCC, AHPCC and UKBHC, Faith and Belief group members of the NETWORK, NHS England, a Project Officer for NHS England projects and an Independent Chair of the Forum. It is planned for there to be, at some time in the near future, user representatives included as members of the forum.

Its purpose and function is supporting strategic development, monitoring work projects, being a forum for consultation for future policy and making recommendations for the development of good practice in Healthcare Chaplaincy in England.

The new body will serve to enhance healthcare chaplaincy and enable greater cohesion and development in England, which will be good for patients and staff in the NHS and other healthcare settings.

The work of the Forum will start on 1st December 2017.

Sarah Sewell, Keith Munnings, Derek Fraser, Debbie Hodge, Catherine Thompson and Paulette Johnson – members of the Merger Group.

24 November 2017

This press release is available to download here.

‘Learning from deaths’ – guidance development day for NHS trusts

Thursday 2 November, 10.00am - 4.30pm – Kia Oval, London

NHS England is holding an event in November 2017, which may be of interest to staff working in chaplaincy services in trusts across England. It will be of particular interest to chaplaincy staff who have supported families and carers who have lost a loved one in NHS commissioned care, whose death has been subject to a review or investigation.

The event is part of the Learning from Deaths’ programme, which was established to ensure that the recommendations contained in the CQC’s ‘Learning, candour and accountability’ report are implemented in a clear and structured way. 

The event is one of two that will inform the co-production of new guidance for trusts to improve engagement with families and carers, so that they know what to expect from the investigation process. The aim of the guidance will be to ensure timely, transparent and compassionate contact with families and carers who’ve lost loved ones in NHS commissioned care.

The event, on 2 November, will primarily involve people working in trusts who are involved in the investigation process and supporting families/carers in these circumstances - some family members and carers with lived experience will also be present.  The day will focus on the key issues already identified in the CQC report. It will also highlight feedback from families and carers gathered at an event held on 1 November. It will examine what good practice should look like; how we can embed it across NHS Trusts; and what support and/or training would be needed.

If you would like more information about the event for staff working in trusts or to sign up for a place please go to the NHS England website or email england.nhs.participation@nhs.net.

Free Church Chaplains Study Day

‘Meeting the challenge of a Major Incident’

 

Tuesday 7th November 2017, 10:30-15:30,

10:00 am for Coffee/Tea

Free Churches House, 27 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HH

The study day and lunch provided is at no cost to attendees.

Free Church Health Care Chaplains are invited to join the study day at Free Churches House on 7th November 2017.

The theme of the day is ‘Meeting the challenge of a Major Incident’, and we have been asked if we would share insights from the arena of Health Care with those from Higher Education and the Prison Service, as Chaplains in public institutions are often called upon to support and care for individuals, and institutions at the time of major incident or crisis.

We will spend the morning sharing updates and concerns in Health Care, colleagues from Higher Education and the Prison service will join us for lunch.

The aim of the afternoon is to explore processes and practices in the different sectors with a view to sharing best practice and developing a dialogue of support and ongoing development.

 Please find click here for details programme. I would be very grateful if you could register with Thandar (thandar.tun@freechurches.org.uk) so that we can ensure we have enough lunch and enough chairs!

 We look forward to seeing you on 7th November.

Debbie Hodge

Secretary for Healthcare Chaplaincy, Free Churches Group

 

 

Reflection from the Free Church End of Life Care Workshop

On July 17th, 20 people from member denominations of the Free Churches Group shared in a workshop on ‘Dying Matters’. Presentations were made by Claire Henry, Revd Debbie Hodge and Revd Meg Burton. Individuals left with personal commitments to make a difference in their community, be that a local church or other place of work and ministry.

Revd Robert Maloney, Minister in Rugby and Brinklow URC Church and Chairman for the Bilton House Christian Care Home, said “This workshop was both highly informative and very usefully interactive. The Dying Matters Conversation was well presented by Claire Henry who facilitated dialogue with those present to help us engage with local churches and communities in issues of death and dying. The practical measures, which can be addressed in advance to ensure that the dying person's wishes are known and acted upon, were explored in helpful ways also with respect to aspects of spirituality for those receiving palliative care in the community. Both Debbie Hodge and Meg Burton used thought provoking case studies in their interactive presentations to enable us to more fully understand how churches are in a prime position to extend their pastoral care into a wider community setting of Dying Matters and palliative care. I came away from the workshop inspired to see how both as a Minister and a Care Home Service Provider I might enthuse my local context to see how they might be willing and able to engage more spiritually in the wider ministry of Palliative Care and Dying Matters within society.”

Photograph used by kind permission of Miss May Pearl Tun, King's College Hospital.