A Comparison between Reactive and Proactive Chaplaincy Approaches

Authors

  • Gordon Jones NHS Orkney

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.34983

Keywords:

hospital chaplaincy, spiritual care, service development, availability, accessibility, equality, justice, work enjoyment, work satisfaction

Abstract

Healthcare chaplains are expected to be competent to address diverse spiritual needs in today’s multicultural society by being compassionate, sensitive, accessible and available. What should availability and accessibility look like? This paper examines the practices of two different chaplaincy teams within the same health board, notes differences in philosophy and practical approach, comments on relative strengths and weaknesses and offers reflective conclusions. It interacts with contemporary literature and the results of original research conducted through interviews. This paper finds that healthcare organisations need to have a full and frank description of its expectations of chaplains to promote uniformity of service provision, equality of workload, and to better enable health board management to grasp the level of resourcing required. It also identifies competing concepts of patient-centred versus person-centred care, and that local expectations of the chaplain’s role can significantly clash with the chaplain’s own sense of identity.

Author Biography

  • Gordon Jones, NHS Orkney

    Gordon Jones is Spiritual Care Lead/Chaplain for NHS Orkney and is based at the Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall.

References

Allan, A., and I. Macritchie (2007) “Proactive or Reactive Chaplaincy”. Scottish Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy 10(2): 9–14.

Hall, E. J., B. P. Hughes and G. H. Handzo (2016) Spiritual Care: What It Means, Why It Matters in Health Care. New York: HealthCare Chaplaincy Network.

Handzo, G. (2013) “Generalist Plus Specialist Care”. Handzo Consulting blog post (10 March 2013), www.handzoconsulting.com/blog/2013/3/10/generalist-plus-specialist-spiritual-care.html

Holst, L. E., ed. (2006) Hospital Ministry: The Role of the Chaplain Today. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock.

Lichter, D. A. (2014) “CHA Chaplaincy Surveys Offer Key Insights”. Health Progress (September-October): 57–59.

Personnel Today (2007) “Bullying in the Workplace: Setting Unrealistic Targets”. 11 June 2007. Available at: www.personneltoday.com/hr/bullying-in-the-workplacesetting-unrealistic-targets/

Piderman, K. M., D. V. Marek, S. M. Jenkins, M. E. Johnson, J. F. Buryska, T. D. Shanafelt, F. G. O’Bryan, P. D. Hansen, P. H. Howick, H. L. Durland, K. A. Lackore, L. A. Lovejoy and P. S. Mueller (2010) “Predicting Patients’ Expectations of Hospital Chaplains: A Multisite Survey”. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 85(11): 1002–10. https://doi.org/10.4065/mcp.2010.0168

NHSGGC (2008) Spiritual Care Policy. Glasgow: NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, www.nhsggc.org.uk/media/226431/nhsggc_policy_spiritual_care.pdf

—(2012) Policies, Principles and Parameters. Glasgow: NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Chaplaincy Service, www.nhsggc.org.uk/media/226431/nhsggc_policy_spiritual_care.pdf

NHS Education for Scotland (2017) The National Delivery Plan for Health and Social Care Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care In Scotland, 2016–2021 [NHS Scotland Working Draft awaiting Scottish Government approval]. Glasgow: NES Scotland.

Ryan, B. (2015) A Very Modern Ministry: Chaplaincy in the UK. London: Theos.

Swift, C. (2015) “Health Care Chaplaincy”. 163–74. In Swift, C., M. Cobb and A. Todd, eds. A Handbook of Chaplaincy Studies: Understanding Spiritual Care in Public Places. Farnham, MD: Ashgate.

Swift, C., M. Cobb and A. Todd, eds (2015) A Handbook of Chaplaincy Studies: Understanding Spiritual Care in Public Places. Farnham, MD: Ashgate.

Swinton, J., and E. Kelly (2015) “Contextual Issues: Health and Healing”. 175–85. In Swift, C., M. Cobb and A. Todd, eds. A Handbook of Chaplaincy Studies: Understanding Spiritual Care in Public Places. Farnham, MD: Ashgate.

Woodhead, L. (2015) “Chaplaincy and the Future of Religion”, xvii–xxii. In Swift, C., M. Cobb and A. Todd, eds. A Handbook of Chaplaincy Studies: Understanding Spiritual Care in Public Places. Farnham, MD: Ashgate.

UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy (2014) Code of Conduct for Healthcare Chaplains. Cambridge: UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy, www.ukbhc.org.uk/sites/default/files/ukbhc_code_of_conduct_2010_revised_2014.pdf

—(2017) Spiritual and Religious Care Capabilities and Competences for Healthcare Chaplains Bands (or Levels) 5, 6, 7 & 8 (2017). Cambridge: UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy www.ukbhc.org.uk/sites/default/files/ukbhc_spiritual_and_religious_capabilities_and_competences_bands_5_-_8_2017.pdf

Wright, M. C. (2001) “Chaplaincy in Hospice and Hospital: Findings from a Survey in England and Wales”. Palliative Medicine 15: 229–42. https://doi.org/10.1191/026921601678576211

Published

2019-01-19

How to Cite

Jones, G. (2019). A Comparison between Reactive and Proactive Chaplaincy Approaches. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 6(2), 159-176. https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.34983