Spiritual Care Matters Strathcarron Hospice Dr Erna Haraldsdottir Rev Margery Collin May 2010

Overview Statistics Programme Reflection Action Confidence rating

Statistics 3 workshops – one per month – Dec, Jan, Feb Max 25 per workshop – 76 applications Actual 17, 21, 20 = 58 (time off, weather, illness) NHS 67% / Hospice 33% Nurse 41% Doctor 24% AHP 12% Nursing Assistant 19% Student 2% Patient Representative 2%

Statistics

Reasons for Attendance Spirituality / Religion Faith No faith How to approach patients / questions to ask Professional boundaries 'Something always seems to be there'

Confidence rating before Understanding the meaning of spirituality: Not very confident 52% Not confident at all 5% = 57% Confident 36% Very confident 7% = 43% Providing spiritual care: Not confident at all 19% Not very confident 69% = 88% Confident 12% Very confident 0% = 12%

Programme Session 1 : Spirituality Exploring spirituality based on personal values and beliefs Session 2 : Spiritual Care Provision of spiritual care based on human connectedness Session 3 : Providing spiritual care Core skills related to the provision of spiritual care Session 4 : Being spiritual Strategies for looking after spiritual well-being of self

Reflection Opportunity to find the real ‘me’ – which part of me I show at work – being truly myself in all my roles Being comfortable dealing with emotions Taking time out to reflect Realising similarity in human experience

Reflection Spirituality is multi-faceted, complex and part of everyone Good communication is vital ‘Being’ is as important as ‘doing’ Need for continuous assessment as spiritual needs change How often spiritual care delivered without realising it

Reflection Seeing the person, not the condition The effectiveness of silence How hard it can sometimes be to get through to a patient Moving into a different level Feeling helpless – unable to ‘fix it’ The need to be human is professional

Action plans To make a conscious effort to have greater awareness of spiritual needs in patients, visitors and colleagues To work on communication skills especially listening and picking up clues from non-verbal behaviour Sharing information about the workshop with colleagues Making Spiritual Care Matters available to staff

Action plans Putting spiritual care on the education/training agenda Altering existing courses to include spiritual care To discuss spiritual needs of patients at team meetings To take more care of spiritual well-being of self To opt to study spiritual care as part of university degree

Implemented by..... Listening actively Moving beyond the superficial Staying focussed on patient – not worrying about time Being more aware of own listening blocks Having discussions with colleagues Encouraging reading and sharing of ideas and experiences

Facilitated by..... Exercises and discussion undertaken at workshop Looking at all aspects of spiritual care Noting the difference staff can make to quality care Interest of colleagues and of patients in spiritual needs Hospice education policy Self-motivation – to ensure best practice ‘Reading Spiritual Care Matters somehow gave permission to feel’... vulnerable at times

Challenges Staff beliefs and values Staff understanding of spirituality Time – other duties, interruptions, lack of privacy Self-confidence

Confidence ratings Understanding the meaning of spirituality

Confidence ratings Providing spiritual care

Confidence ratings Looking after own spiritual well-being