1. 1 Encounters that Enrich A Volunteer Pastoral Care Program with Professional Integrity Presenter: Al Henager, BCC, BCCC Staff Chaplain & Coordinator of Palliative Care University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, Arkansas © Copyright 2005 Al Henager

2. 2 Workshop Description With financial and personnel resources shrinking for healthcare chaplaincy, good stewardship demands the creative use of community pastoral care resources. This workshop offers a program for chaplain departments in certain settings to use pastoral care volunteers while still maintaining professional standards and integrity. A paradigm is presented for Board Certified Chaplains to be the mentor and supervisor of pastoral care volunteers.

3. 3 Workshop Goals Become aware of the scope of pastoral resources available in your community for the welfare of patients. Be able to articulate the appropriate times to train, supervise, and utilize pastoral care volunteers. Gain tools for recruiting, training, and supervising pastoral care volunteers in appropriate healthcare settings.

4. 4 Healthcare in a Community Setting Chaplain’s role: –Facilitator of spiritual care –Consultant –Specialized colleague –Integrator of resources Church seen as: –Another valuable spiritual resource –Partner in wholeness –Staff as colleagues –Members as support system Chaplain seen as: –The sole expert –“The” source of spiritual care –Interacting almost exclusively with hospital professional Outside church staff: –A limited resource –Mostly ignored –Otherwise tolerated Integrated vs. Isolated

5. 5 A Model of Community Oriented Chaplaincy Collegial –Chaplain: Specialist in Pastoral Care in Health –Pastor:Generalist in Ministry Ecumenical –An understanding of various faith traditions Strengths as value to offer Weaknesses as opportunities for growth Professional –Education/Training for Specialization –Continuing Ministry Development/Growth –Appropriate Supervision & Accountability

6. 6 A Model of Community Oriented Chaplaincy Pastoral Identity –First & foremost, chaplains are pastors/clergy Professional Identity –Chaplains are healthcare professionals –Secondary to pastoral identity Personal Identity –Comfortable/confident in who you are –Integration of all aspects of self (Basic C.P.E.)

7. 7 Types of Volunteer Programs Why Use Community Volunteers? –Churches, their members, & ministers offer a wealth of spiritual resources. –Volunteers know the community. –It helps integrate the community with the healthcare institution. –It is good stewardship. –Hospital patients can benefit from a variety of spiritual support resources.

8. 8 Types of Volunteer Programs Lay people as volunteer pastoral caregivers Clergy as volunteer pastoral caregivers Two Basic Types

9. 9 Lay Volunteers Eucharistic Ministers Pastoral Visitors (Chaplain’s Assistant) –Hospitality visits –Literature distribution –Basic initial spiritual “screenings” –Waiting room Office/Clerical Helpers

10. 10 Lay Volunteers Basic initial spiritual “screenings” –Do you have a church or faith community you are a part of? (If “yes) Do they know you are here? (If “no”) Would you like for us to notify them for you? –How much comfort, strength, and support would you say you get from your personal beliefs and values to help cope with your illness? Enough? Less than enough? None at all? –Do you feel that it would be helpful to explore how your personal beliefs and values can help you better cope with your illness? Triggers for referral to the chaplain –If “Less than enough” or “None at all.” –If “yes” to that last question.” –If other issues come up in the hospitality visit.

11. 11 Clergy Volunteers Various names/titles can be used –Volunteer Pastoral Associates –Volunteer Chaplain Associates –Volunteer Assistant Chaplains –The “Shepherd’s Staff” “A rose by any other name...”

12. 12 Clergy Volunteers The make up –Professional members of the community Who volunteer their time; Who have been screened, interviewed, and accepted into the program Who have undergone special training in hospital pastoral care Who provide a professional pastoral service to the hospital, etc.

13. 13 Clergy Volunteers The qualifications –Ordained minister by a recognized faith group –College or seminary or CPE or meets own faith groups education requirements –Have blessing and approval of faith group or congregation –Willingness to volunteer –Completes initial training –Attends supervisory meetings

14. 14 Clergy Volunteers The role (in a typical hospital) –To make rounds at the hospital every day Visit nursing stations Visit Emergency Room Visit patients for new admits/pre-surgery, etc. –To be “on-call” for crises Codes Deaths Other emergencies –To make referrals to the Chaplain

15. 15 Volunteers – Scope of Practice Level Scope of Service/ResponsibilityType of Caregiver Level of Skill Set Highest LevelBoard Certified Chaplain Highest Level Supervise Lay & Clergy Volunteers Management skills Pastoral supervision Skills Spiritual Assessment See APC/NACC/CPSP standards In depth spiritual care “ Inter- disciplinary interventions “ Ethics consultation “ Advance directives intervention “ Therapeutic intervention “ In depth crisis intervention “ Etc. See APC/NACC/CPSP standards See APC/NACC/CPSP standards Moderate LevelVolunteer Clergy Moderate Level Same as Basic Same as basic Basic crisis intervention Know procedures Basic crisis management skills Basic LevelLay Volunteers Basic Level Hospitality visits Active listening Spiritual screening (3 questions) Make referrals Limited ministry of presence Knowing when to speak

16. 16 The Most Appropriate Settings The small town hospital The single hospital city –Community ownership & loyalty to hospital –Non-competitive healthcare environment Problematic for the multi-hospital metropolitan area –Divided institutional loyalty –Competitive nature –Not as much community ownership –Lay volunteers a may be an easier possibility

17. 17 Standards for Volunteers Standards for lay volunteers Character Congregational/faith group affiliation References Endorsement/commissioning

18. 18 Standards for Volunteers Standards for clergy volunteers Character Ordination/licensing Education/training Endorsements/commissioning/blessing Faith group affiliation

19. 19 Standards for Volunteers Supervision Standards Training Continuing education By Certified Chaplain –By nationally recognized chaplain certifying body –JCAHO Standard for “Qualified Chaplain” (old) Chaplain, qualified: Chaplain, qualified: An individual who is certified and is in good standing with a pastoral care cognate group recognized by COMISS/JCAPS [Commission On Ministries in Specialized Settings/Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Pastoral Services] or who is in good standing with such a group and has the documented equivalent in education, training and experience with evidence of relevant continuing education.

20. 20 Recruitment Personal recruiting –Building pastoral relationships –Professional ministerial organizations Mass recruiting –Recruitment dinner –Recruitment educational event –Mass mailing letter –Speaking in congregations

21. 21 Recruitment Incentives (what will they get out of it) –Volunteer recognition – like all volunteers get –Holiday turkey –Training –Continuing education –Parking –Health club membership –Hospital discounts –Appreciation dinner

22. 22 Policies & Procedures Policy spelling out the vision of the program Policy on scope and plan of care Policy on organization Policy on requirements and expectations Policy on not proselytizing Procedure on daily visits/rounds Procedures on response to emergencies (codes/death/etc.) Policy and procedure on documentation Policy and procedure for confidentiality/HIPAA Policy and procedure for response to disasters

23. 23 Training Program overview and commitment Hospital orientation & health screenings Introduction to pastoral care and pastoral identity Establishing the helping relationship Effective active listening skills Creating understanding Ministering in crisis and grief situations Ministering to the confused and disoriented Tour

24. 24 Training - continued Ministering to the elderly Understanding and using pastoral assessment Suicide Ministering to children in death and dying Overview and practice in implementing policies and procedures Mentoring & Supervision –Ongoing

25. 25 Presuppositions That we are in the field of “Pastoral Care” That we are chaplains That volunteers can be helpful to professional chaplains That volunteers are not a threat to professional chaplains – if done right That the professional, certified chaplain is basically capable of recruiting, training, and supervising volunteer chaplains

26. 26 Ground Rules Not for debating pros & cons of volunteers Not for debating “pastoral” vs. “spiritual” Not for debating “religious” vs. “spiritual” Nor for debating lay vs. clergy Not for debating organizations Not for quibbling of finer points of policy Respect other speaker Speak one at a time Ask questions Use “I” statements Do not change the contents of the Power Point

27. 27 For further information, resources, or dialogue, contact: Contact Information © Copyright 2005 Al Henager. You are free to use this for your ministry if you give proper credit.