Background
Chaplaincy Volunteers are trained lay visitors whose
help complements the work of the chaplains by assisting
with the spiritual and social support of those in hospital.
Our volunteers come from many different backgrounds,
but all enjoy spending time with people on a one-to-one
basis.
When people are admitted to hospital (whether during
an emergency or planned) they often have time to reflect
and reassess their attitudes to life, their values,
relationships, morals, and beliefs. The Hospital Chaplains
are frequently people to whom patients and staff turn
at such times of need or crisis. We work as part of
the healing team in the hospital in conjunction with
doctors, nurses and other therapists.
Chaplaincy Volunteers play an important part within
the Chaplaincy Department. Some “adopt”
a ward and have an unhurried bed-to-bed ministry contacting
and befriending those with faith and those without,
or even those who are some where in the middle. Others
help us by ministering to people on a Sunday morning.
Applying to be a Volunteer
Local people can become approved Chaplaincy Volunteers
if they:
-
Have completed the initial training course (over
ten weeks);
-
Are accepted by the hospital as voluntary workers;
-
Are accepted by the Chaplains as suitable and safe
people to practise;
-
Have written recommendation from their local minister
or spiritual leader;
-
Are willing to undertake ongoing training in the
role.
For further information about becoming a Chaplaincy
Volunteer please contact the Chaplaincy Department (see
below). You might also want to discuss your thoughts
with your local minister or spiritual leader. We hope
that those who come forward for training as volunteers
will do so with the full support of their home church
or faith group.
Training
Initial training to be a Chaplaincy Volunteer takes
place over a ten-week period. You will attend talks
and discussions, which relate to hospital practice and
experience. During the course, you will be able to explore
with others what it means to be a patient or member
of staff in a busy modern hospital. You will have the
opportunity to develop your communication and relationship
skills and to recognise your own fears, joys, anxieties
and hopes. You may find yourself reconsidering your
attitudes to birth, life, change, growing old, pain,
suffering and death.
Participants in the past have found the training course
valuable, interesting and challenging.
Chaplaincy Volunteers: Work, responsibilities and
inter-relationships
-
The Chaplaincy Volunteer will be expected to make
a minimum commitment of one morning or afternoon
at an agreed time each week and to attend organised
in-service training.
-
The Chaplaincy Volunteer will be allocated to a
ward on a regular basis; the allocation being made
in consultation with the Volunteer.
-
The Chaplaincy Volunteer will at all times observe
the Hospital’s rules, especially the rules
of confidentiality. The Chaplaincy Volunteer should
never abuse the privileged position in which (s)he
works, in particular with regard to the relationship
with patients and their relatives in matters concerned
with privacy, faith and freedom of religions and
philosophy.
-
The Chaplaincy Volunteer will be expected to act
under the direction and in consultation with the
Chaplains: using them as a resource and making recommendations
back to them.
-
Chaplaincy Volunteers are free to withdraw from
involvement in the scheme at any time after mutual
discussion.
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