‘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

 

 

Hymns of Hope and Healing

An exciting, diverse and compassionate new hymn collection has recently been compiled, published by Stainer & Bell. This is an excellent and thought-provoking resource for your church. 

Words and music to refresh the church’s ministry of healing. Edited by Jan Berry and Andrew Pratt, with Janet Eldred and Anne Sardeson.

Order a copy here: https://stainer.co.uk/shop/b954/ 

Acknowledging the impact of medical science in vastly expanding the range of the possible in every aspect of our living and dying, eighty-three texts tackle a rich diversity of themes: infant death, illness and suffering, ageing and dementia, the genome, mortality and bereavement, grief and lament, pain and despair – including pain and despair from the failure of healing – but also wisdom and resilience, healing as part of a spiritual holism of mind and body, and as a metaphor for social and political justice and care for the environment. The wealth of music includes new tunes and familiar ones, and the anthology concludes with a section of twelve short or repetitive texts to be used in conjunction with prayer.

Hymns of Hope and Healing is the product of many voices, from those of widely experienced authors to others taking their promising early steps in the form (including a hymn by our very own FCG Education Assistant, Sara Iles!).

It will provide a vehicle for worship and reflection for those involved in chaplaincy, in therapies and counselling, and all in the wider church with an interest in this ancient ministry. Witnessed through the life, death and resurrection of Christ, it is refreshed and re-imagined here for a time both of breathtaking scientific advance, and of an urgent need to affirm our wholeness and faith while embracing the momentous challenges to our traditional understanding of health and healing.

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.

Free Church Group Workshop on End of Life Care

17th July 2017, 11:00 – 15:30

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

Come and join the conversation about Palliative Care and Dying matters, and see how to strengthen and develop this important ministry in your church and local community. The day will be a mixture of keynote speakers and interactive discussions.

Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to specialised medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, physical stress, and mental stress of a serious illness - whatever the diagnosis. The goal of such therapy is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the family.

This care also includes Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care, which forms the mediator for other care.

This day seeks to:-

• place that care at the center of palliative care in the community
• explore the churches role in this care
• engage withthe National Conversation on Dying Matters

Speakers for the day will include:-

• Revd Meg Burton, College of Health Care Chaplains lead on End of Life Care, Lead Chaplain at St Johns Hospice in Doncaster and Methodist Minister
• Claire Henry  from the Dying Matters Team at the National Council for Palliative Care
• Revd Debbie Hodge, Secretary for Health Care Chaplaincy Free Churches Group and project leader for Community Chaplaincy for NHS England

Outcomes for the day

At the end of the day participants will have:

1. Gained knowledge of The Dying Matters Conversation and its potential to help church congregations and the wider community deal with death and dying.
2. Explored the concept of Spiritual support for those receiving palliative care in the community and the potential of the local church to engage with this agenda
3. Started an action plan of local / denomination involvement in the Dying Matters and palliative care agenda.

Who should attend?

• Denominational leaders or those who are responsible for Ministry
• Local church/congregation leaders
• Those involved at national or local level with some responsibility for pastoral care, care of the dying and their families
• Those interested in caring for the needs of the dying and their families

The workshop and lunch provided is at no cost to attendees.

Please RSVP to Sabina Williams at 0203 651 8334 or

email: sabina.williams@freechurches.org.uk