Spiritual Care Matters!

1. Spiritual Care Matters! Irene McTaggart University of Dundee Gillian Munro NHS Tayside Liz Rogerson University of Dundee

2. Rationale for GLIDER • Ease of access and use • Increased viability • Student centred • Self directed • Adaptable to variety of clinical settings • Suitable to all healthcare workers

3. Who, What and Where? • Thirty Participants • Variety of • Backgrounds • Care contexts • Health Boards

4. Common Themes of Change • Students became more: • focussed in their thinking • able to verbalise their understanding • aware of the needs of colleagues • considerate of the place of faith as appropriate to the individual (in relation to spiritual care in a healthcare context)

5. New Thinking! • Before: • What spiritual care means to me is that people should have the opportunities to continue with their faith, have access to members of their religious organisation • After: • I believe spiritual care assists us in times of emotional stress, physical and mental health, loss, bereavement and dying, from diagnosis through treatment and into recovery. Not only in the carer patient relationship but in supporting their family, other carers, our colleagues and our own families and friends Health Care Assistant

6. New Thinking! • Before: • I understand spiritual care to recognise the person (child with complex needs) as an individual, their uniqueness and to acknowledge the contribution they have to make as such • After: • For staff dealing with sickness and distress as part of their working lives it means making sense of the experiences they have and recognising the contribution they can make Nurse

7. Thinking in a New Way! • Before: • My understanding of human beings is that we are physical, mental and spiritual. We can only be whole human beings when we are aware of this and attend to the care of each part of our make-up in an holistic manner • After: • Resources will include suitably trained spiritual care givers and all staff have an awareness that they have a duty to be aware of patients spiritual needs and see that they are addressed appropriately Chaplain

8. Focussing in a New Way! • Before: • Spiritual care means reaching out to someone in a way that is genuine and honest. It involves listening to, understanding and respecting someone just as they are as a human being and recognising the common bond that we all have as people • After: • Spiritual care means respecting and understanding peoples’ beliefs and values in an open and non-judgemental way. It means having an awareness of what makes life meaningful for an individual Nurse

9. Student Evaluations • It has been encouraging to find out more about spirituality and most of our group are keen to hear if this is to be repeated in the future. I am sure it would benefit all students and trained healthcare professionals – no matter what sphere they work in. It has certainly helped me. Localities General Manager • I would really recommend GLIDER [Spiritual Care Matters] to my colleagues and to our trainees. The reading and references that I am working through are very good and relevant to us all. Medical Consultant

10. Spiritual Care Matters! • As a Christian I thought I knew enough about spirituality to get me through life. • After participating in this course I have learned that I didn’t.

11. Spiritual Care Matters! • I have found countless topics of reading material not only helping me to understand spirituality but also helping to understand religion.

12. Spiritual Care Matters! • As an employee of NHS …, we are compelled to complete mandatory training events. • I think this course would be of benefit to all people in healthcare and should be mandatory.

13. Spiritual Care Really Matters! A better understanding of spirituality could only help people to be more caring! Health Care Assistant