MINUTES
OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT CHURCH HOUSE, WESTMINSTER ON TUESDAY
3rd FEBRUARY 2004
Present:
Hon Barney Leith - in the Chair
Ervad Bhedwar
Mr Bimal Krsna das
Mr Simon Goulden
Mrs Lesley Hilton,
Revd Edward Lewis
Mr Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin
Mr Sital Maan
Mr Ronald Maddox
Rev Christine Pocock
Rev Preb Peter Speck
Rt. Revd Thomas Williams
In
attendance:
Mr Tim Battle
Mr John James for minute 3/04
Mr Gerard Leavey for minute 4/04
The Rt.
Revd Thomas Williams was welcomed to his first meeting since he replaced
Bishop Tripp who had retired.
1/04
Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from Ms Valerina Clarke, Mrs Joy
Conway, Rev Robert Evans, Mr Baldevi Mawi, Mr Manhar Mehta, HM Shafique
Rahman, Mr Paul Seto, Mr Kishor Ruparelia, Mr Dhirendra Sanghrajka,
Rabbi Martin van den Bergh and Mrs Barbara Walsh
2/04 Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 18th November 2003 were agreed.
3/04 Review of Department of Health central allocation
of funding for NHS chaplaincy (ref.
min 46/03)
Mr John James was welcomed to the meeting. He explained that he was
to undertake the project commissioned by the Department of Health
to review the use of the central allocation for chaplaincy. He expected
to complete this work by 18th June and would hope to discuss the issue
widely. He could be contacted on telephone 020 7887 7184 and email
john.james@nhsprofessionals.nhs.uk.
The Chair explained that the Multi-Faith Group hoped that the smaller
faith communities and those without a history of supplying services
nationally would be supported by the Department of Health in establishing
the administration of their service on a sound footing. This was work
being undertaken on behalf of the whole NHS and it was considered
appropriate that the NHS centrally should fund it.
Mr Mueen-Uddin explained that his community although large compared
to some was no better resourced than others. The Muslim Council of
Great Britain had just 1.5 people to undertake this work and the use
of volunteers had not been any less onerous. Work to establish registers;
check qualifications; and then support chaplains at work required
more resources than was currently available from the community itself.
Other colleagues echoed this view which was shared by all members.
On behalf of the Jewish community which did receive some funding,
Mr Goulden explained that this had proved essential to ensure that
the community could run its affairs efficiently in the interest of
patients. At the same time, Revd Christine Pocock on behalf of the
Free Churches chaplaincies supported the development of small communities
and recognised they needed funding. She expressed concern that such
funding should not be taken from other faith communities to reduce
all to the same less satisfactory level.
Mr James acknowledged these concerns which he expected to explore
in more detail on an individual basis. He recognised from his work
on Section 64 grants that small emergent groups often were helped
considerably by some initial pump-priming. He also recognised that
this might be best value at national level. It was noted that the
Multi-Faith Group had applied for help through the grant system for
this purpose and had separately sought to make a comparison with other
chaplaincies in secular services. It was recognised that these comparisons
might not be comparing like with like but the need for support was
understood.
In conclusion, the Chair hoped that the NHS would be enabled to recognise
the value of establishing the individual chaplaincies on a sound footing
without detriment to existing services. He looked forward to an individual
meeting with Mr James and to welcoming him at further meetings if
a wider discussion was necessary.
It was hoped that Mr James would be able to discuss his initial findings
at the next Council meeting in May.
4/04 Membership of MFGHC by the College of Health
Care Chaplains (ref. Minute 48/03)
The Chairman reported on a meeting with Revd Robert Mitchell, Acting
President of the College of Health Care Chaplains. This had been a
cordial meeting which had discussed the ambition of the College to
be the professional body for healthcare chaplains and therefore manage
professional registration, entry standards and training. The College
could not agree to be bound by decisions of the MFGHC in these areas
and proposed establishing a third forum to meet.
On behalf of the MFGHC, the Chair had indicated that the Group saw
itself as the umbrella body for chaplaincy bodies and was not prepared
to change its constitution or to develop another meeting arrangements
to satisfy the College's aspirations. The Chair had indicated his
willingness to discuss these issues further with the College as necessary.
The Chair had also attended the "keep in touch" meeting
convened by the Chief Nursing Officer with the MFGHC, the South Yorkshire
WDC and the College. At this meeting, a similar discussion had taken
place and the College had been challenged both about the realism of
its aspirations and also about its poor relationship with other chaplaincy
bodies.
Mrs Mullally had emphasised that there was a need for partnership
working in all areas of spiritual healthcare, particularly where agreement
from others was likely to be a pre-condition to progressing the College's
own agenda. The meeting had concluded with the initiative for further
discussion resting squarely with the College. The Chair had concluded
that Robert Mitchell had felt under pressure to agree with this approach
but might not be able to take colleagues with him.
There was discussion of the College's position and it was agreed that
the Council should not support prospective changes to the constitution.
While wishing to bring the College within the purview of the Group,
there was concern at an unwillingness on their part to open up discussion
of this issue amongst their members. Peter Speck reported both that
he had advocated a broader approach when leading the College's study
course in July and also that, more recently, his letter to the College's
newsletter editor had not been published.
Comment was made about the emphasis on the College's work trade union
activity and whether this presented an alternative agenda for the
College to that of professional development for chaplains. It was
agreed that the current College stance was creating a barrier to progress
generally and that its control of member's involvement in the development
of spiritual healthcare was to be regretted. In discussion about the
views of chaplains generally, it was also suggested that the Council
should seek an alternative mechanism for recruiting expertise from
amongst chaplains if the College did not wish to help.
Despite the confusion between the trade union and professional agendas,
Christine Pocock considered that the College was not against multi-faith
working. It was also noted that the College understood the Council
to be the body developing authorisation arrangements for chaplains
within faith communities.
In conclusion, the Chair recorded the Council's disappointment at
the current state of affairs.
5/04 IT project in support of chaplaincy DPA/
consent issues (ref. Min 51/03)
Lesley Hilton reported that the Department of Health had agreed a
project between the IT and PPI Branches which would seek to assist
the flow of information for chaplaincy services. In particular, it
was hoped that the project would moderate some of the difficulties
identified in obtaining patient's explicit consent to the sharing
of information with chaplaincies.
The IT project had commenced with the appointment of a Project Manager,
Steve Hudson who was based in the Information and Systems Group at
Quarry House. He was undertaking a scoping study during February and,
subject to a satisfactory report, the project would proceed with the
appointment of consultants in March and expected completion in 6-9
months thereafter.
Steve Hudson had met with the Chief Officer informally and would be
meeting other members during the scoping study. It was agreed that
the project brief should be circulated to the Council for comment
and that a report to the next meeting would be welcomed.
6/04 NHS Chaplaincy: Meeting the religious and
spiritual needs of patients and staff (Ref:
Min 49/03)
The Council congratulated Lesley Hilton and her team on the support
and energy they had brought to preparing and launching the new policy
guidance drafted by the JNMFWP.
7/04 Mental health and local religious leaders
- research study
The Chair welcomed Gerard Leavey to the meeting. Mr Leavey explained
the background to the study he was proposing and clarified aspects
of the written statement which had been circulated with the agenda
papers.
There was widespread support for the study and offers of help from
all communities. The study was thought to be both necessary and worthwhile
and the Council looked forward to hearing of the results. In the meantime,
it was agreed that a letter of support from the Chair would be available
when necessary.
Contact details for Mr Leavey are via telephone 020 8442 6503 and
email Gerard.Leavey@beh-mht.nhs.uk
8/04 Launch events for Caring for the Spirit
The Chair reported that he had agreed to contribute to joint events
with South Yorkshire WDC to launch the workforce strategy to NHS Trust
Chairs. Five events were planned across the country and alternate
members might be asked to assist if there were diary clashes. This
was agreed and the events welcomed.
9/04 Implementation Plan for Caring for the Spirit
Tim Battle reported that the implementation plan for the workforce
strategy was under consideration in draft form and covered all those
actions intended to achieve progress towards the objective point in
2007. A copy would be available to the Council in due course.
10/04 Quantifying the need for spiritual healthcare
The Council received a report from the Co-Chairs, Standards Committee
identifying the need for greater clarity about the measures of spiritual
need than were implicit in the current use of beds or staff numbers.
New treatment modalities and different environments for care meant
than additional measures for spiritual healthcare were needed.
The Council agreed with this view but was mindful of the workload
involved in this study and conscious of the need to husband resources
particularly in the short term. It was therefore agreed to ask the
Chief Officer to make proposals for this work in due course.
11/04 Faith community representation on the
Council
The Chair reported that he had been approached about the representation
from a particular faith community with suggestions for review or change.
He intended to take such approaches seriously when he considered the
person concerned was of good standing. He and the Chief Officer would
meet with the current representatives and with the questioner together
to discuss issues openly. He would report the outcome of these discussions
to Council when necessary.
This approach was agreed.
12/04 MFGHC website
The Chief Officer reported a number of complements about the MFGHC
website run by Revd Fred Coutts on the Council's behalf. The Council
supported this view and offered its thanks to the Webmaster for his
work on their behalf.
13/04 Report of the Education Committee - February
2004
Revd Christine Pocock spoke to the bullet point report which had been
tabled. A fuller report would be available at the next meeting. The
report was noted with interest.
14/04 Marshalling resources for world faith
chaplaincies and multi-faith chaplaincy
The Committee supported the intention to trawl chaplaincies and other
bodies for resources which would support world faith chaplains in
their developing role and established chaplains in ensuring a multi-faith
emphasis to their work where appropriate. Members commented that there
were several very good examples of handbooks etc. which could be used
as the basis for the proposed handbook.
Lesley Hilton suggested that the experience of the newly established
Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) was similar to that of
the Council being a national group with the need for website development
and shared resources. Although PALS had been pump-primed by the Department,
it was likely that the lessons of their start up would enable the
Council to save time and resources in achieving good practice guidelines
and a comprehensive resources database for chaplains.
It was agreed that the Chief Officer might meet with the PALS Co-ordinator
to share progress and Lesley Hilton agreed to put them in touch.
15/04 Report of the Standards Committee - February
2004
Ron Maddox spoke to the bullet point report which had been circulated
with the agenda. The report was noted with interest.
16/04 Awayday to prepare draft standards for
healthcare chaplaincy
It was noted that the Committee was holding an awayday at the end
of March to prepare standards for healthcare chaplaincy in line with
those from the Department of Health. These draft standards would need
to be considered by Council prior to consultation with NHS bodies.
17/04 Dates of next meetings
The Council agreed to meet again on Wednesday 12th May 2004, Wednesday
8th September 2004 and Tuesday 18th January 2005
MFGHC
WORK PROGRAMME as at February 2004
TASK
For
action by WHOM
For
completion by WHEN
1.
Administer Council meeting
EL
3 Feb 04
2.
Instigate resources trawl
via NHS chaplaincies and other bodies
CP
Feb04
3.
Council
Bulletin
TB
Feb
04
4.
Instigate review of office
facilities
TB
March
04
5
Review progress with developing authorisation
processes
EL
March
04
6
Study Day for world faith chaplains
- 17th March 2004 - Derby Royal Infirmary
TB
March
04
7.
Administer Standards Committee
Awayday
MvdB/ RM
31
Mar04
8.
Launch events for Caring the Spirit
BL
May
04
9.
Report progress about Home Office visa
regulations irt world faith chaplains
TB
May
04
10.
Report progress about Home Office visa regulations irt world faith
chaplains
TB
May
04
11.
Report progress with IT project for
DPA
EL
May
04
12.
Report on involvement of chaplains
in Council business
EL
May
03
13.
Report on resources for further quantification
of spiritual needs
