London faith groups unite to create first UK hospital chaplaincy training programme
London South Bank University (LSBU) is launching UK's first postgraduate Chaplaincy certificate in a hospital settingIn the first course of its kind to be introduced in a UK hospital setting, London South Bank University (LSBU) is launching a Postgraduate Certificate (PG cert) in hospital chaplaincy training that combines inclusive training for people from a multi-faith or non-religious background with practical training in chaplaincy skills. The course is supported by LSBU’s partnership with two world leading London-based hospitals - Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust (GSTT).
LSBU is offering a one year, part-time Post Graduate Certificate (PG Cert) course of study that includes accessible training for both lay professionals and those with a spiritual/faith background. The course will run as three one-week modules (200 hrs), of which, two hours per week will be spent engaged in mentored practical training within a hospital setting.
Professor Pat Bailey, LSBU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor said: “We are very excited to have developed this unique hospital chaplaincy training course as the first of its kind in the UK. Based on the mutual, shared values of LSBU and the NHS, this course combines LSBU’s expertise in training health care professionals with the expertise of Guys and St.Thomas’ chaplaincy in spiritual care.”
Reve Mia Hilborn, Head Chaplain of GSTT, said: “We are delighted to be working with one of the country’s leading schools of health and social care at London South Bank University to create the first hospital based chaplaincy course in the UK.”
Dr SH Cedar, a clinical scientist at LSBU who is responsible for initiating this course said: “I have been teaching clinical science to London’s nurses for 20 years while volunteering as a chaplain at GSTT. I am very pleased to have brokered this relationship to help create a brand new course that celebrates the best of two very different worlds - academia and spiritual care.”