PGCert PGCERT HEALTHCARE CHAPLAINCY AND WELLBEING

Overview

This is a one-year part-time course leading to a Pg Cert award in Healthcare Chaplaincy and Wellbeing. Upon successful completion, students can top-up to study at Pg Diploma level and then to Masters to increase their learning and promote their professional recognition and widen their employment opportunities.

The course provides students with the knowledge and skills to critically appraise contemporary approaches to healthcare chaplaincy provision addressing the wide context and diverse multicultural needs of communities. It also provides individuals with a deep critical understanding of the importance of equality and diversity and effective patient-chaplain interactions in a multi-faith/belief context. As part of this course, individuals will evaluate the theology and models of healthcare chaplaincy and critically explore the connection between spirituality, health, wellbeing and pastoral care. This course has strong links to contemporary practice to explore best practice in unpredictable spiritual care situations addressing the range of faith and belief needs across patients and staff. This course enables chaplains to demonstrate an enhanced level of competence and skills in spiritual care provision linked to UKBHC standards.

The course is an integration of theory and practice, providing cutting-edge chaplaincy education reflecting the changing and diverse multi- cultural and multi-faith and belief needs of the NHS, the patients, families, carers and staff. It links academic studies up to practice placements and is aligned to meet the professional competences, as measured by the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy.

This course is unique because it is provided by an NHS Trust Chaplaincy Dept - Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) Chaplaincy & Spiritual Health Care Dept, which is one of the largest culturally-diverse multi-faith/belief Chaplaincy team in the UK. The teaching faculty is made of experienced and accomplished educationists and seasoned practitioners in the industry who are at the forefront of delivering contemporary Healthcare Chaplaincy education.

For More Information:
Please contact the Course Director: Revd Nana Kyei-Baffour, Email: Nana.Kyei-Baffour@gstt.nhs.uk Tel: Direct: 020 7188 9844 Or 020 7188 1187

NHS

Mode Duration Start date Application code Application method
ModePart-time Duration1 year Start dateSeptember Application code5839 Application method Direct to LSBU

Location

London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.

If you are visiting our Southwark Campus, you may wish to use our downloadable campus map (PNG File 466 KB). For information on accessibility, see our DisabledGo access guides. See our location page for more details.

Entry Level Requirements

Want to start your course this September? call 0800 923 8888 for entry requirements.

Pg Cert Healthcare Chaplaincy and Wellbeing

Applicants will be considered on an individual basis but must meet the following entry requirements before being considered for admission:

Prospective candidates must: -

  1. Hold any of the below qualifications:
    • A minimum of a 2:2 degree in a relevant subject to the course, or
    • A Higher National Diploma in a relevant subject and a minimum of three years post-qualification experience in a relevant field, or
    • A Professional qualification recognised as equivalent to an Honours degree, or
    • An Honours degree (from an accredited institution) in a subject/course relevant to applicant’s faith community or belief group.
  2. And:

  3. Have at least 6 months experience of undertaking work within a Healthcare Chaplaincy setting (evidence to be provided). Or must have completed Access to Healthcare Chaplaincy course run by the Chaplaincy Team at Guy’s & St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
  4. Be eligible to be registered with the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy (UKBHC). This includes to show a recognized status as a member or observant with a mainstream Faith Community or Belief Group. A mainstream faith community or belief group are those recognized by the Network for Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care in Health (NPSRCH) or the Free Churches Group (FCG) or Churches Together in England (CTE). Evidence to be provided.
  5. Provide a clear enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Scheme) with POCA (Protection of Children Act) & POVA (Protection of Vulnerable Adults) for hospital placement purposes.
  6. Be available to undertake a five-month healthcare chaplaincy placement (following the taught component within the Professional Practice) either at GSTT or at an agreed hospital setting. The Placement will be supervised and assessed by mentors who are band 6 and above staff Chaplains registered with the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy (UKBHC).
  7. Two references:
    (I) Faith/Belief Community Leader reference and
    (ii) Academic or other appropriate (Manager/Supervisor/Team Leader) reference.
    7. Complete the Healthcare Chaplaincy Personal Statement, using the linked proforma

AP(E)L
The school welcomes claim from students who wish to use the accreditation of prior (experiential) learning (AP[E]L) as a means of entry to courses. This is considered on an individual basis, in accordance with the University Academic Regulations and Institute of Health and Social Care AP(E)L Policy and Procedure. So, candidates without a degree would require an AP[E]L portfolio in an appropriate service.

For More Information:
Please contact the Course Director: Revd Nana Kyei-Baffour, Email: Nana.Kyei-Baffour@gstt.nhs.uk Tel: Direct: 020 7188 9844 Or 020 7188 1187

NHS

Missing English and Maths qualifications?

If you do not have the required English and Maths qualifications needed to satisfy the entry requirements for this programme, we have courses available at our partner College that you can take to upskill in these areas. Find out more at South Bank College.

Speak with your employer/trust regarding professional development funding that may be available to you.

International students

International (non Home) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.

Home

Mode Duration Start date Application code Application method
Mode Part-time Duration 1 year Start date September Application code 5839 Application method Direct to LSBU

LSBU

Prepare to start

Core Reading list:

  • Anderson, R, (2013) Ministry in the Spiritual and Cultural Diversity of  Health Care: Increasing the Competency of Chaplains,  Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Cobb, M., Puchalski C. M. and Rumbold, B. (2012) Oxford Textbook of Spirituality in Healthcare (Oxford Textbooks in Public Health), Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Dudley, J.R. (2016) Spirituality Matters in Social Work: Connecting Spirituality, Religion and Practice. London: Taylor and Francis.
  • Swift, C. (2014) Hospital Chaplaincy in the Twenty-first Century: The Crisis of Spiritual care on NHS (2nd edn), Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Limited.

For More Information:
Please contact the Course Director: Revd Nana Kyei-Baffour, Email: Nana.Kyei-Baffour@gstt.nhs.uk Tel: Direct: 020 7188 9844 Or 020 7188 1187

NHS

Year 1 Pg Cert in Healthcare Chaplaincy and Wellbeing

  • Module 1: Contemporary and Cross-Cultural Healthcare Chaplaincy & Wellbeing (20 credits, Level 6)
    This module will help students develop a systematic understanding of spiritual care and cross-cultural communication knowledge within the complex field of different faiths, beliefs, cultural and value systems, while exploring the autonomous role of a chaplain in this environment. A range of contemporary perspectives on wellbeing and healthcare chaplaincy practice and the complex and sometimes contradictory relationship between chaplaincy and equality and diversity (including consideration of current legislation and guidance) will be critically explored.
  • Module 2: Advanced Spiritual Care for Patients (20 credits, Level 7)
    This module explores the academic, religious, and secular understanding of the connection between spirituality and suffering, spirituality in health, spiritual care guidelines and skills required for assessing spiritual needs of patients. The module also explores the theory and practice of spiritual care assessments, spiritual care screening and spiritual care histories, their respective contents, and who should use them. Practical aspect of reflective practice in spiritual care is equally considered.
  • Module 3: Professional Practice (20 credits, Level 7)
    The placement module enables learners to develop advanced skills and consolidate their professional knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to effectively provide safe and person-centred care in their practice within a multi-cultural, multifaith and belief healthcare context.

    For More Information:
    Please contact the Course Director: Revd Nana Kyei-Baffour, Email: Nana.Kyei-Baffour@gstt.nhs.uk Tel: Direct: 020 7188 9844 Or 020 7188 1187

    NHS

    Careers

    Employability Service

    At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:

    • Free employability workshop and events for student all year round, more details can be found on our event section.
    • Online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
    • LSBU Careers Hub offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and support, guidance on future careers, as well as loads of career resources, connecting you with employers, exciting events, 1-1 support and relevant workshops.

    Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.

    Employability

    This course will enable graduates to apply for positions within chaplaincy in the NHS and elsewhere. In addition, students will have the opportunity to develop some key skills including improving communication, IT, literacy, and research skills and to be able to apply for further study.

    Upon successful completion of the first three modules, students can be registered as Band 6 Healthcare Chaplains. This is recognised throughout the UK in NHS hospitals and in other healthcare settings providing a gold standard for professional chaplaincy. So, students can enter the professional chaplaincy market with this qualification.

    Also, after successfully completing the PG Cert Healthcare Chaplaincy and Wellbeing, students will be able to enter onto PG Diploma and Masters to increase their learning and promote their professional recognition and widen their employment opportunities to Bands 6 and 7 Healthcare Chaplaincy in managerial, consultancy and specialized roles.

    Placements

    The Professional Module has both taught and practice components and assessed at level 7. The standards set out in the UKBHC Capabilities and Competences are used to assess the placement element to ensure students meet the requirements for professional practice and the award. The primary aim is to protect the public by assuring that students are prepared to practice safely and competently. In accordance with this principle, the course is practice-centred and directed to achievement of professional competence and fitness to practice. So, the placement component is assessed by mentors who are band 6 and above staff Chaplains. It is also required that these mentors are UKBHC registered. Competences will be measured against UKBHC Band 6 Chaplaincy standards.  These competences are for registration on the UKBHC register and require students to meet the professional code of conduct and the national requirements.  Students are required to undertake 5 months of supervised wards visits and complete 200 hours activity during these ward visits.

    Professional Link

    Upon successful completion of year one of the course (Pg Cert) the student will be eligible to be registered as a Band 6 Healthcare Chaplain and to be registered with UKBHC register.

    For More Information:
    Please contact the Course Director: Revd Nana Kyei-Baffour, Email: Nana.Kyei-Baffour@gstt.nhs.uk Tel: Direct: 020 7188 9844 Or 020 7188 1187

    NHS

    Teaching and Assessment

    The following pedagogical approaches are applied flexibly to facilitate the most effective and appropriate means of teaching and supporting learning:

    • Small group learning opportunities with explicit learning objectives
    • Inter-professional and shared/common learning which is clinically and/or professionally relevant
    • Using active, participatory, and collaborative peer learning opportunities to enhance social cohesion and learning engagement
    • Contextual learning - where basic concepts are given clinical relevance in real world settings
    • Competency-based learning and evaluation
    • Use of technology in the educational process to enhance skills and understanding of digital literacy and health technologies
    • Using strategies and skills to enhance self-regulation of student learning
    • Use of assessment to promote learning

    For More Information:
    Please contact the Course Director: Revd Nana Kyei-Baffour, Email: Nana.Kyei-Baffour@gstt.nhs.uk Tel: Direct: 020 7188 9844 Or 020 7188 1187

    NHS

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    Contact information

    Course Enquiries - UK

    Tel: 0207 815 7500

    International team enquiry

    Tel: +44 (0) 20 7815 6189