Chaplaincy Review Survey 2014

Introduction This survey looks at whether clinical know about the availability of the Chaplaincy. We asked about the main faith communities in our area. We asked about how staff might find more information about these faiths, and how it might help them deliver appropriate care.

Method Chaplains conducted the questionnaire with a random selection of staff at all levels of the organisation. Responses were treated as anonymous. A fairly small sample of 41 staff.

Results Q1. How would you contact the chaplaincy if you felt your patient needed support? Switchboard 34 Office 7 Not sure 2

Results Q1. What would you do if this was out of hours? Switchboard 34 On-call 3 Not sure 2 Leave a message

Results Q3. What would you do if the patient belonged to a faith community such as Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist? Switchboard 16 Chaplaincy Family/Relative 7 Intranet 2

Results Q4. Where would you go for information for care needs of different faiths? Intranet 15 Chaplin Office Switchboard 4 Don’t know 2

Results Q5. What type of issues do you think the chaplaincy can help patients/carers with? Spiritual Needs Worries Concerns Bereavement End of Life Religious Guidance Funeral Planning Dying

Results Q6. Do you know that chaplains give confidential support to staff? Yes 24 No 16

Results Q6. Do you know that chaplains give confidential support to staff? Yes 24 No 16

Results Q7. Do you feel enough is asked about patient’s religious & spiritual needs on arrival to your area/ward? Yes 8 No 23

Conclusions There was some uncertainty about how to get hold of a chaplain, including out of hours. Switchboards in both hospitals is the best option to ensure a timely response. Good awareness that all faith communities were covered by the Chaplaincy, but again leaving a message for them may not elicit a sufficiently speedy response. Not a great appreciation that Chaplains can offer confidential support to staff. Strong feeling that more could be asked on admission to ward / clinical area about religious and spiritual needs.

Recommendation Reinforce importance of using Switchboard to contact on call / available chaplain. Training needed to emphasise availability of support for staff from chaplains. Work within mdt’s to ascertain whether / how more attention could be given to patients in early stages of admission.