News and publications from the UKBHC and other bodies, including palliative care partnerships, and chaplaincy, professional, or religious organisations.
The AHPCC doesn’t exist in isolation; we are part of the UKBHC and the Chaplaincy Forum, and we also represent hospice and palliative care chaplains in several groups, both in the UK and in Europe. This page seeks to keep you informed of current developments in the wider world of healthcare chaplaincy as well as giving ready access to some back copies.
Latest News
Chaplaincy Forum
The Chaplaincy Forum for Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care in Health met on the 10th October. The following points are shared as a summary of the meeting.
- The Forum continued the process of appointing a new independent chair. A number of strong expressions of interest were made. One candidate will be invited to interview for the role as a next step.
- CHCC reported on the publication of its workforce development guidance Towards Greater Diversity in the Healthcare Chaplaincy Workforce (2024). It will next turn attention to completing guidance around on-call provision.
- The Network reported that the One Spirit Interfaith Foundation had been given observer status on the Network for a year. They are continuing to explore sources/methods of funding the Network.
- NHS England shared the 5 summary points from the Independent investigation of the NHS in England by Lord Darzi. Following the report there will be an engagement process to develop a new 10-year plan. Both individual chaplains and chaplaincy bodies are encouraged to contribute to the engagement process. Further details will be shared once known.
- The UKBHC shared that their updated Code of Conduct had been approved by the Board directors at their last meeting. New directors have been appointed to the Board and the registrar and lead director for registration are working hard to clear the backlog of registration enquiries.
- ACGP shared news of their conference in January titled ‘Hope Bearers’: Primary Healthcare Chaplaincy responding to mental health and spiritual needs. Anyone interested in having a stall at the conference should contact the conference organizers.
Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care (SPPC)
Scotland’s healthcare is similar to the rest of the UK, but structured entirely separately. Scotland has its own NHS, and its own Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care (SPCC), in which the AHPCC is well represented. While the SPPC is concerned with all aspects of palliative care, spiritual care features quite often.
European Research Institute for Chaplaincy in Healthcare (ERICH)
The AHPCC works with ERICH, supporting research into spiritual care. This involvement also gives us some helpful insight into the very different models of healthcare chaplaincy that exist throughout Europe. ERICH hosts a Conference every two years, and publishes occasional Newsletters.
Faith in Older People (FiOP)
Faith in Older People is an Edinburgh-based charity that promotes spiritual care for older people. Much of its concern is for dementia and mental health; it also works actively to build links between healthcare services and faith communities, and runs regular training events.
As of March 2021, The Chaplaincy Forum Terms of Reference are now available
2020 Publications
SPPC 1 June 2020 – Covid-19 Update.
SPPC 1 May 2020 – Covid19 Bulletin
FiOP April 2020 Newsletter
SPPC 5 April 2020 – Covid19 Bulletin
ERICH April 2020 Report
SPPC 23 March 2020 – Covid19 Bulletin
SPPC February 2020 Bulletin
FiOP February 2020 Newsletter
SPPC January 2020 Bulletin
Publications for the previous five years
UKBHC November 2020 Newsletter
UKBHC Summer 2019 Newsletter
UKBHC January 2019 Newsletter
UKBHC Summer 2018 Newsletter
UKBHC August 2017 Newsletter
UKBHC January 2017 Newsletter
CLF (Chaplaincy Leadership Forum) ‘Future of Chaplaincy’ minutes 2013-2016 – Developments between chaplaincy organisations and NHS England
UKBHC April 2016 Newsletter
eHospice (USA), (2016) Evidence-based quality indicators for spiritual care
UKBHC December 2015 Newsletter