Patient Wellbeing Support
At WholeCare, we believe patients receive the best care when they are supported by an integrated healthcare team that values the whole person. One way in which we have developed whole person healthcare is by providing chaplaincy in General Practice. With our considerable experience in General Practice, we have seen the profound impact of having a Chaplain as part of the team. Our goal is to help healthcare teams understand the unique role of Chaplaincy and integrate it effectively into their care models.
The Role of Chaplains in General Practice
For centuries, Chaplains have provided a compassionate presence, journeying with people in need and helping them find strength and hope. In British General Practice, Chaplains have been commissioned to provide holistic support under various guises over the years. These include: simply being called ‘Chaplaincy in General Practice’; Chaplains providing a ‘Listening and Guidance’ service; it being described as a specialism within ‘Social Prescribing’ arrangements; or even offered as part of ‘Health and Wellbeing Coaching’. At Wholecare, we tend to refer to it as Primary Healthcare Chaplaincy.
Whatever the title, at its core Primary Healthcare Chaplaincy is a talking therapy offering active listening, support and spiritual care provided by Healthcare Chaplains. It is holistic in its approach, recognising the importance of spiritual health and wellbeing and is available to people of all faiths and beliefs.
Chaplains in General Practice work to the professional standards set by the Association of Chaplaincy in General Practice in addition to other role specific standards. WholeCare draws on over 25 years of experience in the delivery and development of this unique service.
What to expect from an appointment with the Chaplain for Wellbeing
Appointments are generous in time, lasting up to 50 minutes in length.
We don’t set a fixed number of sessions but allow patients to rebook appointments as and when they feel it is helpful.
We offer appointments either face to face (at your GP surgery) or by telephone.
At your first appointment, the Chaplain for Wellbeing will explain more about the Listening & Guidance service.
The Chaplain will listen, reflect and ask a few questions for clarification and understanding.
Sometimes prayer may be offered at the end of an appointment.
Further steps and the possibility of another appointment will be discussed.
Are you a GP, PCN or other commissioner of health and social care interested in providing this service to your patients?
We’d love to help! Please get in touch by contacting us.