PC049-812 - Chaplaincy Skills I

  • 2,976 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 12
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 8
    AQF level
  • Category developing unit
    B
  • pastoral churchUnit Discipline

Exclusions

Prior to 2020, this unit content was delivered under the unit code PC652.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

Demonstrate Advanced knowledge and understanding of, and the research underlying, chaplaincy skills and methods, including the methods and standards of professional, safe and ethical practice

B. Be able to

1. Critique the aims and methods of pastoral care by chaplains

2. Demonstrate pastoral care skills as a chaplain

3. Present Research-Aware evidence-based perspectives on chaplaincy skills and methods

C. Be in a position to

1. Applying Advanced perspectives and skills from ‘Chaplaincy Skills I’ to chaplaincy ministry practice and as a reflective practitioner

Content

 A: Chaplaincy and Chaplaincy Competencies (25%)

1.  The role of the chaplain

  • Basic biblical and theological perspectives.
  • Chaplaincy settings: schools, hospitals, aged care facilities, prisons.
  • Situations and needs chaplains typically face.
  • Current trends and issues in chaplaincy ministry.

2.  Aspects of well-being and mental health

  • Human needs, life stages and the generations.
  • Personal and special needs (such as autism, disability, illness, abuse, neglect).
  • Mental illness (such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, self-harm, suicide).
  • Environmental (such as alcohol, drugs, bullying, harassment, stress, conflict).

Section B: Working with the Mental Health Sector (25%)

3. The mental health sector

  • Scope and character.
  • Stakeholders.
  • Levels and types of care: clinical and non-clinical services, support groups.
  • Major psychiatric illnesses and the stigma surrounding them.
  • National standards for mental health issues.
  • Changes in mental health care.
  • The legal system, including the police, courts and community treatment orders.

4.  Professional conduct of the chaplain

  • Principles of professional conduct: confidentiality, duty of care, access and equity, ethics and values, sustainability, working with people from culturally/linguistically different backgrounds.
  • Organizational requirements: ethical standards, casework management protocols, procedures, record keeping.
  • Legal framework: policy, legislation, regulations.
  • working with others and in teams.

Section C: Pastoral Care for Chaplaincy (25%)

5.  Foundational skills of the chaplain

  • Communication skills.
  • Pastoral care skills.
  • Preventative care: education, support groups, conflict management.
  • Reactive care.

6.  Referral

  • Services and sources of assistance.
  • Emergency and crisis situations.
  • Cultural obligations and special needs in referrals.
  • Review of outcomes.

Section D: Chaplaincy in Practice (25%)

At least 20 hours under the supervision of a chaplain in at least one field situation: eg. school, college, university, hospital, nursing home, community centre, courts, prison.

Set Readings

This unit's indicative bibliography is currently being revised. Students should contact their home college for further details at the time of taking this unit.


Basic References:
Carer’s Recognition Act
Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act
Disability Services/Discrimination Acts and standards
Freedom of Information Act
Mental health acts
National mental health and policy plan
National mental health service standards
National practice standards for the mental health workforce
Occupational health and safety standards
Privacy Act
United Nations Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Health Care

Representative References:
Bass, D.C., For Life Abundant: Practical Theology, Theological Education, and Christian Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008)
Benner, D., Strategic Pastoral Counselling (2nd ed.; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003)
Cook, Dean E., Chaplaincy: Being God’s Presence in Closed Communities (Bloomington, IN: Author House, 2010)
Dawn, M. & E. Peterson, The Unnecessary Pastor (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000)
DEEWR, National School Chaplaincy Programme Guidelines
Lartey, E.Y., In Living Color: An Intercultural Approach to Pastoral Care and Counselling (London: Jessica Kingsley, 2003)
Norman, James (ed.), At the Heart of Education: School Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care (Dublin: Veritas, 2004)
Paget, Naomi & Janet R. McCormack, The Work of the Chaplain (Judson Press, 2006)
Patton, J., Pastoral Care in Context: An Introduction to Pastoral Care (Westminster: John Knox Press, 2005)
Pohlmann, D., School Chaplaincy: An Introduction (Mansfield, Qld: Christian Heritage College, 2004)
Roberts, J. (ed.), Professional Spiritual and Pastoral Care: A Practical Clergy and Chaplain’s Handbook (Woodstock: Skylight Paths, 2012)
Stairs, J., Listening for the Soul (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2000)
Swift, C., Hospital Chaplaincy in the Twenty-first Century (Surrey: Ashgate, 2009)
Threlfall-Holmes, M. & M. Newitt, Being a Chaplain (London: SPCK, 2011)
Tidball, D.J., Builders & Fools (Leicester: IVP, 1999)

Websites:
Youth
•    Better Health Channel - www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
•    Raising Children Network – www.raisingchildren.net.au
•    Beyond Blue - www.beyondblue.org.au
•    Youth Beyond Blue - www.youthbeyondblue.com
•    KidsMatter - www.kidsmatter.edu.au
•    Reachout.com - http://au.reachout.com
•    Response-ability - www.responseability.org/home
•    Child and Youth Health - www.cyh.com/Default.aspx?p=1
•    Orygen Youth Health - http://oyh.org.au                                    
•    LIFE – Living Is For Everyone – www.livingisforeveryone.com.au

 Mental Health policies
•    National Mental Health policy - www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mentalpubs-n-pol08
•    The Fourth National Health Plan (2009-2014) - www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mentalpubs-f-plan09
•    The Mental Health Statement of Rights and Responsibilities (1991) - www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/1FE72FD78779BB44CA2572060026BC9E/$File/rights.pdf

Some resources on the Mental Health sector
•    Mental health workforce - http://mhsa.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=27917288058
•    Mental health-related services provided in Australia - http://mhsa.aihw.gov.au/services
•    Mental health (Australian Government) - http://australia.gov.au/topics/health-and-safety/mental-health
Institute of Health and Welfare documents
•    A Picture of Australia’s Children 2012 - www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737423343
•    For Kid’s Sake 2011 – http://sydney.edu.au/law/news/docs_pdfs_images/2011/Sep/FKS-ResearchReport-Summary.pdf
•    State of Australia’s Young People 2009 –  www.youth.gov.au/sites/Youth/News/Documents/YoungPeopleReport.pdf
•    The Nest Consultation Report 2012 – www.thenestproject.org.au/sites/default/files/The%20Nest%20consultation%20report_FINAL%20SUMMIT%20PHASE%201.pdf
•    Young Australians: Their Health and Wellbeing 2011 – www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=10737419259