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Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy

.....advancing multi-faith healthcare chaplaincy.

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT CHURCH HOUSE, WESTMINSTER ON MONDAY 28th SEPTEMBER 2003

Present:
The Hon Barney Leith - Chairman
Ms Valerina Clarke
Mr Bimal Krsna das
The Rev Robert Evans
Mr Simon Goulden (vice Mrs Conway)
The Revd Edward Lewis - Chief Officer
Mr Ronald Maddox
Mr Manhar Mehta
HM Shafique Rahman
The Rt. Revd Howard Tripp
Rabbi Martin van den Bergh

In attendance:
Mr Tim Battle

31/03 Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Joy Conway, Mrs Lesley Hilton, Mr Sital Maan, Mr Baldevi Mawi, Mr Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, Rev Christine Pocock, Mr Kishor Ruparelia, Mr Dhirendra Sanghrajka, Mr Paul Seto, Rev Preb Peter Speck, and Mrs Barbara Walsh.


32/03 Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 9th June 2003 were agreed.


33/03 Membership of MFGHC by the College of Health Care Chaplains
(ref. Minute 20/03)

The Chairman reported correspondence from the Acting President of the College of Health Care Chaplains. Revd Robert Mitchell had suggested that the College would prefer simply to exchange observers but the Chairman had written to say that membership of the Group by the College was essential and would benefit both Bodies. An answer was awaited.


34/03 Observer Members (ref. Minute 21/03)

It was reported that both observer members had accepted the invitation to attend but had offered apologies for this particular meeting.


35/03 MFGHC programme of work 2003 (ref. Minute 22/03)

It was acknowledged that the programme of work needed to be updated regularly to reflect changes in workload and priorities. It was agreed that an update should be carried with each set of Council minutes.


36/03 'Caring for the Spirit' document (ref. Minute 24/03)

· Tim Battle reported that South Yorkshire WDC had agreed to postpone the publication of their workforce strategy until November when it could be launched at the same time as the revised policy guidance.


37/03 Review of Department of Health central allocation of funding for NHS chaplaincy

The Council considered a report from the Chief Officer setting out an approach to the request to advise the Department of Health about future use of its central allocation for chaplaincy. The report proposed the acceptance of project methodology for this work; a list of priorities for MFGHC's work programme; and four principles on which the future allocation could be considered. The paper also included a worked example to illustrate the changes which would occur through the application of this method.

Concern was raised on behalf of Jewish Chaplaincy that the basis on which the original allocation had been made (no Jewish chaplain was employed by any NHS Trust) was not being represented appropriately. There were concerns about the way in which Trusts would deliver chaplaincy services if left to their own devices and also about the need correctly to recompense those who currently provided these services. In addition, it was noted that the Department of Health intimated its support for multi-faith work but did not intend to resource its development appropriately.

Concern was raised on behalf of the Free Churches Chaplaincy which, whilst supporting the need to develop other faith group chaplaincies, did not consider that the best way was "to rob Peter to pay Paul". There was real concern that the current support to the Free Churches chaplaincy would be lost in the complexity of the rearrangement proposed.

Concern was raised on behalf of the Muslim Chaplaincy which had been omitted from the paper although it had been explained that some levels of support were in place. However, the point was made that Muslim Chaplains needed support for development of their chaplaincy; the creation of an authorisation body; and for other issues including training and back-up administration. The need for more rather than re-allocated funding was supported.

In discussion, there was sympathy with the view that the level playing field should be a levelling up rather than a levelling down. At the same time, it was not thought likely that the Department of Health would withdraw from its intended review of the central allocation so change was likely. Edward Lewis indicated that the Department of Health had caused some difficulty by appearing to suggest, on the one hand, that the allocation should be spread more fairly and, on the other hand, that the allocation should be used to fund projects only (and not chaplaincy administration).

Edward Lewis and Tim Battle were due to meet with the Deputy to the Chief Nursing Officer and Mrs Leslie Hilton at a meeting later in the week at the Department of Health to discuss this confusion. It was suggested that this might also be an opportunity to raise the more general concerns voiced by members about the future central allocation. More time would be welcomed to resolve some of these concerns and efforts by many to achieve progress to date should not be lost for lack of consideration at this stage.

In conclusion, it was agreed that the first step should be to raise these issues through the meeting planned with the Department of Health. If no progress was made, the Council agreed to meet again in November to review this issue further.

In relation to the recommendations in the paper, the Council agreed to propose that Paul Seto and Sital Maan join the project group; to accept the statement of priorities set out in paragraph 9; and to agree the principles set out in paragraphs 11, 13 and 14. Rabbi van den Bergh and Mr Goulden expressed their reservations about paragraph 13 in particular.


38/03 Revised policy guidelines

The listening exercise had been completed in mid-August and a small group from MFGHC was working with the Department of Health to revise the guidance for publication. The next meeting of that group was on 3rd October after which a final draft might be available. The launch date was the morning of Wednesday 5th November in London.


39/03 Work permits for overseas chaplains

It was agreed to raise this issue with the Immigration Section to see whether guidance could be developed to facilitate chaplaincy.


40/03 Department of Health list of religions

It was agreed to seek clarification of the list of religions currently used by the Department of Health


41/03 Foundation Degree in chaplaincy

Arrangements were agreed for Father Michael Hayes, Head of Theology at St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill, (University of Surrey) to meet with the Group at 11 am on Tuesday 18th November to discuss the foundation degree in chaplaincy.


42/03 Mrs Liz Paffey

Arrangements were agreed for a farewell lunch for Mrs Paffey at 1 p.m. on Thursday 13th November at a restaurant in central London. Edward Lewis would confirm arrangements.


43/03 Date of next meeting

Tuesday 18th November 2003 10.30 am to 1.00 p.m. Church HouseTuesday 3rd February 2004. 10.30 a.m. to 1.00 pm. Church House.

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