Training for Healthcare Chaplains.
There is a new approach to newly appointed chaplains which provides for a locally tailored approach for the first months prior to study as detailed below. Details of the early stages of induction are attached here.
Education
Registration: Registration with the Board requires that applicants have a qualification relevant to their faith community or belief group and a postgraduate qualification in Healthcare Chaplaincy such as a PG Certificate in Healthcare Chaplaincy.
Working as a Chaplain: The Board’s Healthcare Chaplaincy Bands and Duties Framework (2015) outlines the educational requirements for the various Agenda for Change (AfC) Bands in Healthcare Chaplaincy. While a graduate degree such as a Foundation Degree in Healthcare Chaplaincy would enable chaplains to be employed at AfC Band 5 there is an expectation that for autonomous practice as an AfC Band 6 healthcare chaplain a Postgraduate qualification in Healthcare Chaplaincy is the requirement.
At present, there are five accredited Postgraduate Healthcare Chaplaincy programmes in the UK available in Cardiff, Cambridge, Manchester, London and Glasgow. They include distance learning, block learning and face-to-face study. Details of the programmes are outlined below.
Postgraduate Chaplaincy Education (Accredited Programmes for Band 6 Chaplaincy appointments)
- PG Certificate / Diploma / MSc in Healthcare Chaplaincy – University of Glasgow
- PG Diploma / MA in Healthcare Chaplaincy – Cambridge Theological Federation
- PG Certificate / Diploma / MA Chaplaincy Studies – Durham University (provided by St Padarn’s Institute, Cardiff) https://www.stpadarns.ac.uk/en/courses/ma-chaplaincy/
- PG Certificate Healthcare Chaplaincy – London South Bank University, provided by Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. For further information contact the Course Director at PGCertSpCare@gstt.nhs.uk
- PG Diploma / MA Existential and Humanist Pastoral Support – Middlesex University, London, provided by the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling.
- PG Certificate in Paediatric Chaplaincy based at Birmingham Children’s Hospital in partnership with Institute of Children Youth and Mission, initially validated by Staffordshire University and now by Newman University 4×15 credit modules see https://cym.ac.uk/ma-studies-in-chaplaincy/. Also PG Dip and MA in Chaplaincy with Children and Young People.
- UKBHC Registration with PG Certificate / Diploma / MA Chaplaincy Studies – Durham University (provided by Luther King Centre, Manchester) https://www.lutherking.ac.uk/courses/chaplaincy-studies-with-ukbhc-accreditation
The current guidance for providers about the requirements for courses seeking accreditation from UKBHC is detailed in the attached Requirements and Pathway to registration documents.