Professional development for spiritual care practitioners: a program review. Issue 4 (2nd October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tan, Heather; Holmes, Cheryl
• Is Part Of: Journal of health care chaplaincy. Volume 28:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 467
• Page End: 481
• Publication Date: 2022-10-02
• Subjects: Chaplaincy -- education -- professionalisation -- professional development -- spiritual care; Pastoral medicine -- Periodicals; Chaplains, Hospital -- Periodicals; Chaplains, Hospital; Pastoral medicine; Periodicals; 259.411
• DOI: 10.1080/08854726.2021.1916337
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-4726

Abstract

Abstract: Professional development is a crucial aspect for further successful progression of an individual's skills and effective function in their role. It is also a compulsory part of registration for most professionals in the health care sector. This article reports on the evaluation of a monthly professional development program, specifically for spiritual care practitioners, offered over the period 2017–2019 by Spiritual Health Association (Victoria, Australia) and its partners. Many common themes such as motivation, culture, purpose and areas for improvement have been identified and are further examined. Recommendations such as greater emphasis on the professionalism in the sector, broader inclusions of sessions across culture and ethnicity and the development of cross disciplinary communication skills are made for the future of this program.