Spiritual Care Week, marked annually from 18 to 24 October, is an opportunity to recognise the important role our Chaplaincy Service plays in supporting patients, their families and colleagues across County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT).
Spiritual care is about much more than religion. It means recognising what matters to each individual, supporting their values, beliefs, hopes and concerns, and providing a safe space to talk during times that may feel challenging, uncertain or difficult.
Our Chaplaincy Service is available to people of all faiths and none, offering support throughout their healthcare journey, not just at the end of life.
Exploring the role of spiritual care in healthcare
To mark Spiritual Care Week, CDDFT is exploring what spiritual care looks like in practice and how it relates to healthcare outcomes.
As part of this, Chaplain Justin Mihoc has recorded a podcast discussing the role of spiritual care and some of the research exploring its links with healthcare outcomes.
The episode highlights the importance of recognising the individual needs of patients and families, and the role spiritual care can play in supporting people through their healthcare experiences.
You can listen to the podcast by searching for Inside CDDFT on your usual podcast provider, or listen to the video below.
Supporting patients, families and colleagues
Alongside its work with patients and families, our Chaplaincy Service provides support for colleagues across the Trust.
The service also supports the Faith and Spirituality Staff Network Group, which provides a space to explore faith and spirituality in the workplace, develop resources to support staff learning and awareness, and review relevant policies through an inclusive lens.
The network helps promote understanding and respect for the different beliefs and perspectives represented across our workforce.
Spiritual Care Week is a reminder that caring for people means recognising them as individuals, understanding what matters to them and offering support that reflects their needs, values and beliefs.
Our thanks go to Justin and all our Chaplaincy colleagues for the compassionate support they provide to patients, families and staff across CDDFT.
