The Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy (ICHC) (Registered Charity Number CC213346) has, since a decision of the NZ Government (Cabinet decision CM 72/9/14 of 6 March1972), been the national provider of hospital chaplaincy services in New Zealand under a shared funding arrangement between the Government's Health Department/ Ministry and the Churches. The Government wished to deal with only one body on behalf of the Churches. As a result the Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy, Aotearoa, New Zealand, Charitable Trust Inc. was formed as the national chaplaincy body by nine Churches which wanted to be involved in the provision of a professional healthcare chaplaincy service : Anglican, Apostolic, Associated Churches of Christ, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and the Salvation Army.
The Trust oversees and administers, with the aid of a network of 21 Local Chaplaincy Committees, on which the local hospitals have a representative, the work of 80 stipended hospital chaplains (in 58 FTE positions) and over 250 voluntary chaplaincy assistants, in 48 public health sector hospitals or facilities from Kaitaia to Invercargill. Christian chaplaincy is offered by chaplains appropriately qualified in spiritual and pastoral care and under proper ecclesiastical authority of their denomination or church, to minister to all patients, their families and hospital staff on an interdenominational, non proselytising, non profit, 24 hours a day call out basis. This chaplaincy work is jointly funded through a contractual partnership between the ICHC (on behalf of the Churches) and the Ministry of Health (on behalf of the Government).
The appointment of stipended hospital chaplains by ICHC results from input from the Local Chaplaincy Committee, the hospital, ICHC and the appointees denomination. These committees are locally appointed bodies that may have their own constitution, and draw their membership from locally appointed representatives of the denominations making up the ICHC partnership, as well as members of other denominations and churches which are members of the local Ministers’ Association. The management of each hospital is invited to nominate a representative to serve on the committee.
The primary purpose of the Local Chaplaincy Committee is to offer on-the-ground administrative and pastoral support for the chaplain or chaplaincy team. It administers the personnel policies and procedures laid down by the ICHC Trust Board especially in approving leave, arranging locum cover at the hospital when chaplains are on leave, or training courses etc. It may be involved in local fund raising to pay the non - government share of the chaplain's costs. Some committees act as the paymaster for stipended chaplains. Each Chaplaincy Committee enters into a Services Agreement with ICHC.
Hospital Representatives are often drawn form the senior nursing staff or HR staff although in some cases they include doctors or CEO’s. The representative’s role on the committee is to enable optimal cooperation between the churches, chaplains and hospital management to ensure the most effective chaplaincy service for patients and staff.
The Place of Spiritual Care
Spiritual well-being is a fundamental right under the UN Declaration of Human Rights. This has been recognised under the NZ Healthcare Standard 2.4 (the NZ Healthcare Standard is a voluntary accreditation programme for hospitals) that “each organisational structure will provide for the spiritual care of staff, patients and their families.” The presence of ecumenical and Roman Catholic hospital chaplains (and chaplaincy assistants under supervision of a chaplain) enables this standard for hospital accreditation to be met.
The Hospital Chaplain is an important member of the multi-disciplinary care team and the spiritual support offered is an important contribution to the holistic model of care New Zealand's Health Services are seeking to provide.
The Chaplain's Role
ICHC and the Ministry of Health have agreed that the chaplains role is to address the spiritual, emotional and pastoral needs of patients particularly where their illness has presented a major threat or trauma (spiritually and emotionally) and which may render patients and/or their whanau/family, vulnerable.
Access to chaplaincy services and exit from the service will be by way of:
· self referral e.g. indicated on admission forms, requests to nurse or chaplaincy staff
· referral by immediate family or extended whanau
· referral by hospital staff
· referral by other health workers including DSS workers, GPs etc
· referral by marae and church based organisations
· referral by Iwi health providers and other Maori providers
· referral by community groups, organisations and related services
· referral by government agencies e.g. Social, Justice, Education.
The chaplain also has an important role in the spiritual support of Hospital staff and their family (NZ Health Standards 2.4 & 6.3.8) for those who wish to avail themselves of it.
Under no circumstances will a chaplain or chaplaincy assistant attempt to provide services to any person who indicates they do not wish to receive such service, or who indicates they have a preference for spiritual care or ministry to be provided by some other person or organisation. Chaplains will, on request, assist in locating a patient's own spiritual adviser or any member of their faith they wish to see.
Accountability and Complaints about Chaplaincy Services
Complaints or Incident Reports lodged by individuals or with Hospitals, about chaplains or the chaplaincy service are referred to the Executive Officer, ICHC for investigation.