ACCREDITATION:
What It Is & How
To Get It
The New Zealand Healthcare Chaplains’ Association is a professional organisation of chaplains, chaplaincy assistants - as well as other individuals interested in the work of the Association - who are involved in providing pastoral care to people in the healthcare system. This covers public and private healthcare organisations and some community mental health organisations.
The Association, like most other healthcare organisations, is committed to high standards of care and accountability. This commitment is seen in a large measure through the importance that is placed on professional development – accreditation being a tangible achievement of the chaplain’s commitment to personal and professional growth.
What is being proposed in the new material is that accreditation be seen and experienced as a journey over three years. There will be material required at various steps along the way, including reports from supervisors, peers, employing body, faith community and healthcare organisations and a meeting with regional colleagues. The final step will be the meeting with the Accreditation Panel. The process has been designed for a three- year period but may be shortened if a chaplain has demonstrated her/his pastoral competency to a high degree and is ready to claim her/his readiness for accreditation. A process of re-accreditation every five years is also being developed.
When a person enters the healthcare system there will be two different ways of obtaining the accreditation material and beginning the accreditation journey. Your employing body may hand you the Accreditation Manual when you begin your work as a chaplain, or contact the secretary of the NZHCA who will direct your enquiry about accreditation to the convenor the Accreditation Committee.
ACCREDITATION PROCESS FOR PEOPLE ENTERING CHAPLAINCY
1. Information leaflet sent to chaplain at time of appointment by the Secretary, NZHCA, or at the request of the chaplain
2. Chaplain to contact Convenor, NZHCA Accreditation Committee, indicating intention to begin the accreditation process. (The Accreditation journey is over a period of three years. Contact the Convenor as soon as possible after taking up the appointment)3. Convenor will send out the Accreditation Manual which contains all the information and papers required through to accreditation.
4. An approved supervisor is chosen.
5. A report from the chaplain's supervisor is required at the end of the first year (Step 1).
6. At the end of the second year the material, as set out in the Manual, is provided in preparation to meet with the regional panel (Step 2)
7. Recommendation and report forwarded to the Accreditation Committee.
8. At the end of the third year the material, as set out in the Manual, is provided in preparation to meet with the accreditation panel (Step 3)
9. Recommendation and report forwarded to the Accreditation Committee.
10. Recommendation forwarded to the NZHCA executive for endorsement.
11. The NZHCA secretary will, in the case of ICHC chaplains, notify the Executive Officer, ICHC of the outcome.
ACCREDITATION PROCESS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FUNCTIONING AS CHAPLAINS FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.
1. Chaplain to contact the Convenor, NZHCA Accreditation Committee
2. The chaplain is provided with a list of the material required by the Committee who will consider the chaplain's readiness to enter the process at Step 2.
3. Six months after entering Step 2, the material, as set out in the Manual, is provided in preparation to meet with the regional panel.
4. Twelve months later the material, as set out in the Manual, is provided in preparation to meet with the accreditation panel (Step 3)
5. Recommendation and report forwarded to the Accreditation Committee.
6. Recommendation forwarded to the NZHCA executive for endorsement.
7. The NZHCA secretary will, in the case of ICHC chaplains, notify the Executive Officer, ICHC of the outcome.
RE-ACCREDITATION PROCESS
1. Chaplain to contact the Convenor, NZHCA Accreditation Committee, indicating intention to seek re-accreditation.
2. Re-accreditation Manual sent to the chaplain.
3. Material required for re-accreditation is sent to the Convenor, NZHCA Accreditation Committee.
4. Re-accreditation panel, as set out in the Manual, is arranged.
5. Recommendation and report forwarded to the Accreditation Committee.
6. Recommendation forwarded to the NZHCA executive for endorsement.
7. The NZHCA secretary will, in the case of ICHC chaplains, notify the Executive Officer, ICHC of the outcome.
Clinical Pastoral Education
One of the requirements for Accreditation as a healthcare chaplain is that you will have completed at least two units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). CPE is a recognised educational organisation, worldwide, with a focus on helping participants develop their pastoral identity and pastoral skills.
The New Zealand Association for Clinical Pastoral Education is the organisation in New Zealand that provides this pastoral development. For further information you can visit the NZACPE website, www.cpe-nz.org.nz
NEW ZEALAND HEALTHCARE
CHAPLAINS ASSOCIATION
STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
1. All chaplains adhere to the Code of Ethics and the Objects of the New Zealand Healthcare Chaplains’ Association.
This standard is met when chaplains:
1.1. Demonstrate a knowledge of:
- the Code of Ethics
- the Objects of the Association
1.2. Are committed to professional standards, principles and practices
2. All chaplains demonstrate a commitment to practising pastoral care in accordance with, and an understanding of, the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
This standard is met when chaplains:
2.1. Demonstrate the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi including its implications for pastoral care work
2.2. Recognise the Tangata Whenua status of the indigenous (Maori) people of Aotearoa/New Zealand
2.3. Respect Maori culture and protocol and has an understanding of her/his own culture and cultural heritage
2.4. Challenge racism at personal and institutional levels in Aotearoa/New Zealand
2.5. Recognise the right of Maori to determine their own needs and to ask for pastoral care that meets those needs
2.6. Promote respect for cultural/spiritual values/beliefs.
3. All chaplains provide a pastoral care service that is available to all patients, relatives and staff.
This standard is met when chaplains
3.1. Offer care on the basis of need, irrespective of creed/faith or culture
3.2. Demonstrate their ability to work in conjunction with other members of the healthcare team
3.3. Provide a 24-hour [or time as contracted]‘on call’ service that is ecumenical in nature
3.4. Provide opportunities for worship, both individual and collective
4. All chaplains provide pastoral care that addresses the person’s needs and empowers the person.
This standard is met when chaplains:
4.1. Demonstrate listening skills that enable a person to know s/he has been heard
4.2. Respect the person’s rights and beliefs
4.3. Understand and demonstrate confidentiality and privacy
4.4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate with other health professionals
4.5. Demonstrate the ability to set boundaries
4.6. Demonstrate the knowledge of how and when to make referrals
4.7. Offer appropriate spiritual resources to a range of people
4.8. Demonstrate an integration of pastoral care and theology
4.9. Demonstrate an understanding of human development, faith and psychology.
5. All chaplains are committed to professional development.
This standard is met when chaplains:
5.1. Participate in collegial meetings at a local, regional and national level
5.2. Work toward and seek accreditation and re-accreditation
5.3. Demonstrate familiarity with current health care and pastoral care issues
5.4. Have an appraisal system
5.5. Are in regular personal supervision
5.6. Demonstrate the ability to function as a member of an ecumenical team.
6. All chaplains are committed to self-care.
This standard is met when chaplains:
6.1. Demonstrate the ability to both give and receive feedback
6.2. Work within personal boundaries
6.3. Take appropriate time out
6.4. Demonstrate the ability to rest, celebrate and re-create.
7. All chaplains are committed to a value and ethical system that respects the rights and dignity of each person.
This standard is met when chaplains:
7.1. Offer utmost respect for the individual
7.2. Able to offer love unconditionally
7.3. Communicate a sense of the goodness of life
7.4. Are involved in the decision making of ethical concerns
7.5. Familiarise self with and observe Code of Ethics for Health Professionals and the NZHCA Statement of Ethics and Vocational Intent.
8. All chaplains recognise their accountability to their healthcare organisation and employing body.
This standard will be met when chaplains:
8.1. Have an understanding of the policies of those bodies
8.2. Have a current employment contract
8.3. Have completed a corporate and service orientation
8.4. Maintain appropriate record keeping
8.5. Maintain good standing with own faith community
8.6. Familiarise self with and observe:
- the Health & Disability Services Act 1993
- the Information & Privacy Act 1993
- The Privacy Code 1994.
Acknowledgement:
Standard Documents from the following groups:
- New Zealand Association of Social Workers (especially standards 1&2)
- National Performance Standards Project, Workplace Chaplaincy
Draft Document, May 2002