Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy

6. Spiritual Care in the Community

The majority of healthcare takes place in the community. Therefore, spiritual care must find its place in settings other than hospitals. This is most clearly seen with regard to mental health where fewer people require in-patient care. Several mental health chaplains are working in day centres and in the community as well as in their hospitals. This will increasingly be the norm in the future as Community Health Partnerships become major providers of health care. There is interest in some GP practices in implementing better spiritual care through using the resources and partnership of local faith/belief communities. There needs to be close partnership between chaplains based in the community and those based in acute in-patient units. Such care must be exercised in as seamless a way as is possible.