Posted: Jul 09, 2011 6:09 am
The main issue here it seems to me, is about the effectiveness of the team and since this is a team meeting it is highly appropriate that you raise the matter here or with the head of the team directly.
It is critically import that staff doing the job you all do, are able to deal with patients and their families in the most sensitive ways possible especially at these difficult and sometimes traumatic times, in respecting whatever religious beliefs they may have or none. Even when families say they are devotees in some way, staff intervening with a religious agenda may still not be doing so appropriately for that family at that time. The problem could be exacerbated if the ‘wrong’ flavour of religion is used.
Whilst the idea of prayers and sermons during team meetings sounds laudable there is actually a danger here that staff start unconsciously believing that it is acceptable to deliver pastoral service as part of their job. Of course they are completely untrained at this and the results could be disastrous which is why there is someone on hand who is trained to cover this aspect of patients needs. Also new and inexperienced staff may actually think that this is part of their team training and that they should also become involved in delivering these service albeit with the best intentions.
So you could suggest that the MOST effective course for everybody would be to revert to the excellent process of a minute’s silence which will allow all staff to reflect on the past week and all who have died during that time. Then to silently use whichever process is most effective for them including praying to whichever God is appropriate if they wish to. This will then enable them to build upon their own inner strength in readiness for the coming week in a way that suits them best.
John
It is critically import that staff doing the job you all do, are able to deal with patients and their families in the most sensitive ways possible especially at these difficult and sometimes traumatic times, in respecting whatever religious beliefs they may have or none. Even when families say they are devotees in some way, staff intervening with a religious agenda may still not be doing so appropriately for that family at that time. The problem could be exacerbated if the ‘wrong’ flavour of religion is used.
Whilst the idea of prayers and sermons during team meetings sounds laudable there is actually a danger here that staff start unconsciously believing that it is acceptable to deliver pastoral service as part of their job. Of course they are completely untrained at this and the results could be disastrous which is why there is someone on hand who is trained to cover this aspect of patients needs. Also new and inexperienced staff may actually think that this is part of their team training and that they should also become involved in delivering these service albeit with the best intentions.
So you could suggest that the MOST effective course for everybody would be to revert to the excellent process of a minute’s silence which will allow all staff to reflect on the past week and all who have died during that time. Then to silently use whichever process is most effective for them including praying to whichever God is appropriate if they wish to. This will then enable them to build upon their own inner strength in readiness for the coming week in a way that suits them best.
John