Monitoring arrangements for chaplaincy services 2009/10

The request was successful.

Dear George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust,

For 2009/10 I would be grateful if you could provide me with the following information about the way in which your chaplaincy service is monitored.

1. Does the Trust monitor the hours worked in return for payment? I would be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust holds on file for 2009/10 that shows this monitoring.

2. Does the Trust assure itself that the service provided is in line with S. 3b of the NHS Constitution in relation to equality legislation? I would be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust holds on file for 2009/10 or earlier, that shows how the Trust ensures that the service is delivered in line with the NHS Constitution commitment to equality (particularly gender and LGBT equality).

3. Does the Trust check whether patients are satisfied with the chaplaincy service? I would be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust holds on file for 2009/10, or any earlier period, that shows how patient satisfaction with chaplaincy services is measured.

4. Finally, I would also be grateful to know how the Trust is assured that all staff delivering chaplaincy services have CRB checks held on file.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter. It is very much appreciated.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Christian

Cook Sam \(Communications\),

Dear Mr Christian

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 14 September
2010. This has been passed to the relevant person and George Eliot
Hospital NHS Trust will provide a response by Tuesday 12 October.

Regards

Sam Cook
Senior Communications Officer
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Tel - 024 76 865 383
Ext - 5383

show quoted sections

Cook Sam (Communications),

5 Attachments

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

College Street

Nuneaton CV 10 7DJ

Telephone 024 76 351351

Facsimile 024 76 865175

Email [1][George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust request email]

Direct line: 02476 865383

Our ref: GEH10/101

12 October 2010

Dear Mr Christian

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 14 September 2010.
Please see the answers to your queries below:

1. Does the Trust monitor the hours worked in return for payment? I would
be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust holds on file for
2009/10 that shows this monitoring.

As with any other member of staff, paid members of the pastoral and
spiritual care team work to contracted hours. The Head of Pastoral and
Spiritual Care checks and confirms that these hours are worked and reports
them to the HR team who record them on the Easy Time and Attendance
electronic reporting system.

2. Does the Trust assure itself that the service provided is in line with
S. 3b of the NHS Constitution in relation to equality legislation? I would
be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust holds on file for
2009/10 or earlier, that shows how the Trust ensures that the service is
delivered in line with the NHS Constitution commitment to equality
(particularly gender and LGBT equality).

As with all other departments within the hospital, the pastoral and
spiritual care team is subject to the Trust's Single Equality Scheme
policy (please see attached).

The Trust provides a range of pastoral and spiritual care for a range of
specific faiths including Church of England, Catholicism, Hinduism, Islam
and Sikhism. The team can also call on the support of lay workers from
other faiths.

Pastoral and spiritual care is not limited to people with a particular
faith. Support is offered to people according to their need.

In terms of reporting the work of the team, they are required to produce a
report to the Trust Board of Directors on an annual basis. Please see
latest report attached.

3. Does the Trust check whether patients are satisfied with the chaplaincy
service? I would be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust
holds on file for 2009/10, or any earlier period, that shows how patient
satisfaction with chaplaincy services is measured.

The Trust does not formally check whether patients are satisfied with the
chaplaincy service; however, there are numerous feedback mechanisms in
place (such as an online survey and a telephone survey) that allow for
patients to comment on the chaplaincy service as part of open ended
comments.

4. Finally, I would also be grateful to know how the Trust is assured that
all staff delivering chaplaincy services have CRB checks held on file.

All members of the pastoral and spiritual care team are subject to CRB
checks as per the CRB Policy (please see attached).

I do hope that this answers your query. If you have any further queries,
please don't hesitate to contact the communications office.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to request a review of our response please write to:

The Board Secretary

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

College Street

Nuneaton

CV10 7DJ

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the
ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at:

FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

Sam Cook

Communications Officer

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Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender,
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Robert Christian

Dear Sam,

Thank you for your helpful response.

Yours sincerely,

Robert Christian