In order to determine whether or not pastoral care services are appropriate for an organization’s clients, it is necessary to define and describe such services. Otherwise, there is a tendency for many people to assume that these are religious outreach programs, and immediately respond that they are not necessary.
What is Pastoral Care?
The Multi-Faith Centre of Canberra University in Australia uses this description of what their staff do: ‘they aim to assist individuals find meaning in life and hope for their future, without determining a particular path or outcome, and are patient in allowing individuals to choose how and when they share the nature of their issues.’
This means that, yes, religious outreach might be a component of pastoral care. However, it is much more than that.
That covers a response to a wide range of issues, both personal and situational, which might be a problem for the clients. The most important guiding principle for a pastoral care worker (PCW) is empowerment so that the individual can find a way to resolve his own situation and move on with his life.
Who Can Benefit from This Service?
Individuals who frequent drop-in centres, sheltered workshops, homeless shelters, mental health services or addiction services often look for support with issues like the following:
- emotional distress
- chronic poverty
- substance abuse
- loneliness and isolation
- lack of self-esteem
- questions of sexual identity
- search for a meaning to life.
These are significant issues with no immediate answers. Some clients benefit from professional counseling services. Others do not want those services or are not ready to access them at this point. This is when a PCW can help.
Because these issues know no age, ethnic, or social boundaries, it is often useful to have a diverse team of PCWs available for support.
This kind of service is usually even more important in an employment or residential program where the clients are connected for at least a few weeks, if not longer term. There is opportunity for PCWs to slowly build trusting relationships and support individuals in coming to terms with deep-seated issues.
What is the Role of a PCW?
It might be useful to clarify what the PCW does and does not do. These are the most important responsibilities.
- She does not provide professional counseling. Instead, she establishes a supportive relationship with the clients, listening, building trust, and, perhaps, referring to a specialized resource.
- The PCW does not sit in an office waiting for appointments to show up. Instead, she is out and about the facility, activities, or campus, available as needed and engaging individuals and groups. Follow-up appointments may be made to ensure continuity of care.
- She does not become the friend of any client. She provides friendly support as a staff or volunteer who understands boundaries and models a healthy relationship.
- She does not make decisions about the ‘best’ course of action for the clients. Instead, the PCW helps the clients become informed and explore options at their own pace. This demonstrates an appreciation of the worth of the clients.
- She does not expect a quick resolution to client issues. Pastoral care is usually a long term, sometime intermittent service that helps the client build resiliency and coping strategies in the face of setbacks and discouragement.
Some of the most common issues facing clients have a spiritual component to them. Any discussion along that line usually begins with the client identifying his beliefs and value system. Then, the discussion might progress to spiritual questions, faith systems, and even organized religion. PCWs are prepared to go wherever the client leads. This can be as varied as revisiting a childhood religion, rejecting anything spiritual, wanting to deal only with the practical issues, or deciding to become more educated about options.
PCWs are also often advocates for their clients, actively supporting them in pleading their cause, finding solutions, or changing service systems. In some cases, it is the PCW who provides the actual voice for the client who cannot speak for herself.
What Qualifications are Needed?
Many countries have national associations for pastoral or spiritual care workers. They provide training, manuals, standards and certification necessary for work in venues such as healthcare facilities, prisons, and educational programs.
Here are just three examples of these associations.
- In the United States, there is the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., a multicultural, multifaith organization devoted to providing education and improving the quality of ministry and pastoral care offered by spiritual caregivers of all faiths through the clinical educational methods of Clinical Pastoral Education.
- In Canada, there is Canadian Association for Spiritual Care. Its certification is necessary to work as a PCW in many institutions.
- The Australian Capital Territory has a Pastoral Care Council that states: ‘Pastoral or spiritual care is offered by the presence of someone who will listen to you and compassionately support you.’
Besides formal training, PCWs should be:
- caring
- compassionate
- patient
- nonjudgmental
- inclusive in their approach to clients
- supportive of the client’s right to choose his next steps.
Workers in this field might be clergy of various denominations. It would depend on the mission and philosophy of service delivery for the non-profit organization whether or not they approach their work from that particular religious point of view. However, an important operating principle for a PCW is to be inclusive and to allow the client to determine the direction of pastoral assistance.
Pastoral Care for Staff
Many non-profit social services also offer pastoral care to staff. This includes support both for their own personal issues and for serving their clients on the front line.
Pastoral care is not an exclusively religious service. Anyone who is experiencing difficulties with ongoing or one time situations can benefit from support in addressing their life issues. This means that there is always a need for it among clients and staff of non-profit social services.
Constance Woloschuk - 30 years experience in management and organizational development; extensive volunteer work with faith-based organizations.
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