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Based on WORKING PAPER  -  GUIDELINES  - 22/5/08

ACT CORRECTIVE SERVICES:
PASTORAL CARE AND CHAPLAINCY SERVICE

The Board for the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT seeks support for the full time funding of a Pastoral Care Chaplain in the Alexander Maconochie Centre, whose primary responsibility is to provide pastoral care, spiritual advice and support to detainees and their families and to facilitate access for detainees to their preferred faith-based support.


Pastoral care is a skilled task. It is the offering of emotional support and spiritual care, helping people connect with their own inner and community resources. 

Download the Proposal: "Correctional Chaplaincy Guidelines .doc"
(copy of the content of the original proposal outined on this page)

Download the Proposal: "Proposal for Corrective Services Chaplaincy.doc"
(description of the draft strategy and undelying principles)

PROPOSAL

The Pastoral Care Council of the ACT proposes that that the ACT Corrective Services:

  1. Provides a full time appointment of a Pastoral Care Chaplain in the Alexander Maconochie Centre, whose primary responsibility is to provide pastoral care, spiritual advice and support to detainees and their families and to facilitate access for detainees to their preferred faith-based support; and

  2. Considers that the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT as the representative body which provides oversight for the Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Service on behalf of the community interests.

FOR MORE on: Initial Proposal to ACT Corrective Services

 

Rational for these specialised services that would be provided.

Every person has her or his own particular spiritual needs. It is a person’s spirituality that is at the core of self identity and sense of purpose in life. Spiritual support is an essential aspect of the provision of pastoral care. Religious traditions are a source of comfort and direction in life for many.
Through pastoral care, individuals may be assisted with emotional support and spiritual care in attending to their own needs.

The provision of pastoral care by an appropriately trained chaplain or spiritual advisor offers a support with intentional friendship that is sensitive to a possible particular religious persuasion (if any) of a person, and does not impose any religious expectations. At the same time there will be opportunity to guide a person towards appropriate community support.

Proposal GUIDELINES:

    ROLE OF PASTORAL CARE CHAPLAIN

  • Provide pastoral care, spiritual advice and support to detainees and their families and to facilitate access for detainees to their preferred faith-based support;

  • Coordinate delivery of pastoral care, spiritual advice, support and guidance to detainees in ACT correctional facilities;

    • Liaise and consult with the Offender Services Manager regarding access to pastoral care and spiritual services, advice and support to ACT correctional facilities;

    • Liaise with ACT Corrective Services staff and contribute to the Case Management / Throughcare processes as requested;

    • Foster and maintain links with community support services to meet the needs of detainees and their families;

    • Assist and support visiting religious/spiritual visitors to carry out their role;

    • Facilitate opportunity for spiritual advice and pastoral care from the resources of the community;

    • Promote the availability of preferred faith-based services and resources to the detainee population;

    • Assist and support on-site ACT Corrective Services staff with faith-based resources.

    FOR MORE on: Description and Rational for the service

    Criteria for selection:

  • Demonstrable pastoral skills, and having completed a Basic course in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) (400 Hours) or its equivalent;

  • Empathy and identification with people from a variety of social backgrounds.

  • Sensitivity and respect for people of differing or no religious identification.

  • Ability to work within a multi disciplinary and professional context.

  • In good standing in a religious organisation or faith community to provide pastoral care, but there is no prerequisite for a status of religious ordination.

    Selection Process:

Using the principle was endorsed of incorporating a sponsor religious organisation, with whom the candidate is “in good standing … to provide pastoral care”, is to be involved in aspects of responsibility for the candidate; such as financial administration of salary and spiritual oversight.

FOR MORE on: Nomination and Accountability

  1. The Board of the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT, as the liaison body with ACT Corrective Services, will undertake the oversight of the appointment and functioning of a person as the Pastoral Care Chaplain.

  1. Nomination of a candidate would be made by an organisation (eg religious denominational body as a member organisation of the Council) with whom that person is affiliated.

    Prospective candidates from local or interstate could seek nomination through a member organisation of the Council.

  1. In making the nomination the sponsoring organisation of the appointee would agree to undertake:

  • The responsibility of ensuring spiritual oversight of that person.

  • The responsibility of financial administration for salary of that person, with the funds that have been provided by the ACT Government.

  1. A selection committee established by the Board of the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT (including a representative of ACT Corrective Services) will make the decision of selection of the person and recommend to The Board of Pastoral Care Council of the ACT for an appointment, subject to appropriate security vetting by the ACT Corrective Services.

    Oversight and administration for the position:

  1. The Board of the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT, as the liaison body with ACT Corrective Services, will undertake the oversight of the functioning of that person as the Pastoral Care Chaplain.

  2. To facilitate this, the Board will delegate a committee to provide the ongoing oversight and management.

  3. The sponsoring organisation of the appointee would undertake:

  • The responsibility of ensuring spiritual oversight of that person.

  • The responsibility of financial administration for salary of that person, with the funds that have been provided by the ACT Government.

  1. The Board of Pastoral Care Council of the ACT will undertake responsibility to address any review or negotiations between respective parties (ie ACT Corrective Services, Sponsor Organisation) with respect to the functioning of the Pastoral Care Chaplain.

    A Memorandum of Understanding is being developed between the Board of the Pastoral Care Council of the ACT and ACT Corrective Services, about aspects and responsibilities in the provision of the PASTORAL CARE AND CHAPLAINCY SERVICE.

    The Salary Package will be based on salary package of a member church chaplain.

     

    FOR MORE on: Description and Rational for the service

    Geoffrey Hunter
    Chair, Board,
    Pastoral Care Council of the ACT

    0418 223 329 

    For further information Contact :board@pastoralcareact.org


    Correspondence : The Secretary,
    Pastoral Care Council of the ACT,
    c/- Community and Health Policy Unit,
    ACT Health,
    GPO Box 825,
    Canberra, ACT. 2601

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    Download the Proposal: "Correctional Chaplaincy Guidelines .doc"
    (copy of the content of the original proposal outined on this page)

    Download the Proposal: "Proposal for Corrective Services Chaplaincy.doc"
    (description of the draft strategy and undelying principles)