Spiritual and Religious Care in Health and Social Care [PgCert: online distance learning]

Students study three courses:

An understanding of the distinctions between spiritual and religious care combined with a working knowledge of the main world faith and belief groups are core skills for providing effective spiritual care. Likewise spiritual and religious assessment communication with patients and cares and knowing when to refer on to specialist services are also essential skills. This course offers a thorough grounding in the principles of Spiritual and Religious Care where students will increase their knowledge and skills and consider the implications for their practise.

To provide safe and effective spiritual and religious care practice requires health and social care professionals to have throught through and understand their own beliefs around life, health, living, dying and death. It also demands knowledge of legal, safe and accountable practice in areas such Next of Kin, Advance Directives, Guardianship and Incapacity. This course offers students the opportunity to consider the personal implications providing care to those who share different beliefs from their own and to gain knowledge and skills in legal and ehtical practice relevant to their professional role and clinical setting.

Reflective practice is widely considered as essential for providing safe and effective health and social care. This course presents students with various models of reflective writing and thinking through a portfolio of reflective accounts from the student's professional experience and practice and develops skills in critical appraisal and analysis. When combined with the other course on the programme the transition from the principles and practice of spiritual and religious care enables students to identify further learning needs and ways of providing education and implementing change in their local setting.