Ready-to-Go Projects - Health - Parish Nursing Ministries

HEALTH
Parish Nursing Ministries UK

Summary
A church or group of churches can appoint a Parish Nurse who works part-time or full-time, on a paid or voluntary basis, developing a service that is complementary to NHS provision. The nurse could promote exercise, walking groups, healthy eating etc. and will also offer personal health advice, and promote the integration of spiritual care with physical care.

Brief Description of organisation
We exist so that people of all ages and backgrounds may find resources for whole-person health through local churches. We do this by recruiting and training registered nurses to build bridges in health ministry from their churches into the local community. We support and resource both nurses and churches as they develop this work.

Start date of Organisation
2004

No. of churches/ groups supported
50

Brief Description
A registered nurse, (who may already be in the congregation) is appointed by the church to lead a programme of health promotion and advocacy within both church and local community, coordinating volunteers to offer support to local people struggling with health-related problems. S/he may work anything from 4 voluntary or paid hours a week to full time. Training, professional support and expenses are paid by the church. S/he builds good relationships with local GP surgeries so that where appropriate, referrals may be facilitated. Accountability is to the church and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Professional supervision is arranged.

Expected Results
A nurse working 4 hours a week records an average of 400 significant interventions in a year. Around half of these will include prayer or discussion of faith, and at least one third of the interventions are likely to be with people who do not attend church.

Advantages to church
This is an extremely effective way of building bridges in the community; increasing the church’s links with health providers in the area; improving the health of local people and encouraging them to use their gifts to engage with the community in volunteering; providing additional support to existing pastoral care teams; and helping people discover spiritual resources and the gift of prayer at a point of need. The church may already have the resources in the form of nurses in its membership. They just need the training, commissioning and willingness of the church to share in this ministry.

Services provided by national organisation
PNMUK offers information-sharing meetings with churches and ministers; the initial preparation of one residential week’s training for registered nurses; an international certificate and badge once they have completed a portfolio of practice; ongoing national and regional study days for the nurses, a regional coordinator to give ongoing personal advice and support to both church and nurse; resources for documentation and policies; quality standard certification for church projects; liaison with national bodies like the Department of Health and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Financial cost to church

Initial training currently around £550 including accommodation.
Study days currently around £250 per year.
Regional coordination costs, currently £360 per year plus donation to national development of Parish Nursing.
If the nurse is not working in the NHS, annual fees for NMC and RCN membership which give insurance cover (currently totalling around £230).
Start up equipment; e.g. locked filing cabinet, mobile phone, BP machine.
Parish nursing daily expenses; travel, telephone, stationery etc.
Although the nurse may want to work volunteer hours to start with, as the project grows the church may want to increase those hours by offering some paid hours.

Non-Financial Requirements for church

A volunteer support team of six to eight people that meets about every two months.
At least “hot desk” office space and a room for private conversations.
Access to a computer and printer (for downloading resources, not for keeping records)
A line-manager.
Access to some but not necessarily all staff meetings.

Contact Details
Revd. Helen Wordsworth, UK Coordinator
Parish Nursing Ministries UK, 3 Barnwell Close, Dunchurch, Rugby CV22 6QH
01788 817292 helen.w@parishnursing.org.uk www.parishnursing.org.uk