Abstract:

The place of chaplaincy in healthcare is endorsed by current guidance in the NHS, but chaplains are also recognised as belonging to other communities. This can be both advantageous and problematic for chaplains. The identity of chaplains is intrinsically social and the communities they are associated with are important sources of determining identity and location. A contextual model pro-vides a way of understanding this identity through three principal communities: the healthcare community, the disciplinary community and the faith community. The model explains why chaplains provide a valuable contribution to healthcare.

Author: Mark Cobb