Spiritual needs
Our chaplaincy team provides specialist spiritual, religious and compassionate pastoral support.
This support is for service users, their families and/ or carers and our colleagues. Anyone can request chaplaincy support. They
support people of all faiths as well as people who do not have a particular religious belief but would just like someone to talk
to.
They will always listen and take what you say seriously. We have chaplains and chaplaincy volunteers who represent many denominations, faiths and beliefs. We will always try to find a faith or belief specific chaplain if we can. They are available for confidential one-to-one conversations, alongside on-going spiritual and pastoral care. The service is available 24/7.
They also provide regular opportunities for worship and reflection and have dedicated prayer/quiet spaces across our inpatient sites where spiritual reflection and worship services take place. We safeguard and support the spiritual and religious lives of all those who are supported by, or work within, Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust.
What we do:
- Visiting service users on wards and units
- Supporting our colleagues
- Providing communion
- Conducting services
- Personal prayer
- Provision of faith specific literature
- Production of our multi-faith calendar.
We have chapels and multi-faith prayer rooms across our sites available for quiet prayer and reflection. They may be used by
our service users, their relatives or carers and our colleagues. If you wish to use a prayer room, please contact us.
If you are staying on one of our wards or units, a chaplain can visit you and listen to your concerns. Please contact the team or ask a member of staff to arrange a visit.
Gender needs
We wish to promote a welcome and inclusive environment and where possible we will accommodate gender/nongender
self-identification preference. This decision would be based on the consideration of the physical, psychological, sexual safety and wellbeing of both the individual and patients already admitted to the ward.
For more information please speak to staff or ask for a copy of our “Policy for Community and Inpatient services on the Care and Support of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Service Users and Staff.”
Learning Disability and Autism In-reach team
If you have a diagnosis of learning disabilities and/or Autism you will receive support from the Learning Disability and Autism In-Reach Team.
We will support you with any reasonable adjustments that are needed during your admission, creation of an Autism passport
if needed, communication guidelines, design of a safe and well plan to help you when you are discharged, and we will refer
you to the community support teams on discharge, including the LD Intensive Support Team, or the Specialist Autism Team as
applicable.
We will also attend your ward rounds and support ward staff with your treatment plan.
Medication
Whilst on the ward you may be offered medication and it is important that you understand what these are and your rights
with these. Patients’ choice is important to us and if you wish to discuss this further then please approach a member of staff.
Food and drink
While you are on the ward, we want to make sure you get the correct food and drink to meet your needs, as this will help to
keep you well.
Daily menus are provided, and nurses are available to help you fill them in. Three main meals are provided, and snacks are
available in between these times. A variety of hot and cold drinks are available during the day and on request. We also provide
special diets to meet physical and cultural needs, please speak to a member of the nursing team for further information.
Nutrition is an important part of your recovery, and we will record your weight weekly.
Breakfast: 8am
Lunch: 12pm
Evening meal: 5pm
We make sure the kitchen is available should you wish to make yourself a hot or cold drink. Sometimes the kitchen may be locked for short periods. If this is the case please ask a member of staff.
Laundry
When on the ward we ask that you provide your own toiletries. These include, shower gel or bubble bath, shaving kit
(if applicable), shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste or denture care products, hairbrush or comb. Hospital towels are provided.
We recommend a supply of easily washable day and night clothes.
There is a laundry room available for you to use, however we do ask that you provide your own washing powder. Please note the Trust cannot be held responsible for lost or mislaid items.
