‘Opening the Spiritual Gate’ addresses the need for education in the assessment of spiritual need and spiritual care, for clinical staff of all types working in all healthcare settings. The course consists of four sessions face to face or online.

1- Understanding meaning

Meanings of spirituality and religion, relationships of spirituality to religion, recognition of spiritual & religious distress.

2- Communication

Opening a conversation about spiritual and religious needs, maintaining it, and helping to make a plan. Handling difficult and personal questions.

3- Recording & reporting

Concisely recording of the essence of conversations about spiritual and religious needs whilst maintaining confidentiality, handing over to other team members that which it is essential for them to understand and documenting a plan for care.

4 – Pulling it all together

Needs of different faith traditions, rituals, and rites of passage, spiritual and religious resources, spiritual care policies, standards and guidelines.