The chaplaincy team is often seen as the “people who do God with patients”. But they are far more than that. They are available for staff to talk to, in a confidential setting, about whatever staff want to say. You don’t have to be religious – in fact, not all our chaplains are religious themselves – and religion is not brought into the conversation unless the staff member wants to talk about it. It is a conversation, not counselling. The Trust chaplains offer spiritual, emotional and pastoral support for all (and, for those who request it, religious support, too).

When we are faced with stressful situations, we often find it helpful to talk things through with someone outside those situations who can help us to recover our sense of perspective in life. We might simply need to let off steam to somebody who isn’t in our local team and who has no management power over us, or someone who isn’t duty-bound to record or report everything we say to them! Sometimes the stress we feel isn’t just about being overworked and overtired, but it’s to do with feeling compromised in our own values (this is called ‘moral injury’) because of the situation we find ourselves in. We might want to talk about deeper questions about how we make sense of life (these are spiritual questions).

So if you want someone outside your own situation who will spend time with you in the shadows and darkness you are feeling, and will help you to voice your thoughts, fears and emotions – whether of anger or helplessness, or if you just want to chat with someone who cares, and who recognises the situation you are in, the chaplaincy team are available for you. Please email chaplaincy@cntw.nhs.uk if you would like someone to be in touch. If you need to speak to a chaplain urgently, please contact the switchboard who will put you through to the 24-hour on-call chaplain.