What do Chaplains do?

To help our patients, especially our young children, understand what our Chaplain's do, our Chaplaincy team have put together this special animation and series of posters.

What does a Chaplain do?

The Chaplaincy Team at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s hospitals available to support patients, families and staff, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We offer a listening ear, religious advice or a safe place to discuss what is on your mind. We have regular Lifting Spirits activities such as hatching chicks in the children’s hospital chapel at Easter time. All of our team are skilled and trained in supporting those experiencing loss. We don’t mention God unless you do first.

What services do the Chaplaincy Team offer?

The Chaplaincy Team offers support for everyone in Hospital - patients, their families and Hospital staff. We are there to support families struggling with caring for a sick child and juggling family life simultaneously with activities for the whole family at the bedside, activities for siblings, one-to one time with parents who need space and offering pastoral, spiritual and religious care as needed.

We offer a safe place for staff to find support, refreshment and encouragement through drop-ins on wards, one-to-one appointments, a staff support choir to lift spirits in the middle of the working day and day retreats off site.

Why call for a chaplain?

A Chaplain can be called to provide support for patients, families and staff. This can be when they are suffering distress or anxiety about the future, like knowing that they require an operation or when a family has been bereaved.

A Chaplain is a safe space for someone. They will listen carefully, without judgement, and offer appropriate support that seeks to empower each person in their situation. We want you to know that you are not alone.

Lifting and soothing Spirits

Where possible, chaplains look to lift and soothe Spirits of both our patients, families and staff. This happens in many different ways every day, but also includes some special events designed to do just that.

In the summer of 2022, the commonwealth games came to Birmingham, but we had many children in hospital over that period, so we brought the games to them. Watch the video below to see some of the fun that we had over the week.

Information posters

These simple posters can also be used as information leaflets for children.