AHPCC Conference 2014
‘Issues of Personhood in Palliative Care’ - Evaluation Summary
About you
Are you new to chaplaincy i.e. in post one year or less?
Yes / 3 / 5%No / 52 / 95%
About the conference
Welcome & Expectations
Content & Style
Poor / 0 / 0%Average / 2 / 4%
Good / 30 / 55%
Excellent / 23 / 42%
Comments & Suggestions
There were several comments about the delay in getting the room keys (some of them were mislaid), also the need to warn attenders to come direct to Lakeside, not the main reception.
Many mentioned the friendly welcome and goodatmosphere, also the welcome for new attenders.
Having refreshments at reception was / would be appreciated, not everyone had lunch on the way.
Housekeeping arrangements were clearly presented, but needed some something for late arrivers.
Most people appreciated the hand-matching exercise, though not everyone likes ice breakers.
The café-style lay-out was popular – easier to get to know each other, also the multiple screens.
Suggestions included being more inclusive in the sacred space sessions, and better understanding of cross-contamination issues concerning halal food.
Suggestions included having an attenders list and contact details available at the time with information about speakers and workshop leaders, also hand-outs for use during presentations. Could the badges be in a large font and with hospice as well as name details?
Keynote Sessions
Ewan Kelly – Keynotesession 1Identity and meaningful risk: developing a theology of self in spiritual care
Content & Style
Poor / 1 / 2%Average / 4 / 7%
Good / 25 / 46%
Excellent / 24 / 44%
Comments & Suggestions
There were several comments about microphone troubles and the failed DVD – could it have been set up in advance? Also about difficulties in hearing comments from the audience.
Several requests for hand-outs of the presentation (NB these are now available on the website).
Most people found Ewan’s interactive approach helpful, with a lot of useful insight, and responsive to audience concerns, though there quite a few comments about this making it hard to follow a train of thought. Some people likewise found the quotations and references broke the flow.
There was a general appreciation of the challenge not to ‘get in the way’ when caring for patients.
One suggestion included looking further at the needs of non-religious patients.
Eleanor Langridge – Keynote session 2I’m still me… a diagnosis doesn’t change who I am
Content & Style
Poor / 0 / 0%Average / 5 / 9%
Good / 23 / 42%
Excellent / 27 / 49%
Comments & Suggestions
Some of us were familiar with dementia issues, others weren’t.
The Prezi software had a mixed reception – some liked the style, others found the font too small)
Several people requested hand-outs of the presentation (NB some of this is now on the website)
There was some regret that Eleanor didn’t cover all the ground in the time.
There was a general appreciation of the subject’s relevance, and Eleanor’s expertise.
Several expressed a wish for something more applied – i.e. spiritual care and palliative care applications, and how to communicate, rather than a ‘what is dementia’ overview.
There was particular comment about the advice to keep a diary, and the benefit of biography work.
Ewan Kelly – Keynote Session 3Hospice and Palliative Care: whose need is being met? Disempowering or helping the other in deconstructing or reconstructingidentity?
Content & Style
Poor / 1 / 2%Average / 4 / 7%
Good / 21 / 39%
Excellent / 28 / 52%
Comments & Suggestions
Comments were similar to Ewan’s first session, valuing the interaction and spontaneity, but that so much use of the roving mike could make the presentation hard to follow.
There was much appreciation of (and some identification with) Ewan’s relevant but vulnerable honesty about his own experiences as a patient.
Suggestions included a request to have hand-outs to hand.
Caroline Frizzell – KeynoteSession 7Dance as a healing art: moving closer to heart and soul
Content & Style
Poor / 0 / 0%Average / 7 / 14%
Good / 26 / 51%
Excellent / 18 / 35%
Comments & Suggestions
Many mentioned Caroline’s sensitivity towards those of us unused to movement and dance.
Several mentioned adeepened understanding of the link between body and soul, physical and spiritual.
Some respondents felt there was too much material for the time.
Not everyone found the content relevant to chaplaincy. This partly led to simplyenjoying time to learn about another discipline, and partly to wanting to apply this and make more use of the body pastorally.
Workshops
Ewan Kelly – WorkshopA: Theological reflection, Who am I in God’s eyes?
Content & Style
Poor / 0 / 0%Average / 3 / 21%
Good / 2 / 14%
Excellent / 9 / 64%
Comments & Suggestions
Most comment was about the reflectiveness within the workshop – “almost a sense of retreat”.
There was some wish for a practical approach – e.g. working through a reflective cycle together.
Eleanor Langridge – WorkshopB: More on Dementia
Content & Style
Poor / 0 / 0%Average / 1 / 5%
Good / 11 / 50%
Excellent / 10 / 45%
Comments & Suggestions
General appreciation of the session’s practicality
The videos were very well received.
Having the hand-out was very much appreciated.
Quite a few respondents expected more opportunity for discussion in a workshop, both about practical approaches to care, and also theological issues about personhood and identity.
Caroline Frizell – WorkshopC: Dance & Movement
Content & Style
Poor / 0 / 0%Average / 1 / 6%
Good / 3 / 19%
Excellent / 12 / 75%
Comments & Suggestions
There was almost widespread appreciation of opportunity to learn to express ourselves through dance and movement
Several respondents remarked on Caroline’s sensitivity and ability to help shy beginners ease their way into unfamiliar territory
There were several comments about the unexpected spiritual impact.
Rehanah Sadiq – WorkshopD: On Muslim chaplaincy
Content & Style
Poor / 0 / 0%Average / 0 / 0%
Good / 4 / 31%
Excellent / 9 / 69%
Comments & Suggestions
Everyone commented on how practical and helpful this workshop was, and free to ask anything.
There was also great appreciation of the kindness of the women who had provided the resources for everyone to take away.
Some respondents suggested a future session on Muslim approaches to chaplaincy and understanding of death, dying and bereavement.
Dawn Allan - Workshop E: Conversations for Life
Content & Style
Poor / 0 / 0%Average / 0 / 0%
Good / 5 / 36%
Excellent / 9 / 64%
Comments & Suggestions
The Conversations for Life tool was consistently well received.
Several respondents found using the tool both moving and powerful.
While Dawn’s sensitive approach was mentioned, there was also some comment about how emotive the session was, and how participants needed time to prepare and recover.
Markus Lange – Workshop F: Bibliog
Content & Style
Poor / 0 / 0%Average / 0 / 0%
Good / 2 / 25%
Excellent / 6 / 75%
Comments & Suggestions
Comments consistently revolved around the usefulness of this approach to help approach the bible in a relevant and creative way.
There was also appreciation of Markus’ ability to help participants to engage with the approach
Workshop G:New to Chaplaincy
Content & Style
Poor / 0 / 0%Average / 0 / 0%
Good / 3 / 60%
Excellent / 2 / 40%
Comments & Suggestions
Feedback was that this was a helpful session, particularly the opportunity to meet with other new chaplains, and to ask ‘awkward questions’.
There was some feeling that having been promoted as a ‘Top 10 what you need to know’, it should have included some clear tips as well as useful, but more open-ended, discussion of key concerns.
Speakers Corner
Content & Style
Poor / 1 / 3%Average / 6 / 18%
Good / 22 / 67%
Excellent / 4 / 12%
Comments & Suggestions
There was a general consensus that this was a fun event, though with no unanimity over Markus’ jokes!
Some comments expressed disappointment that this wasn’t better supported, including by members of the Exec, also that not many people had prepared in advance.
Similarly there was a strong feeling that while this wasn’t entirely successful, a light-hearted 4-minute format to share insights and ideas in an open forum is valuable and important.
All the items that were shared were appreciated.
There was one suggestion to consider a film or ethical debate instead.
Comments about accommodation, food, facilities, etc
Nearly all the feedback on the accommodation was positive.
There was a general (but not unanimous) feeling that the food had improved since last year. The breakfast was widely appreciated, but there was some comment about the quality of the coffee.
Several respondents questioned the lack of space to feed back on the Sacred Space times, more passed comment anyway. As well as several positive comments, the work that had gone into the preparation was appreciated; there were also quite a few comments that it was too structured.