GP Chaplaincy Handbook

The Handbook for GP Chaplaincy is the result of many years of experience of delivering Chaplaincy in General Practice in the West Midlands, UK.

This handbook aims to be a practical guide to facilitate the development of Chaplaincy in General Practice in other areas of UK. The handbook consists of guidelines and recommendations covering the role of the chaplain working in General Practice; management and supervision; training and continuing personal development; and the importance of measurement, evaluation and research. It explains the role of the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy in relationship to GP Chaplaincy.

The handbook includes examples of job advertisement; job description; personal specification and templates illustrating reflective practice models and learning portfolio pro-forma.

You may download a free copy of the GP Chaplaincy Handbook.



Please note that the handbook is currently under review. Sections which have been updated are clearly marked within the handbook.

Practice Guidance

ACGP requires that Primary Care Chaplains align their work as closely as possible to the principles and guidance of the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplains, as illustrated by these two documents and our accreditation process.

Essential Values and Principles for Chaplaincy in General Practice

Spiritual Care Competences Framework for Primary Care Chaplains


Honouring Personhood in Patients

One of our non-trustee members, Dr Ross Bryson, has written a small book explaining the principles of Whole Person Care called Honouring Personhood in Patients.   This book is in part a description of how some health professionals working in the National Health Service in Britain have sought to ensure that the uniqueness of each individual patient is not lost in the drive to deliver scientific medical care to a wide range of people in a resource-limited context. Honouring Personhood in Patients can be bought as a booklet or a pdf by following this link, where you can also find out more about it and read the preface online.