The Clinical Pastoral Education program at Providence Care is proud to receive accreditation for a five year term from the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care. It has taken three years of hard work to receive the accreditation, which makes Providence Care an official CASC Education Centre.
“In this part of the province, there aren’t many places where you can learn and take these courses,” said Rev. Dr. Neil Elford, Director of Spiritual Health, “what’s different form other educational endeavors is that Providence Care is the educational centre—we often get students who come here from other centres.”
Neil said that in the report from the accreditation committee, Providence Care was commended for the quality of the experts and the welcoming attitude towards students working in all areas of clinical care.
“They are at Providence Manor, St. Mary’s, MHS, and on the Community teams,” explained Neil, “our students have many opportunities to learn from our residents, patients, and clients.”
Before graduation, CPE students complete 400 hours of education—200 of which are spent in class and 200 spent working directly with clients, patients and residents. Students also complete three professional papers, and an oral exam to receive their national certification with CASC. After graduating, the Spiritual Health practitioners also have the option to further their education and become a registered psychotherapist.
“We are proud of the quality of the educational programming, of those teaching in the program and of the graduating students,” said Sandra Carlton, Providence Care’s Vice-President of Mission, Values & People, “it is another way that Providence Care fulfills its teaching mandate, as well as ensuring that the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul’s legacy lives on.”
For more information about the CPE program at Providence Care check out this video from our 2014-15 Annual Report.
Leave a Reply