Pastoral care is generally defined as support offered to an individual when he/she is faced with a personal or professional problem or difficulty.
It is generally the case that professional groups accept collective responsibility for protecting the reputation of their profession and this provides the impetus for the provision of pastoral care. Professionals share a sense of ethical responsibility for colleagues and clients generally and in this regard feel morally obliged to help individual colleagues with problems.
The assistance which is available is not only for practitioners, whether they are admitted solicitors or trainees, the support is available to their family, to friends and colleagues who want to know how they may be able to intervene to provide support to someone at a time of difficulty.
Accepting professional responsibility through timely intervention by caring for a colleague when they need help is perceived to be critical in maintaining image of the profession. Of course this also is beneficial to the individual concerned and it is often the case that early intervention is better than later support to find the 'cure'.
It is a fine line to draw the distinction between professional and personal problems. Often they are closely intertwined. Pastoral care and support is not however directed to provide support to professional practice issues.
Many of the arrangements for pastoral care within the legal profession fall within the category of peer support. They rely on fellow professionals volunteering their time and services at the point of delivery; usually, but not always, by telephone.
Although volunteers may receive some training they often also combine this with their own experiences of life and working in the legal profession; and in our case, within Councils. They may have faced similar problems and can thereby provide direct, informed, support. The role is essentially to be a 'listening and critical friend'.
It has been reported in the Gazette (30 March 2006) that 63% of cases in 2005 related to stress, 20% to alcohol problems of which almost two thirds were men. 6% related to bullying and were mainly from women. However women are more likely to seek help whereas in contrast men tended to seek to resolve stress problems through alcohol.
We may all, at some time, encounter problems and need a friendly shoulder to lean on. The legal profession has an established network of readily support.
The Solicitors Support Network is available on 0800 328 4203.
A range of support services is also available through the Law Society website on www.lawsociety.org.uk/productsandservices/support/groupssections.law
LawCare is available on 08000 856 131 and by website at www.lawcare.org.uk
Within local government problems may arise which are not confronted in other aspects of legal practice. Consequently SLG has established a group of volunteers to provide support. Contact is initially via our law society policy support officer, Stephanie Nunn on 020 7320 5801. If she cannot provide the assistance she will suggest one of the volunteers who may be more appropriate to help.
Depending on the problem, you can select the support best suited to your situation.
Please be assured that all the support and conversations are strictly confidential.
Please remember you are not alone or the only person who may have confronted the difficulty you are experiencing.
George Curran
Chairman
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