Knowledge Centre Care for Meaning at home 2

The Care for Meaning (‘Zorg voor Zingeving’) project was launched to strengthen the provision of care focused on meaning in the home setting amongst various professional groups in primary care and the social care sector. It is a follow-up to and complement of the Knowledge Centre for Home-based Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care 1. The project is followed by the Knowledge Centre for Home-based Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care 3.

Whilst the first knowledge centre focused primarily on spiritual care at home and ways to strengthen it, this follow-up expanded the scope to include the provision of meaning by various professional groups in primary care and the social care sector. There was a need to no longer view the provision of support for finding meaning solely as the responsibility of spiritual care practitioners, but rather to involve GPs, nurses, social workers, paramedics, mental health professionals and volunteers in this work. In addition, there was a need for greater knowledge, collaboration and training regarding questions of meaning, as this theme is still not sufficiently embedded in a structural way across many sectors.

Additional learning networks and sector-specific projects

In six additional learning networks, participants learnt and worked together on care innovations for specific target groups, such as young people, students struggling with loneliness, people with dementia, people from migrant backgrounds, young people on a waiting list for mental health care, and people who are rough-sleeping or homeless. In addition, seven sector-specific projects were carried out, focusing on general practice, the paramedical sector (physiotherapy and occupational therapy), outpatient mental health care, nursing and care, voluntary work, foster care and the social sector. Each sector-specific project conducted a needs assessment, carried out a knowledge synthesis and developed educational resources tailored to real-world practice. Overarching meetings and working sessions were also held to facilitate knowledge sharing.

We concluded that the same questions regarding the meaning of work are being raised across many professional sectors, and that there is a great need for training and the further development of expertise in this area, both in initial training programmes and in continuing professional development. Collaboration within the knowledge workshop led to new insights, the strengthening of networks, and a more natural approach to collaboration between practice, education and research. A knowledge agenda was also developed to guide future research and practice development.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of all this, a plan was drawn up for a national knowledge infrastructure comprising regional hubs and a ‘Kennisplein GV Thuis’. The knowledge agenda that had been developed and the partnerships that had been established formed the starting point for this. The knowledge and partnerships built up have been continued in Knowledge Centre 3 (2025–2028).

Partners

This project was carried out by the University of Humanistic Studies in collaboration with partners such as the Protestant Theological University, Tilburg University, the University of Groningen, Viaa University of Applied Sciences, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, and numerous healthcare and welfare organisations, Centres for Life Questions, professional associations such as the VGVZ (Association of Spiritual Care Providers), and umbrella organisations in the healthcare and welfare sectors. Clients and people with lived experience were directly involved through client councils and participation in project groups.

(Co-)financing

ZonMw, Zingeving en Geestelijke verzorging programme

Also see

• Website Kenniswerkplaats
• LinkedIn pagina Kenniswerkplaats Zingeving
• Kennisplein Zingeving
• Knowledge Centre for Home-based Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care 3

Kennisplein Zingeving

Knowledge and findings from the knowledge centre are now being shared and further developed via the Kennisplein Zingeving (‘Knowledge Hub Meaning in Life’). This is the digital development platform for professionals from the fields of practice, education and research in the area of meaning in life and spiritual care in the home setting. On the knowledge centre , you will find, amongst other things, knowledge and resources, practical examples, current developments and events. Professionals can also ask questions, share experiences and collaborate with one another. In this way, the knowledge centre contributes to ensuring the long-term availability, sharing and further development of knowledge relating to meaning and spiritual care. Visit the Knowledge Hub at kennispleinzingeving.nl.

Contact

info@kenniswerkplaatszingeving.nl