ABSTRACT
Many people coming into non-religious pastoral care come with significant experience in a caring role. The concept of the two domains shown here was developed in a medical centre, so it has a medical perspective, but the concept can be applied to care in other institutions. The person being cared for may want to explore or reveal different aspects of their life or concerns at any time. Being attentive and fully conscious helps to maintain that spontaneous relationship. In universities, non-religious pastoral carers work in a looser structure than some other institutions, so they may have to be more proactive in determining a role that best fits their local circumstances. Skills and competencies include an individual's ability to do something well, their knowledge and experience, ability to communicate and cooperate — and their attitudes, willingness to learn and reflect, resilience, and tenacity. Most non-religious pastoral carers will be volunteers, and many will have worked in a caring role or profession.
