This isn't your average book about pastoral care - it is a no-nonsense exploration of the knowledge base that excellent pastoral practitioners, be they aspiring, new or experienced, need to excel in their roles. It combines theory, evidence, and research with best practice and on the job experience to help you on the way to becoming the very best pastoral leader that you can be. It is a book written for pastoral leaders by a current pastoral leader, reflecting the reality of our roles - the extraordinary pressures and challenges that we face, sometimes in just getting through the day.