Q: How does a patient, or their family, make contact with the Family Support Team?
Through referral to the Team by the Doctor or Nurses of the Hospice or via the Hospital Palliative Care Team.
Q: Will support be continued after a patient has left the Hospice?
Yes. The direct support continues for as long as the patients and family feel they need it.
Q: What happens after a bereavement?
If a family or carer suffers from a bereavement the support is offered by:
Family Visitors
These are a team of specially trained volunteers who provide a listening ear for relatives if and when they need it.
- 'Catherine's Wheel' - This is a monthly group meeting which is available for recently bereaved relatives known to the Hospice.
- Details about 'the Wheel' are given in a letter which is automatically sent out a few weeks after a bereavement.
Q: Why do we have a Family Support Team?
When someone is referred to the Hospice - be it through the Community Support Nurses, Day Care or for in-patient care - they bring their whole self. Our concern is not limited to just one aspect of the patients health or social circumstances. We are keen to help in anyway we can . We also recognise the importance of family and carers
Q : What is the Family Support Team?
The Team is made up of three Social Workers who have the training and experience to help Hospice patients.
Q: Are they employed by Social Services?
No. The Hospice Social Workers are employed and funded by St. Catherine's Hospice but the Team liaises with Social Services and has the authority to assess needs on their behalf.
Q: What does the Family Support Team do?
Whether a patient is in the Hospice, attend ing Day Care or at home, the Team will offer practical support and advice to them and their families . This can include a device on benefits and support wherever the patient is .
One of the roles of the Family Support team is to assess and arrange ongoing care when patients are returning home. Sometimes it is appropriate to arrange for admission to residential care, if this is the patient's wish, having considered the practical problems of care at home.
Q: On what occasions will Family Support Team members visit a patient at their home?
When there is a need to maintain contact with a patient who has returned home from St Catherine's Hospice , following a request for a home visit by the other professionals at the Hospice. |
