Palliative care social workers recognise the impact of living with a life-limiting illness on you and those close to you. We understand life will change from the point of diagnosis and acknowledge this may be confusing and even frightening for some.

Our skilled team of social workers can work with you to assess your support needs and ensure the right care is accessed at the right time; helping you through periods of change and uncertainty.

Living with a life-limiting illness can impact environments, emotions, relationships and mental wellbeing; we are here to ensure you understand your needs and you know what is available to ensure your needs are well met.

We can offer the following:

• Information and advice in relation to non-medical aspects of your life
• Comprehensive assessment of yours and your family’s / friends support needs
• Guidance on how to navigate health and social care systems, including accessing services and funding
• Individual support to enable you to explore, process and manage the impact of living with a life-limiting illness
• Family support to facilitate open and often emotionally complex communication between you and those closest to you
• Advocacy to ensure your voice is heard and your rights are upheld
• Referrals to other services within the hospice and to other agencies in the community
• Planning for living, dying and bereavement
• Support for children and young-people within their families, schools and wider networks

We work with people diagnosed with a life-limiting condition and their families, friends and informal carers. We work in partnership with our colleagues at St Christopher’s and with our colleagues in other services, such as social services, GP’s and other agencies involved in your support network.

We are committed to safeguarding your wellbeing, rights and autonomy and we believe in restoring choice and control where it may feel threatened.

We will work with you and not for you and will do so with your consent and full participation.