Variety in social work at Cardiff and the Vale Hospice
Press release published
Social workers at a Penarth hospice have spoken of the variety their role offers to mark Social Work Day 2018.
Dawn Barton and Terry Sexton, social workers at the Marie Curie Cardiff and the Vale Hospice, work as part of the allied health professionals’ team at the Bridgeman Road facility – offering care and support to people living with a terminal illness, and their families.
Their work revolves around supporting families and patients through a terminal illness diagnosis, and emotional support in relation to that – but also more traditional social work.
“It’s very broad spectrum of involvement,” said Terry, who also works in the community.
“We work across the whole age range and offer support to the extended family. This could be children or grandchildren, providing pre- bereavement support, or support for children around their understanding of bereavement.
“Equally, the role includes everything that traditional social workers would do elsewhere. We may have links with any other aspects of the service that families require.
“We may liaise with other agencies, specifically local authorities or local health boards, to help put a package of care in place or a residential or nursing home placement.
“We also have to deal with housing departments, housing providers and registered social landlords. We also help people with benefits. Everything that social work provides.”
Dawn added: “Across our work, from the hospice to the community, we are involved in training and in supporting other colleagues, as part of the multidisciplinary team.
“We provide training for medical students and also as part of the personal professional development of staff as well.”
Talking further about bereavement support, Terry said that whilst some people might benefit from support immediately following bereavement, others may take up the offer at a later date.
“We do a lot of pre-bereavement working with families in the wards and in the community, which can help people with the initial grieving process. It can put a lot of the difficulties families may have into perspective prior to the death.”