The Hospice of St. Francis Family Support Service is available to all the families and friends of those for whom we are caring, either in the Hospice or at home. The service is led by our Director of Family Support who works closely with a team of specially trained volunteers, in helping patients and families to live life as fully as possible.

The Family Support Team is available at any point to offer help and support with concerns and anxieties encountered throughout an illness.  Possible worries might include: Who is there to help care for the patient?  How to manage financially?  How to talk with the children about what's going on?

Whenever someone is diagnosed with a serious illness all those close to the patient can be affected, both family members and friends.  Finding ways to manage the illness and its consequences can be time consuming as well as emotionally draining.
Support is offered in a variety of ways such as:

We provide information and support regarding future care, social benefits and resources, assisting, for example, in negotiating with relevant community care provision agencies to help support individual needs.

This can be arranged, providing family members and close friends with an opportunity to express their concerns and explore feelings with a member of the family support team.

This group provides a time in the week to meet with others who are caring for someone with a life-threatening illness.  Over the course of six weeks this group provides an opportunity for Carers to meet together and share their experience.  Invited healthcare guests join the group each week giving useful information and helpful ideas of coping with life as a carer.

Caring Counts Information Booklet

This dedicated team are available to visit your home and stay with your relative while a Carer leaves the house.

Within out team we have a Social Worker who can offer both practical and emotional support. This may include future care packages to clients, their family & carers during illness. Special attention is given to benefits, welfare, accomodation, emotional support and advice.

After a death the Family Support Team offers bereavement support depending on the individual's personal needs and includes family, group and one-to-one support.

This group meets once a month on a Monday evening. The evening provides an opportunity for main carers to meet together informally and share feelings with others going through a similar experience.

This service is available on Monday evenings 6 - 9 pm. Family members/close friends are telephoned after approximately six weeks and offered support. There is also a line for in-coming calls at this time.

This is available for those who find it easier to talk face-to-face on a one to one basis. Visits may be arranged to take place either in the home or at the Hospice. Counselling may be offered to those who may have more complex bereavement issues.  This includes work with all age groups.

These are available from the Hospice. Information is also available through links with other local and national bereavement services to help family and friends living in different parts of the country access support in their local area.

If you would like further information on any aspect of the Family Support Team's work, please call 01442-869550 01442 Ext 284 and a member of the team will be happy to talk with you.