
We are proud to share that our Counselling and Emotional Care (CAEC) Team have been nominated for an award from The Good Grief Trust. The ‘Shine a Light’ award aims to celebrate the people, places and projects going above and beyond to make a difference to the lives of those grieving across the UK.
The CAEC team work together to offer psychological care and bereavement support to patients and carers in our community. They are a credit to St Rocco’s Hospice and to end-of-life care services across the region and they continue to embrace new ideas and have a positive impact on all patients and carers.
Their innovative and passionate approach means that they have increased their reach across our community, making sure that everyone has the opportunity to access bereavement support in a way that is right for them.
The team consists of two part-time counsellors, Cathy and Jeanne, along with two volunteer counsellors who work a total of 4 hours per week. Patients are prioritised for 1:1 counselling with primary carers also having access to individual counselling sessions if needed.
Bereavement support is also offered through twice monthly bereavement support cafés in Warrington. The cafés run as a drop-in service and are open to anybody who is grieving. They are assisted with the help of 25 volunteers who provide one to one listening support or the option of connecting with others experiencing a similar bereavement for peer-to-peer support. The cafés rely on volunteers from a vast array of backgrounds and skills including counsellors, teachers, engineers, nurses, social workers, and many others who have benefited from CAEC services in the past and want to give something back to St Rocco’s. Over the last 12 months the cafés have supported over 370 people. The team received 124 feedback forms in 2023/2024 in which 100% said they benefitted from the café and 100% said they would recommend it to a friend.
“A lovely atmosphere, it was great to talk to other people. The counsellor was lovely. Thank you.” (Feedback from Bereavement Café attendee).
Publicity of the cafes is widespread through the town and surrounding areas; this has seen the service accessed by people from Warrington, Northwich, Runcorn and Halton. Many GP surgeries refer their patients for bereavement support. The CAEC Team have coordinated all café sessions and have arranged visits from Warrington Social Services. In addition, the CAEC team liaise with other community groups and agencies. For example, Talking Matters Support Workers have attended with their bereaved clients, many of whom have learning difficulties, mental health issues and live challenging and difficult lives. The team have made sure everyone feels welcome.
This year, the CAEC Team have introduced new initiatives, including Letters to Loved Ones. This project offers anyone the opportunity to write their thoughts, wishes or a special message on wildflower seeded paper and post it in the box. When the box is emptied in Spring, the messages are planted in a special flowerbed in the hospice gardens where the seeds grow and flourish. Our community can come and visit the hospice gardens at any time to see their flowers and take a moment to remember their loved ones.
Recently Lesley, from the amazing kitchen team, came up with the idea of ‘Memory Bakes’ which the CAEC Team are taking to upcoming bereavement cafés. If there is a special memory attached to a cake, then anyone from the bereavement café can ask for their cake to be made from their own recipe to be served at the next session. This is a new initiative, but the team are expecting that this beautifully creative idea will take off and even hinted at the possibility of a hospice recipe book in the future!
The Counselling and Emotional Care Team is a shining star at the heart of St Rocco’s Hospice. They work together to offer a range of psychological care and bereavement support to patients and carers in our community. They were nominated for the award because of their commitment to deliver outstanding support and determination to reach as many people as they can through innovation and new ways of working.
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