Our Social Worker, Andrew works closely with our Welfare Rights Officer, Katie to ensure our patients and their families receive the additional support that they need during what can be a very difficult time.
With skill, compassion and their vast knowledge our team can support and signpost patients and their families, to ensure that some of the worries they are faced with can be resolved.
Andrew Wade, City Hospice Social Worker
“Over the past year I have supported 272 patients, normally receive a referral by a member of our City Hospice multidisciplinary team. I’m proud to report, that these referrals resulted in:
- 14 Macmillan grant applications
- 19 Blue Car Badge applications
- 12 Community alarm applications
- 5 referrals to Care and Repair for installation of a keysafe
- 9 referrals to the Marie Curie Helper and Sitting Service
- 1 referral to Good Neighbours in North Cardiff
- 1 referral to Independent Age for their Sunday afternoon tea parties
- 6 referrals to Age Connects for befriending help with shopping or paperwork and transport
- 20 referrals to Cardiff Council Independent Living Services for packages of care, Carer’s Assessment, respite and permanent nursing or residential care
- 1 referral to Vale of Glamorgan Council for care package
- 7 referrals to Cardiff Housing for re-housing
- 1 referral to Cardiff Council for Disabled Bus Pass
- 1 referral to the Care and Repair Attic decluttering project
- 1 referral to Good Gym for joggers to come and help older person with practical tasks
- 1 referral to Natural Death Society for advice in providing a DIY funeral.
We also set up 73 appointments for our Free Will scheme, this is where City Hospice pays for a patient to have a Will written. To provides a patient with the reassurance that their wishes will be adhered to, and there is obligation to leave a gift to the charity. Over the last year we have paid for the services of Wendy Hopkins Law, Howells Solicitors and Watkins and Gunn. We are now also working with Foley Solicitors of Whitchurch.”
Advice and assistance
“During the last year I also made request for DS1500. This enables someone to receive benefits quickly, and is very helpful if a person is on low level Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment and needs to be ‘upgraded’. All that is needed is the doctor’s form and an accompanying letter.
“I also continued to apply for Macmillan grants for patients with cancer for assistance with ‘white goods’, heating costs, holidays etc.”
We can also utilise a very useful website called Turn2Us which checks if there are grants related to someone’s occupation or particular illness.
In addition to working directly with families, I have built up links with White Rose Funeral Directors, a company who specialise in multi-faith funerals in South and East Cardiff particularly.
And I have maintained links with the social work and family support teams at Holme Tower and Hospice of the Valleys through frequent phone calls and the occasional visit for mutual supervision. I also get support from the Association of Palliative Care Social Workers. I am registered with the Care Council of Wales, and am a member of the British Association of Social Workers. I also liaise with the City Hospice chaplain, Cathy Gale, minister at Whitchurch Methodist Church, who attends our Thursday day centre.
Because of my own enthusiasm for the history of Cardiff, I have also enjoyed delivering presentations to our Day Centre Patients, using DVDs showing the different decades and booking charting the changes to our city. It’s so enjoyable hearing some of our patients reminisce and share their own stories of Cardiff, through these stories you can really appreciate what makes our city so special and unique.”
Making a difference
“The most memorable experience this year was when I was due to visit a patient to discuss funerals. I arrived at the house, only to find that he had just died. I was able to just sit with the family member and kept her company, cancelling appointments so I could stay and we were able to deal with the practical matters. I followed this up with attending the funeral. I felt so privileged to offer my support during this distressing time and offer some comfort.”
