This is what Charlene Welsh, a member of the Administration Team who works in the Inpatient Unit, had to say about the training.

“The course was very professional and everyone was made to feel at ease when talking about their own personal experiences.

Charlene Welsh

There were lots of people on the course from different Hospices and care sectors, many of whom I have spoken to before so it was great to be able to put names to faces. It was also interesting to understand what had driven all these different people to attend the training.

I deal with bereavement on a daily basis and I have found my learnings from the day useful.  It has given me the reassurance that I am doing the right thing; I have had a lot of support from our medical professionals over the years which has helped me have confidence in such situations.  Simply listening to someone and being there is enough when it comes to these sensitive issues but it was also a great chance to listen to other people’s stories and learn from how they deal with situations.

The course covered lots of sensitive issues and people were encouraged to talk about their own personal losses, the numbers on the course allowed those who wanted to, to talk and for others to be able to simply listen and take the information on board. 

I now have lots of ideas to bring back to our own Hospice and it also made me appreciate how much of a fantastic job we all do at Alice House Hospice and how privileged we are to have so much expertise under one roof.

I enjoyed being able to do this course with other members of the Administration Team; it has helped us to get to know one another better and understand the experiences that we have been through. It allowed us to feel closer as a team and appreciate each other a little bit more.

In summary, it was an excellent course for those working in a Hospice/care environment as it brought to reality what happens every day. It helps you to understand the different processes that people go through when facing bereavement and reminds you of the difference we can make to people’s lives by simply being there.”