SOCIAL workers at a Penarth hospice have spoken about their work helping terminally unwell patients and their families, to mark last week's 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 and offer care and support to those living in the hospice and the people closest to them.

Their work revolves around supporting families and patients through a terminal illness diagnosis and the emotional support needed alongside that, but also the types of things considered as being more traditional social work.

"It’s a very broad spectrum of involvement," said Mr Sexton, who also works out 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 also have to deal with housing departments, housing providers and registered social landlords. We also help people with benefits. Everything that social work provides.”

And Ms Barton 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, Mr Sexton said that while 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."