The Farleigh Family Support Service

Our family support service (FSS) is a small team made up of counsellors, family support practitioners and a family support worker. They support people with an advanced or progressive life-limiting illness and their families, offering pre-bereavement support and advice about their diagnosis and its consequences.

Counselling

The FS Counselling Service is confidential and available for all patients of Farleigh Hospice as well as their carers (normally close family members). We generally offer 6 or 12 sessions of weekly or
fortnightly counselling. These take place either face-to-face in our dedicated counselling rooms, in patients’ homes/care homes, in Farleigh’s Inpatient Unit (IPU) or virtually via telephone or video.

Emotional Support

Being diagnosed with a life-limiting illness causes a wide range of emotions such as shock, worry and anger. Someone facing their death can be frightened and distressed. This diagnosis brings lots of losses as they are often unable to do the things they used to do - such as work or hobbies - and they may experience changes in their appearance. Being able to explore these fears and feelings can help lessen them. We offer emotional support to patients and family members face to face, by telephone or by video.

Practical Support

When they become ill, a patient may not be able to work or their partner/carer may have to give up work to look after them, affecting their income. They may also need support and advice in other areas such as access to disabled parking spaces or moving to more accessible housing. The FSS can help our patients and their carers to apply for complex benefits including the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) as well as access grants. They can also signpost them to other organisations that can provide practical help and support, such as housing associations.

Inpatient Unit Acute Family Support Service

Two afternoons a week, the FSS team spends time in the IPU, offering support to patients, their families/carers and staff. Psychoeducational groups for patients Spending time with other people in a similar situation, can have real benefits for our patients. At our psychoeducational groups, they can share their experiences and get support from their peers who understand what they are going through. These groups have different themes that help them to manage their symptoms, improve their wellbeing and increase their confidence, enabling them to have the best quality of life possible. Find out more about the positive impact of our Lantern Group and one of our social drop-in groups by clicking here.

Psychoeducational group for carers

The FSS team also organises psychoeducational groups for carers as it is important to recognize the vital role they play in supporting patients and also help them to not get lost in their caring role.

Carers Are Important Too (CAIT)

The group runs face-to-face or virtually by video, depending on demand, to give carers access to peer support. It encourages conversations about difficult but important and necessary topics, such as self-care, how to stay connected in their relationships rather than becoming patient and carer, and the emotional rollercoaster of being a carer. The CAIT group also educates and informs participants about palliative care topics, such as practical and financial implications, advanced care planning and how to access ongoing support.

Walking group in Maldon for carers

This group is facilitated by FSS staff and volunteers. Carers in the Maldon area can get outside and connect with other carers in a more informal way, whilst still providing a safe and open space
for conversation.

Staff support

The FSS team are available, when needed, to support Farleigh staff with reflection sessions or complex patient debrief sessions. They also go out on joint visits to see patients with nurses and other colleagues.

Staff training

The team provides training on understanding and managing psychological distress in palliative care for Farleigh staff.

This article is taken from the 2024 Spring Lantern magazine