Compassionate Companion Service - We need your Help

Published in News · 12 September 2023

The compassionate companion service is expanding and is now offering free training and ongoing team supervision to volunteers living in communities able to offer an hour a week, but also employees of statutory organisations including care home staff and care agency staff to use in their job role and become compassionate companion champions for their organisation.

People receive medical support yet they are very rarely asked:

'What is really important to you?'

By documenting these conversations as Advanced Plans, using the RESPECT form, as well as care wishes, they will have assurance that:

anticipatory care is in place
that others are aware
everything possible will be done to honour their wishes

Evidence of how this service supports our patients:

Enabling one to put plans in place to ensure they could die at their chosen place (ie home) - some people don't realise this is possible
Ensuring resus status is clear for people who do not want to go to hospital any more - letting them know that that if attempts for resuscitation are successful they would have to go to hospital for further care
One patient's daughter said 'I didn't know you wanted to be cremated mum, I was going to arrange a burial. I'm glad we've had this conversation'

Documenting these discussions is important because research shows that nationwide over 70% of patients in their last year of life request to be allowed to die at home.

Most will die in hospital largely due to lack of planning.

Training is designed to enhance the excellent care and compassion that we already see being provided. This is true and authentic integrated working together across the system and a most exciting opportunity.

The next 3-day training programmes are coming up:

September 11th, 12th, 14th (Mon, Tues and Thursday)
November 6th, 7th, 9th (Mon, Tues and Thursday)
January (2024) 22nd, 23rd, 25th (Mon, Tues and Thursday)

Training takes place at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre, Ipswich.

Companions will be trained and given ongoing support to listen with empathy, inform and document conversations that enable all involved in that persons care to honour end of life choices.

Please see the attached flyer for more information re the service, and to book for one of the training programmes please complete the form attached.

For more information contact us at: bill.thompson1@nhs.net