Family Support Worker

The Family Support Worker offers practical support so often needed by families (and young people who live alone) when a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer.

I provide a flexible service and I’m able to respond quickly to ease some of the pressures, with practical support to families and young people in hospital, at home or in the community.

This support includes helping around the home doing the little but important tasks that often become a low priority when a child is in hospital. Other support might include accompanying families to hospital, school or nursery. I can look after some or all of the children so parents can look after the sick child or simply have a break.

For example, one family I worked with had two teenage children, one who was diagnosed with leukaemia at age 13. She had to spend eight months in hospital receiving treatment which caused great stress for her and her family.

Mum suffered from Parkinson’s disease and had trouble getting about. She found it hard to combine hospital visits with supporting her family at home. Dad often worked until 9pm at night.

I was able to offer practical support which included cleaning the house and washing the clothes.

I also provided support to their daughter whilst she was in hospital and when she returned home. This meant she could spend time away from the ward and allowed mum to remain at home safe in the knowledge that her daughter had someone with her. This reduced mum’s stress when trying to combine hospital visits and being at home, especially as her mobility was restricted.

I was able to make referrals to other agencies to maximise income and secure additional support for the family making the difficult journey just that little bit easier.

Written by a CLIC Sargent Family Support Worker.