We offer all our carers specialist, intensive training to provide high quality, compassionate care for people at the end of their life and we provide regular refresher training. Your SweetTree care manager will have the knowledge, confidence and understanding to tailor care to your individual wishes and needs. Our carers are trained to understand and conduct advanced care planning (ACP) discussions in a gentle and facilitating way, in order to record and deliver care according to the individual’s expressed preferences. Manor Healthcare also train our carers to recognise the signs that someone is approaching the end of their life, ensuring they know what to do and how to communicate with family members so they understand what is happening and what to expect. Our carers fully appreciate the importance of communication with clients, family members and other professionals. Our Palliative Care Manager also takes a hands-on role, ensuring our care is fully focused on the individual’s needs and preferences.

We write a holistic and person-centred care plan for each individual we support. This describes in detail every aspect of the client’s needs – including what they can eat and drink, their medication and how it is administered, and how any equipment provided to assist with safe moving and handling should be used. The plan includes spiritual or religious needs. Our care plans are very detailed, so nothing is overlooked. met.

• Our goal each day is to ensure
• Our goal each day is to ensure

We work very closely with GPs, district nurses, palliative care nurses and other professionals such as Occupational Therapists. Our carers all have social care qualifications and training, they achieve the nationally-recognised Care Certificate, which defines the knowledge, skills and behaviour necessary for the role. They are also trained to administer medicines safely. However, if our managers feel a qualified nurse or GP is needed to meet a particular need, they will liaise with the relevant medical professional. We constantly communicate and share information to ensure the individual and their family understand the different roles, what is happening and what to expect. If an individual has a specific need, such as PEG feeding or a colostomy bag, their carer will receive specific training to ensure they can confidently provide the support needed.

Family members are often most afraid about their loved one being in pain and how they can help. Our carers – and all the medical professionals involved in caring for the individual – are very attentive and experienced in assessing pain and managing symptoms. GPs will prescribe painkilling drugs and provide clear guidance so the nursing team or carers are able to administer them when needed. Most people receiving palliative care can be supported just as well at home as in a hospice or hospital and pain management is an essential part of that support.

Absolutely. This is something we can write in an individual’s care plan and if they want their dog or cat to sleep on the bed with them, that is fine. We have cared for many individuals whose beloved pet was central to their wishes and their emotional wellbeing.