Care at Christmas: Acorns hospice staff on rewarding experiences helping people in need across West Midlands

The work to help young people and their families with adjusting to and thriving in hospice care can be challenging and daunting for many people.

Acorns Children's Hospice has been one of the leading places for offering specialist palliative nursing care and support for local children and their families. 

The services include short breaks for children at the hospices, therapeutic and psychosocial support, support for siblings and other family members, emergency and end-of-life care and bereavement support.

Across the network, the hospice care has been tailored for each individual child and designed to meet their clinical, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs, with nearly 800 children supported in the last year.

For the staff who work to help each child who comes into the service at hospices such as Walstead Road in Walsall, the experience of working for Acorns has been a rewarding, amazing and positive one, with no day the same and every person they help having a different story.

Staff nurse Fiona Whitehouse has been with Acorns for a long time, going on a full circle tour from staff nurse to activities coordinator to family team worker, then back to staff nurse.

She said that she had come to Acorns after finding that she wanted to do more in paediatric nursing and spoke about her experiences working there.

She said: "I worked in paediatric nursing, all my nursing career. 

"At the hospital I found that, when I worked with babies, for the parents there was nowhere for them to go, and I just felt like there’s got to be something out there, and there wasn’t at the time. 

"As soon as I heard there was a hospice opening in Walsall, I thought 'that’s going to be for me'. 

"It has been very rewarding working at Acorns as I think people never forget you and they remember you because you were there when they needed you the most, and you supported them at that time. 

"You were that strong person who they needed, helping do all the things that families find quite traumatic.

"As Activities Coordinator, I got to take children to places that they probably wouldn’t have the opportunity to go, and I’ve got some of my best memories in that role. 

"I’m a caring person and I do like looking after people and we’ve got such a great team here. People say 'why don’t you retire' but I love my job too much.

"Every day is different, and we never really know what we’re coming into, and days can change very quickly - but that’s what I like about it. 

"It means such a lot to be at Acorns as it’s a fantastic place to work."

Helen Corbett from Wolverhampton has been at Acorns as a palliative care nurse since 2018 and said her positive experiences from working in collaborative care with Acorns were the catalyst for making the move to working there.

She said: "It just felt like the right move to make from the previous role I was in. 

"It’s a privilege to care for our children and families, to be able to go above and beyond, and to offer experiences that children may not normally get to experience during their life, things like going into the spa and not being able to access public swimming pools easily.

"It’s a privilege to care for our children and families at the end of life, and ensure that that care is outstanding.

"Every day is different. On an average day, you come on shift, you have a handover, and then you roll your sleeves up and get involved.

So that means making sure the children have had their medicines, their feeds, getting them washed, dressed up, out of bed, whether they need a shower or a bath, planning the day ahead of activities, ensuring that you follow the child's care plan to make sure all their needs are met.

"But every day is different. You can come in on one day and it can be where it’s more relaxed because that’s what the child wants and needs, and then the next day, you can come in and you literally haven't stopped because you're running around after the other child that you're looking after because they want to enjoy doing a bit of everything. 

"Acorns means a lot to me. Without us the children and families wouldn't be able to have rehabilitative respite or somewhere for end-of-life care that's not necessarily in a hospital. 

"It’s also the experiences that we can offer are such a valuable thing for our families and children. 

"I think without Acorns, a lot of children would miss out."

Another long-term member of staff is Amanda Evans, who started out at Acorns 25 years ago and currently works as a healthcare assistant.

She said that she had wondered what working for the hospice would be like and, after being successful in an interview, began working at a place that she said was really lovely to be at.

She said: "I used to work in a school before, and I always wondered what working for Acorns would be like, so I came for an interview when Acorns first opened, and I’ve been here ever since, which has been really lovely. 

"Working here has been amazing as it’s like a big family, and obviously we get to meet all the lovely children and families. I think we’re just so lucky to be part of their lives. 

"What is lovely is that we get to look after the children one-to-one. You’re responsible for all that child’s care, all the play activities, reading stories, getting ready for bed. It’s just lovely to have that special time with that child. 

"I do not see it as just a job - it’s a privilege to be able to come here.

"I know I’ve worked here a long time, worked a lot of years, but it’s such a lovely team, so we’re really just like a big family. 

"I always look forward to coming to work and obviously looking after the children. It think it’s a really special job."

The Express & Star has launched its Care at Christmas appeal in support of the trust.

To support Acorns, visit the new store and give here: acorns.org.uk/Star-Appeal.