Hospice care is about more than the final days of life. It’s about supporting the whole person – emotionally, practically, and socially – as well as the people closest to them. Support can begin from the moment of diagnosis and continue throughout a person’s illness, and for loved ones, even beyond death.
Social workers play an important role in making sure our care reflects what matters most to each patient and their family. They help ensure people’s wishes are heard and that practical matters are supported so patients and families can focus on what is most important to them.
Supporting what matters most
Our social work team helps patients identify their priorities and goals, and supports them to achieve those goals wherever possible. This might involve providing practical advice, emotional support, or helping people navigate complex situations that can arise when living with a life-limiting illness.
Every person’s circumstances are different. For some, support might focus on financial or housing concerns. For others, it may involve helping families plan for the future, arranging care support, or guiding people through difficult conversations and decisions.
The team also recognises that illness affects more than the individual. Families and carers often face their own emotional and practical challenges, and social workers are there to support them as well.
Part of the wider hospice team
At St Margaret’s, social workers are part of the wider multidisciplinary team, working closely with community nurses and colleagues on the In-Patient Unit. Together with doctors, therapists, counsellors, and spiritual care staff, they help provide holistic care that supports the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients.
The team also shares their expertise more widely. Social workers provide advice, guidance, and training to other hospice colleagues and health and social care professionals. This helps ensure that even when a patient does not need direct social work support, the wider team is still equipped to address social concerns as part of their care.
Voices from the team
Jo
Jo
“Hi, my name is Jo Jones, and I have been a qualified Social Worker for twenty years, working in statutory services in Adult and Older Adult Mental Health.
“I chose a career in social work as I have always enjoyed caring for and helping others, particularly those who are the more vulnerable and discriminated against in society. I have always been passionate about supporting, empowering and advocating for service users and their families and carers, to meet their needs, improve the quality of their lives, and safeguard their welfare.
“I recently joined the social work team at St. Margaret’s as I wanted to pursue a change in my career, and I was keen to practice outside of statutory services. I feel proud to work in a team where person-centred care is at the core of our practice and decision making.
“Therefore, on Social Work Day, I reflect on how rewarding it is to be a social worker in palliative care and to be part of a team who support patients and their families experiencing a complexity of challenges, difficult choices, social stressors, emotional distress, and loss, at a time when they need support most.”
Zoe
Zoe
“Hi, my name is Zoe Capon. I’ve been a qualified social worker for the last 22 years, and my career has mainly been supporting adults in a statutory setting. I came into social work to really make a difference in people’s lives, however big or small that difference might be.
“In 2022, I moved into hospice care and took on the role of Supportive Care Team Lead. Leading a small social work team that provides support, advocacy, and compassion to patients and families during some of life’s most challenging moments has been both humbling and inspiring. Hospice work reminds me every day why I chose this profession: it’s about listening, protecting dignity, and being by people’s sides when they need it most.
“On Social Work Day, I’m proud to celebrate the quiet impact social workers have. The difference we make may not always be that visible, but it truly matters.”
Kerry
Kerry
“Hi, my name is Kerry Stanley. I have previously worked within Social Care and held a variety of roles.
“In May 2025, I joined the hospice as a Social Work Assistant, and it has been both a humbling and inspiring journey. Every day, I feel grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated colleagues and to support patients and their families during one of the most challenging times in their lives. The hospice is a truly special place to work. My role isn’t to be the expert in the room, but to listen—really listen—to what patients and their families need, and to help identify and deliver person-centred outcomes that matter to them.
“As we mark Social Work Day, I’m reminded of the quiet but significant work social workers do. Even when it isn’t obvious, the difference we make matters deeply.”
Kelly
Kelly
“Hi, I’m Kelly, and I’ve been a qualified Social Worker for four years. I’ve spent the last fifteen years working in statutory services, mainly within Children and Families.
“I chose a career in social work because I’ve always been driven by a genuine commitment to care for and support people through some of the most difficult and meaningful moments of their lives. I’m passionate about empowering individuals, recognising their strengths, and advocating for choice.
“After many years in one area of practice, I was keen to pursue a change in career path, outside of statutory services. When the opportunity to join the team at St Margaret’s Hospice came up, I didn’t hesitate and I haven’t looked back. I feel incredibly grateful and proud to work within such a small, dedicated team, and I’ve been truly touched by the warmth and person‑centred approach that runs throughout the hospice.
“On World Social Work Day I’m reflecting on, and celebrating, how rewarding and humbling it is to support people at a time that matters most. It is a privilege to listen, to be present, and to make what may seem like small but deeply significant differences.”
Making a meaningful difference
Whether helping families navigate practical challenges, supporting difficult decisions, or simply being there to listen, social workers help ensure that people facing life-limiting illness feel supported, heard, and understood.
By working alongside the wider hospice team, they help ensure that care at St Margaret’s is not only compassionate and clinically excellent, but also deeply human. So, this World Social Work Day, thank you to our fantastic social work team.