The care that Haven House provides really is amazing

So much thought goes in to really tailoring the experiences to each individual and going beyond to make the child and family feel as comfortable as possible when using the hospice. No two days at Haven House are ever the same. I never quite know how the day may unravel which is part of what makes it so enjoyable to work here. The opportunity to work with so many different children with such a variety of needs is really what keeps me on my toes and most importantly keeps me learning.

For health care support workers our days start at 7:45am and our night shifts start at 7:45pm. Between us we provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The shift always starts with a handover, making sure that we are handing over care correctly to the next shift team. We discuss the children who are staying with us that day or night and make sure we have a tailored plan for that child's stay.

The day is full of activities in the play room

We start the day getting the children up, washed and dressed, and end it the same way - changing them into their pyjamas and into bed. We try our best to accommodate to the specific routines of the children as close to their routine at home so as to make them feel as comfortable as they can be. The day is full of activities, ranging from time in the sensory room, a music therapy session, or even arts and crafts in the play room. As often as possible I love to make the most of the wonderful hospice grounds, whether that may be using the
play area or a woodland walk.

A lot of the times it doesn't even feel like work and I feel privileged to get to work with some really inspirational children and their families.

It is not always easy and sometimes can be very heavy seeing first-hand the difficulties many of your service users face on a day to day basis, but I can honestly say that being even just a small part of what gives these families just a little bit of happiness and support is well worth the tough days and is the most rewarding job I have ever done.

David

Find our more about our families and how we support them by watching our films. You can make a difference and helps our amazing care team keep on caring. Donate now.