8th – 14th May is Dying Matters Awareness Week, which this year focuses on the support which is offered in the workplace, for people who are experiencing dying, death and bereavement.

57% of employees will have experienced a bereavement in the last five years, and every day more than 600 people leave work to look after older and disabled relatives. However, fewer than one in five managers feel very confident in supporting someone they manage, who is experiencing a bereavement*.

Local charity Phyllis Tuckwell cares for patients and families who are living with an advanced or terminal illness, such as cancer, offering medical and nursing care, therapies, counselling, social work advice and practical support. Its staff are dedicated to supporting others at the end of life and through bereavement, and it is of great importance to the organisation that these staff themselves are also cared for when they suffer loss, in both a personal and in a professional capacity.

“We support our staff by providing compassionate leave, bereavement counselling through our Employee Assistance Programme, additional clinical supervision, mental health training, role adjustments and further support from colleagues and HR,” said Kate Mynard, HR Manager at Phyllis Tuckwell.

If you would like to find out more about Phyllis Tuckwell, please visit www.pth.org.uk

*https://www.hospiceuk.org/our-campaigns/dying-matters/dying-matters-awareness-week