Meet Geraldine McLaughlin from our Hospice Team!

How long have you worked for Hospice?

I have worked at Hospice for 15 years this November. I worked on the bank for the children’s service providing outreach care 2 years prior to moving to the Hospice building. In 2016, I was given the opportunity to develop further and started working within the Young Persons service and now split my time working between the two areas.


What does your job involve?

My role as a Nursery Nurse within Rebecca House is to provide care for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. Each day is different depending on which children are attending, but it’s primarily making sure each individual child’s needs are met, this includes personal care, feeding, and providing activities such as arts and crafts, trips out or giving them the opportunity to just chill out. We provide care plans for what each child’s likes and dislikes are and make sure these are kept updated. Most importantly it’s about creating memories in a fun and relaxed environment.

My role also includes providing end of life care for a child this can include practical care, memory making and emotional support for the family.

My role as a Young Persons Support Worker is to provide 1-2-1 psychological and bereavement support for children and young adults up to the age of 21 years. This is chance for children and young adults to be able to talk freely about their feelings in a confidential safe environment and help provide coping mechanisms during this difficult period in their life. Sessions are provided in school or at Hospice in our dedicated room Jades’ Place.


What’s your favourite thing about working for Hospice?

My favourite thing is that each day is different. I am grateful that I have been able to progress professional and have been supported in doing so.

I am extremely lucky that within both areas that I work as a team, we are very supportive of each other. Whenever someone asks where I work I am 95% of the time greeted with the “Oh how sad that must be” but after 15 years working at Hospice I have been blessed  to work with some amazing families that have allowed me to be part of their journey through laughter and tears. Listening to some of the Young People over the years has been a real journey in itself and it really is a privilege that I never take for granted.