A WARM WELCOME
Welcome to the home of the Association of Palliative Care Social Workers - representing Social Workers from across 4 Nations and Internationally.
COVID- 19 Update
We have added a new folder within our Resources section which contains a selection of articles and resources that you may find helpful during the current Coronavirus pandemic. Click here
A recent article in The Guardian on end-of-life care and coronavirus featuring contributions from Wendy Ashton, Co Chair, and another member of APCSW can be found here
We have also recently added a powerful blog from Stella Murray, St Luke's Hospice, Harrow in which she describes the challenges faced in a hospice as a Palliative Care Social Worker during the COVID – 19 pandemic. Click here to read
We recently updated our Financial Rules (2020) - a copy of which can be found here.
UPDATE: Our 2020 Conference will now be postponed until 2021. It will be held on 9th and 10th September 2021 in Birmingham.
To read a copy of 'The role of social workers in palliative, end of life and bereavement care' written in collaboration with the former College of Social Work and Making Waves Lived Experience Network/OPEN FUTURES Research, with support from the British Association of Social Workers and Hospice UK CLICK HERE
Thank you for your continued support from the APCSW Committee.
Our Vision
Through the work of the Association and its members, the role of palliative care social work will be highly valued by people with life limiting illnesses
Our Mission
To raise the profile of palliative care social work; to support and advise all palliative care social workers wherever they work; to inspire excellence by sharing best practice.
Our History
The Association of Palliative Care Social Workers, originally the Association of Hospice Social Workers, was proposed by a small group of practitioners in 1986 and established in 1987.
Constitution
APCSW CONSTITUTION
Approved and adopted 11 September 2014, updated February 2020
NEWS & EVENTS
Read all the articles and press releases for up to date news
Results from recent membership survey on the APCSW structure are out
The results of the survey that was initiated by the Executive Committee to elicit the views of members on the structure of the APCSW, particularly whether members would prefer a structure with more emphasis on the four nations (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England are now out. The Executive Committee also asked for suggestions as to any changes which would make … Continue reading Results from recent membership survey on the APCSW structure are out
Dying To Care – a report into social care at the end of life
Becky Chaddock, Vice Chair, has been busy helping to produce a national document for Scotland with Marie Curie, MND and Hospice UK which aims to highlight the challenges of social care access at end of life. The document has received lots of great coverage across the key Scottish media including this one in The Evening Times. … Continue reading Dying To Care – a report into social care at the end of life
Lifetime Achievement Award: Suzy Croft, St John’s Hospice Community Care Awards
It is amazing how someone who was once just a stranger can suddenly mean the world to us,” say one couple of their nine-year relationship with Suzy as service users. Suzy, who retired in March 2016, spent three times that long as a practising social worker. The last 23 years were spent in one place … Continue reading Lifetime Achievement Award: Suzy Croft, St John’s Hospice Community Care Awards
Dying Matters: Talk about it, palliative care expert says
Families and even health care workers need to get used to talking about death more to make it easier, a palliative care specialist has said. Hospice consultant nurse Dinah Hickish said demystifying fears could help make dying feel like a “normal process”. Ms Hickish, based St Kentigern Hospice, St Asaph, Denbighshire, spoke out to mark … Continue reading Dying Matters: Talk about it, palliative care expert says
Research highlights need to improve end of life care in the community
A national survey of GPs has identified a number of barriers to good end of life care in the community, while a local study has implications for the design of out-of-hours services. http://www.ehospice.com/uk/articleview/tabid/10697/articleid/19923/language/en-gb/research-highlights-need-to-improve-end-of-life-care-in-the-community.aspx?utm_campaign=website&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email#.V35r4Ld_E1E.mailto
NICE guideline on Supportive and palliative care in adults
The title of the new guideline will be changed to “End of life care: Delivery of adult services for people in the last year of life” and the final scope is now available. The equality impact assessment for this NICE guideline has also now been published along with all of the stakeholder comments that were … Continue reading NICE guideline on Supportive and palliative care in adults
‘I’ve planned my entire funeral and so should you’ by Radhika Sanghani
An interesting article written by Radhika Sanghani and recently posted on the BBC website about funeral planning and why it’s never too early to start… Click here
The working life of two social workers
Susan O’Malley and Sharon Owen are social workers at Bolton Hospice. Broadly speaking they provide care and support to local people with life-limiting illnesses, but here they explain the many links and services they provide for patients get the best possible care. Read more here
Confident social work practice with people living with dementia
In May, the Department of Health launched new resources to mark Dementia Awareness Week (14-20 May 2017). The resources aim to support confident social work practice with dementia. Commissioned by the Chief Social Worker for Adults, Lyn Romeo and developed by Research in Practice for Adults (RiPfA). They build on previous Department of Health resources, broadening … Continue reading Confident social work practice with people living with dementia
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Registration is open for this... sounds like a great opportunity for learning https://t.co/ioc6gen4tS
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@AIIHPC #pallcareweek Palliative Care ... always involves food. At our recent conference we heard about one manager… https://t.co/LS0id87hgA
THE ROLE OF A PALLIATIVE CARE SOCIAL WORKER
Social work is an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team within palliative care, offering a holistic service to patients and families. Unlike many fields of work, specialist palliative
care social work is potentially...
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE ASSOCIATION
The Association is here to represent all palliative care social workers, whichever setting they work in. In order to guide and set the direction of Association we operate a National Committee structure - supported by regional representatives.