I love my job
I love my job
Margot
Compassionate Communities Lead
Margot
Margot
Compassionate Communities Lead
One of the things I love most about my job is engaging with people across our community. We know there are many people who are isolated and lonely through either advanced ill health, having the burden of care without support or through bereavement.
Compassionate Communities is about bringing people together at neighbourhood level to uncover and build on the great stuff that is already happening to connect and support each other at difficult times. We all want as good a life as possible, and the joy in my job is when I can see the potential for connection, support and kindness from people helping each other out in our community.
Trudy
Shop Manager
Trudy
Trudy
Shop Manager
In my role I enjoy sorting a huge range of exciting and generous donations, merchandising them to create a great shopping experience and welcoming atmosphere. We are incredibly thankful to our dedicated and passionate team of volunteers, on whom our shops depend. Our volunteers enjoy talking to the public, and sorting donations for sale, some even make their own items which we then sell to generate additional income for the Hospice.
The team of Hospice Shop Managers have a strong connection and speak every day to support each other, we work well with the Donation Centre to request seasonal stock and specific items to sell in our shops across our catchment area. We can also sign you up to Gift Aid, so your pre-loved donations generate an extra 25% income for the Hospice.
Sara
Health Care Assistant
Sara
Sara
Health Care Assistant
I love my job because I find it incredibly rewarding and a privilege to help and support patients and families during a very tough and upsetting time in their lives. I feel very lucky to be able to try and make a small difference to someone’s life in the short time I get to know them. I also have the support of a fantastic team and fellow colleagues who do an amazing job.
To further develop my career I’ve had the opportunity to apply for a Nurse Associate role within the Hospice, and I am lucky enough to be able to attend courses to help further my knowledge of palliative care. I hope that in the future I continue to develop my career and eventually become a Nurse Associate at St Michael’s Hospice.
Sarah
Spiritual Support Coordinator
Sarah
Sarah
Spiritual Support Coordinator
My role as Spiritual Support Coordinator is varied and life affirming. For me the common theme is a shared humanity with patients, family and friends, staff, volunteers, and allied community professionals. We have a joint experience of life and death, birth and renewal, albeit as unique individuals. My days are filled with the opportunity to be invited to listen to people who explore, share and celebrate what matters to them with joy and sadness, tears and laughter. Things people wished they’d done and things that are of significance and give meaning and hope to their lives, wanting to voice questions and explore possibilities.
This is a common need for all of us and I feel very honoured that people trust and share with me. People identify with many understandings and beliefs about life, and what comes after, if anything, but the interconnection point I always hear is love. I have gathered a wealth of wisdoms that people generously share with me, I continue to learn as I accompany individuals. I am fortunate my job affords me time to be with people – I love that about my job.
Janki
Clinical Pharmacist
Janki
Janki
Clinical Pharmacist
I am the Clinical Pharmacist at St Michael’s Hospice and I love my job. I work closely with the multi-disciplinary team and feel like I have real input into patient care in the In-Patient Unit and in the community. My job involves keeping patients safe, but also making sure we are following national and local guidance.
I am part of the Medicines Optimisation Group which really allows to me to have an oversight of all aspects of Medicines Management at the Hospice. I am able to share good practise as I also work at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust as the Lead Pharmacist for Palliative Care, and the Clinical Pharmacist at St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne. I really enjoy working in a very caring and compassionate team, and feel I am constantly involved in change management. I hope to develop my role further over time at the Hospice.
Siobhan
Financial Analyst
Siobhan
Siobhan
Financial Analyst
I am an accountant and I have been working at the Hospice as a Financial Analyst since November 2015. My role is to support the Director of Finance and Facilities. I love my job because it is very varied and makes use of my extensive experience of creating spreadsheets.
I am involved in putting together annual budgets; preparing management and annual statutory accounts; calculating partial exemption and non-business percentages for VAT; and analysing accounting data for senior management. I enjoy working with a wide variety of colleagues in a beautiful and happy environment and I hope to be at the Hospice for many years to come.
Jo
In-Patient Unit Team Leader
Jo
Jo
In-patient Unit Sister
I joined the Hospice as a newly qualified nurse, completing a number of educational courses which enabled me to progress to Sister. Showing compassion, honesty and respect to our patients, we continually strive for excellence and are always looking for different ways to improve our services.
Providing holistic care and spending valuable time with patients and their families allows us to support them during the last days of their life and help them live well until they die.
Kayleigh
Lottery Draw Coordinator
Kayleigh
Kayleigh
Lottery Draw Co-ordinator
I have volunteered at the Hospice for a long time and always wanted to work at the Hospice someday. After one unsuccessful attempt, I got a job with the Lottery team as the Lottery Assistant and I love it.
It feels great to know we are raising money for such a wonderful charity and I couldn’t ask for a more supportive team.
Matt
Rehabilitation Lead
Matt
Matt
Rehabilitation Lead
Working at the Hospice affords me the opportunity to provide truly holistic and person-centred support to patients who are living with advanced, serious, life-threatening conditions. I am able to spend enough dedicated time with patients during consultations to really find out what is important to them and what they would wish to do with the time they have available in their immediate future.
This gives me adequate time to attend to their priorities, be able to provide specialist therapeutic input, and offer a range of different services which can support them in living as best they can for as long as possible.
Andy
Organisational Development Manager
Andy
Andy
HR and Education Operations Manager
My job is interesting, rewarding and challenging in equal measure and I know the work we do here makes a positive difference in the local community.
Rosie
Professional Development Nurse
Rosie
Rosie
Professional Development Nurse
I am a Professional Development Nurse at the Hospice and I love my job as I have the potential to increase and change knowledge about End of Life Care both here at the Hospice and in the community. Knowing you can make a difference and hopefully improve standards of care is very satisfying.
I also have the opportunity of working alongside others who are also passionate about this aspect of care and I continue to gain knowledge in working with them and also attending educational sessions. Researching for the workshops we present is very interesting and stimulating and means I continue to develop as a registered nurse.
Laura
Senior Community and Events Fundraiser
Laura
Laura
Community Fundraiser
I am a Community Fundraiser and have been in my role for 4 years. I love being able to put on big and small events for the local community, whilst raising money for a much needed charity and fulfilling place to work.
My role is so varied and no day is ever the same. The Fundraising team are a great team to be a part of and everybody always pulls together to make sure the events run as smoothly and successfully as possible.
Evelyn
Clinical Services Director
Evelyn
Evelyn
Clinical Services Director
Evelyn Prodger, our Clinical Services Director, talks about her role at the Hospice and why she loves her job so much.
“I joined the Hospice in October 2021 as the Clinical Services Director and it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. I love that I get to work with a team of great people who want to do their best to support people in Hastings and Rother referred to us.
I have really enjoyed getting to know team members, understanding their skills, knowledge, expertise and experience, seeing their compassion and how they work but also thinking about how we can make our services better for local people moving forward. As part of the Leadership team, I can help shape our strategy and then put it into practice.
In any given day I may talk to Care Quality Commission, liaise with other hospice leaders, connect with colleagues in the NHS, do a staff appraisal that will help them grow into their next role, do a one to one with one of a new Associate Nurse Specialist and hear about their development, update a policy or talk about a brand new post we want to develop. And I get to do it surrounded by colleagues who are equally committed to getting it right and moving forward to a vision we have for the future.
To top it all, I get to do this every day with a view of our beautiful gardens and the sea! That’s why I can say “I love my job”.
Lisa
Associate Clinical Nurse Specialist
Lisa
Lisa
Associate Clinical Nurse Specialist
Lisa, one of our Associate Clinical Nurse Specialists, loves her job at St Michael’s Hospice and here she tells us what makes the Hospice such a special place to work.
“I joined the Hospice in September 2019 during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was home-schooling my three children and seeing how the pandemic was having such an impact on nursing services I wanted to do my bit. I applied for a bank post on the In-Patient Unit to balance childcare and work.
Being with patients during such a difficult time was incredibly rewarding. The team are incredibly dedicated and passionate, and I learned a great deal. I also started to support the Community service, and loved being able to work between the two.
During a one to one meeting with the new Director of Clinical Services I expressed a frustration that having loved my time at the Hospice, and with more skills to offer, I was restricted to a bank role in order to meet the needs of my children. I was asked to consider an exciting opportunity, with the possibility of a flexible contract to fit in with my family life as well as develop my clinical skills.
I am now fortunate to be an Associate Clinical Nurse Specialist, a new and exciting development post, of which two opportunities were created to support the existing Hospice Outreach team. I am able to work flexibly, and meet the needs of my family finding the perfect work-life balance.
I am continuing my learning within a supportive, experienced and knowledgeable team and have the opportunity to develop my prescribing practice while supporting patients and their families at home.
I am very proud to be part of a service that is so valuable and widely loved and respected by our local community.”
Sophie
Community and Corporate Fundraiser
Sophie
Sophie
Community and Corporate Fundraiser
“I started working for St Michael’s Hospice in November 2022 and there hasn’t been a dull moment since. Throughout my life I’ve always been creative, and it’s not easy to find a job role that has so much potential and freedom to explore. That’s why, for me, the job of Community and Corporate Fundraiser has been perfect.
“I’m always out and about in the community. My day could consist of anything from walking around a farm in my wellies, to visiting a school, or attending a pub quiz. I support individuals, groups, or businesses who wish to support the Hospice with their fundraising events, so my role is nothing but exciting. I love being social, which enables me to create lasting relationships with supporters, volunteers and employees. I am so proud to work for St Michael’s Hospice and I thrive on creating those meaningful relationships and meeting new people every day.
“The atmosphere in and around the Hospice is so calm and comforting. I love being able to work in an environment where everyone supports one another to achieve the best for those who benefit from the Hospice and its services. The freedom to be your authentic self is encouraged and being able to express myself wholeheartedly in my place of work is hugely important to me.
“I’m grateful to be a part of something so many people in our local community hold close.”
Lauren
Shop Manager
Lauren
Lauren
Shop Manager
“I started my journey with St Michael’s Hospice in 2021 and was proud to re-open the Rye shop after the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a huge decision to change my occupation to charity retail from holiday park entertainment but it was the best decision I’ve ever made.
I love being in the heart of the community and being able to provide so much for the town of Rye and its surrounding areas. We are more than just a charity shop, not only are we able to provide great quality, pre-loved goods whilst raising essential funds for the Hospice, we are also a listening ear to anybody who would like to chat or a smiling face to an excited child who has found a new toy.
The volunteers in the Rye shop are the most amazing, hard working and dedicated group of people, they make every day with them a real pleasure. Our team is a family, we are fully supported by the wider Retail and Hospice team. They are always on hand to help and advise when we need it.
Working in the shop gives me such joy, no two days are the same. I love that I’m able to create exciting window displays and find hidden gems generously donated by our lovely donors, who we are very grateful for. My most successful venture so far is working with the local school on window displays and school trips to the shop. This helps the next generation to learn about who we are what we do. The school uniform project, selling pre-loved uniform at affordable prices, has also meant we have been able to provide support for many families throughout their school journey.
I love my job because it gives me an opportunity to help others whilst working with some incredibly inspirational people.”
Kirsty
Senior Multimedia Content Creator
Kirsty
Kirsty
Marketing Assistant
“I joined the Hospice team in August 2017 as a Marketing Assistant, after working in the culture sector for over five years. I was looking for a new challenge and as soon as I walked through the doors of the Hospice I saw how special it is, everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Since then, I have had the opportunity to grow within the organisation, further developing my skillset and confidence which has been fantastic.
“Being part of the Marketing and Communications team means every day is different, which brings excitement and opportunity. We are a relatively small team and work very closely together, which is great for sharing tips and ideas. I am able to exercise my creative side leading on the design of promotional materials for all areas of the Hospice including our services, Fundraising events and Retail shops, but also get stuck into pulling together marketing campaigns helping departments across the Hospice to achieve their goals.
“A highlight of my job is that I have the opportunity to share the stories of the people we support and I feel privileged to have met many Hospice patients, carers and family members over the past six years. Their stories are always so inspiring at a time when life can be very difficult.
“The Hospice is a wonderful place to work as everyone is focused on the same vision, to support and enable people living in Hastings and Rother with dying, death and loss. To make a difference in my community every day is why I love my job.”
