Officially a Very Good
Company to Work For
Officially a Very Good
Company to Work For
Officially an Outstanding
Company to Work For
Officially an Outstanding
Company to Work For
Officially a World Class
Company to Work For
Officially a World Class
Company to Work For
Officially a Good
Company to Work For
Officially a Good
Company to Work For
Opened in 1984, St Michael's Hospice is an independent charity that exists to help and support patients and their families living with a terminal illness. Its multi-disciplinary team includes doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, complementary therapists, social workers, chaplains and counsellors. They work together and often in partnership with the NHS to relieve patients' symptoms, control their pain and help people to live well until the end of life.
The hospice provides in-patient services, hospice day care and support for patients in a range of settings, including their homes. St Michael's is also there to ensure loved ones have access to the appropriate care and support they need to cope with the complex feelings and lifestyle changes caused by a terminal illness.
As a charity, the hospice sought to provide its services in new and innovative ways over the past year. It sought and received funding for Covid-related counselling and was able to maintain visitors through the creation of “ward runners” – volunteers who received and escorted visitors to the external door of the patient's rooms. Nurses who were unable to work face-to-face with patients provided telephone support to care homes and carers for palliative patients.
St Michael's says on its website: “Through sheer dedication and love for our fellow men and women, we built the hospice ... you can still feel the love when you walk in. There's something very special about our building.”
This organisation is run on strong values / principles
Communication has been improved on the hospice intranet, with senior leaders ensuring feedback from staff is responded to. Employees are offered 1:1s, and there are virtual team meetings, online drop-in coffee-break chats, and the joint staff committee regularly posts video updates.
I believe I can make a valuable contribution to the success of this organisation
It became apparent that some staff felt abandoned when others were home-working while those working from home or furloughed felt unappreciated/undervalued by colleagues – so the hospice swiftly moved to provide more frequent opportunities to air concerns and communicate. Informal catch-ups initially took place virtually every day, and now run twice weekly.
My organisation encourages charitable activities
St Michael's is the biggest recycler in Herefordshire through its retail shops. Hospice-based staff and volunteers can bring in donations to the shops on the premises, and green policies include solar panels on the building and free charging for electric vehicles.
Companies offering a minimum of 26 days annual leave to all employees.
Companies offering a final salary scheme to all employees, or one in which the employer's contribution is at least 5%.
At least 40% of senior managers are women.
