KEMP Hospice are honoured to have been presented with the High Sheriff of Worcestershire Award in recognition of their work for the community.
High Sheriff of Worcestershire, Mark Jackson OBE visited KEMP Hospice to present the award, along with an individual award for long-standing team member Jenny Griffiths, recognising her individual contribution over her long and distinguished career at KEMP Hospice.
During his visit, High Sheriff Mark Jackson OBE said “It is a huge pleasure knowing KEMP is working in the community and has adapted to the pandemic to maintain their services. It is an honour to present them with this award”. KEMP CEO Heidi Hawkins said “All of us at KEMP Hospice are thrilled to have received this prestigious award. It’s been an incredibly challenging year; however, the pandemic has shown us how we can adapt to ensure we continue to serve the community in a way that complements our existing services”.
When the UK went into a National Lockdown, KEMP Hospice were forced to close their doors to patients and look for new ways to continue offering support to the community. The Hospice Care Services Team adapted a full schedule of activities that could be conducted online. This included, Tai Chi, Creative Therapy sessions, Quizzes and arranging guest appearances from local organisations such as the Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster Museum of Carpet and a virtual tour of Harvington Hall.
KEMP Family Support and Bereavement Services Team moved to Zoom calls with adults, children, and young people to ensure their counselling support was not interrupted. Advanced Care Practitioners have also continued to support the 44 care homes across the Wyre Forrest, offering advice and support to both residents and staff.
Heidi continued to say, “It’s only through working innovatively, collaboratively and as a team, that any of this was possible, thus providing a comforting continuity through uncertain times, for those patients and carers who need access to the services of the KEMP Hospice”.
Speaking of the individual award for former Staff Nurse Jenny, Heidi said “Jenny is thoroughly deserving of her award. She has shown a dedication and selflessness for the community that has spanned a number of years with KEMP Hospice, beginning in 1989 when she was a community Macmillan Nurse working with our homecare volunteer team”. Jenny was due to retire in March 2020. As the impact of the pandemic became clear, she decided to delay her retirement and continue to work to support some of KEMP’s most vulnerable and isolated patients.
For more information about KEMP Hospice, please visit their website www.kemphospice.org.uk.
