First hospice awarded a Compassionate Employers Gold Award

St Michael's Hospice (Hastings and Rother) has set a new standard by being the first hospice to receive a Gold Compassionate Employers Award from Hospice UK.

The hospice joined the Compassionate Employers programme in 2022. This scheme helps employers support employees who are dealing with grief, caregiving duties, or terminal illness.

Focusing on the well-being of its own staff has allowed the hospice to expand its commitment to helping the Hastings and Rother community.

During the programme, St Michael's Hospice thoroughly evaluated its employee support services. This involved comparing the available services to national and industry standards. The team, led by Caroline White, also received training, access to a wealth of resources, and expert guidance.

Over the past two years, St Michael's has made significant improvements. These include updating policies and offering practical training to staff.

Caroline White, Deputy Chief Executive at St Michael's Hospice, said:

“We recognised having a standard policy or process did not put the employee at the centre of our thinking, so we have adapted our policies so they can be more flexible to support the uniqueness of each employee’s needs when they need it.

"The support and insights from Hospice UK have been pivotal to us making these changes and I am delighted that we have managed to make such changes to our employee support package.”

The hospice has also launched a new carer's forum, to great success. 

Caroline explains:

“As part of the programme, we created a Carers policy and a Carer’s Forum as a space for employees to come together to share their experiences of caring for family or friends alongside having a job. Members of the forum have expressed how valuable they have found this group where they can offload the emotional, physical and mental impact of being a working carer.” 

Faith Holloway, the Compassionate Employers Programme Lead at Hospice UK, praised the hospice for its inclusive and sensitive approach, especially in revising its bereavement policy. She noted that the policy now allows more flexibility in taking leave. It even covers situations like pregnancy loss or pet loss. 

Faith said:

“Receiving the Gold Award reflects St Michael's Hospice's strong commitment to being a compassionate employer, setting an inspiring example for others in the sector and beyond.”

Could your hospice benefit from the Compassionate Employers programme?

Hospices are experts when it comes to providing compassionate care to their communities. It seems like a no-brainer that they should be extending the same level of support to their staff. Are you confident that your policies properly support your employees? 

Hundreds of thousands of employees across many sectors are already benefiting from our Compassionate Employers programme. And yours could too.