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Social Work team

Social Work team

Life-limiting illness can lead to problems which go beyond immediate medical and nursing needs. These might include emotional or psychological distress, needing care at home or in a residential setting, financial difficulties, or helping your family and friends understand and help with your illness. This is where the social work team at St Luke's comes in.


We are a team of social work professionals who specialise in working with individuals with palliative care needs. For example, individuals who have a life limiting illness such as cancer or a neurological condition such as Parkinson’s or Huntington’s disease. We work as part of a multidisciplinary team including Dr’s, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and chaplaincy to ensure patients and their families have the care and support they need.

Our role is very diverse and is centred on what the patient or their family needs. This includes both practical and emotional support. Such supports include, helping patients ensure they are receiving all their benefits, assisting with a blue badge or obtaining grants, to supporting patients to make a will. Often we support patients who reside in the community with advice and guidance in respect of respite, care provision and how to contact Sheffield City Council if needed. 

We work closely with the doctors, nurses and therapists at the hospice and with your permission we can liaise with the other organisations and services you may come into contact with. Our goal is to enable you to maintain a quality of life wherever you choose to live, and to live with dignity and choice.

You might be a day patient coming in once a week to the Therapies and Rehabilitation Centre or staying on the ward in the In Patient unit. You may bee based entirely at home. Whatever your circumstances, we are on hand to help. We are employed by St Luke’s and we are all based at the hospice. Our service is open during normal office hours and usually one evening a week; we can be contacted by phone, email or a visit to the hospice.

We are here for family members, friends and carers as well as for patients and we can talk over difficulties in confidence. If you think we can help, please get in touch directly via a member of one of the nursing teams at St Luke’s.


What can we do for you? 

  • Support with care arrangements and practical support
  • Help you plan and make decisions for the present and future
  • Link in with other services on your behalf to help make things happen - for example, we work with social care and health services, local housing organisations, nursing homes, home care agencies, night sitting services, City Wide Care Alarms and Key Safe providers
  • Make sure all the support you need is in place and that arrangements for your care go as smoothly as possible
  • Provide emotional support
  • Help you think about your future needs, planning for your future care (Advance Care Planning) and talking to your family and friends
  • Support children in your family who may find it hard to understand you illness and it’s consequences
  • Give you advice and help with financial and legal matters for example benefits and allowances, grants and making a will or arranging power of attorney 

How to contact a member of the Social Work team: 

Email: [email protected] or call: 0114 236 9911 and ask for the Social Work team

© 2024 St Luke’s Hospice. Registered charity number 254402.