Elle's story: making the most of every moment

Elle says: “I’ve worked with so many different children, some of whom have sadly died now. It’s hard to see children go from walking and talking to being a wheelchair user or unable to use their voice. But it’s the small moments we get with the children that make all the difference. Just little things that you wouldn’t think would mean that much, but make the children smile or laugh. When you get those smiles, you know you’ve done a good job.

“One of the children I look after, the first time I went to see him he had such a great time that he cried when we left. So we know he really enjoyed that time! And his mum was free to just get on with normal life while he was being well cared for.”

But it’s not just about supporting families with their day-to-day life.

Elle says: “We do day trips for children too, like Thorpe Park or going to a pumpkin patch. It’s amazing to make those things possible for them and send pictures to their family so they know they’re having a great time. It’s all about making those core memories. It’s very, very rewarding.”

While being a healthcare assistant means being part of those magical family moments, it’s also challenging, and requires a high level of clinical knowledge.

Elle says: “As an HCA you often work on your own - you have to make emergency decisions, do medications, deal with seizures, suctioning – there’s a lot involved. But we have such a lovely team. Everyone is so supportive and we take care of how we’re all feeling. Especially with end of life, it can be obviously quite challenging, but we have regular check-ins and peer support, and we help each other. So having those check-ins with each other is so important, because it’s a tough job sometimes."

For Elle, the close relationships you develop with families makes working at a children’s hospice a unique experience.

Elle says: “What’s different about working at a hospice is that you get to build up that rapport and those relationships with the families. For me that’s really important, especially when you’re going into a family’s home - they need to trust you. Families have care staff in their homes all the time and it feels good to know that they’re happy for you to be there in those more vulnerable moments, like in the morning when they’ve just woken up. You’re there as a professional of course, but you are also a part of their family. I feel really valued that they’re happy to have me in their home.

“People always think this is a hard job, but the children here almost do the work for you. They make it easy – they are so happy. Even in the worst of times, they’re smiling.”