Staff Stories

Tania Wilson, Patient and Community Engagement Lead

What attracted you to work at Dove House?
I was always aware of Dove House and supported the charity through donating goods or attending events. Whilst I completed my nursing training I worked on the Bank and volunteered at the hospice to gain experience of palliative care. It’s an amazing place and I remember falling in love with it when I walked into my first volunteer shift. That was 20 years ago and I still feel the same way now. My role has changed from hands-on nursing but I still get the same feeling of pride in my current role when I talk to patients.

What is your role and what does it involve?
I am responsible for collating service user feedback, liaising with other health and social care organisations, encouraging people to access our services, and talking to groups to spread the message of the hospice and bust myths about our care!

What do you enjoy the most?
I am proud to be part of a team that cares so much. We are truly united! The people I work with all have a can-do attitude. Dove House is an environment where you can make things happen. My overall aim is to make hospice care available to everyone who needs it and telling as many people about the hospice is a major part of this. I want everyone to know about the hospice and be champions of Dove House!

Coral Fairbank, Marketing Assistant

What attracted you to work at Dove House?
Being part of an organisation that puts so much into the community is really important to me, working for dove house gives you a sense of accomplishment as you know everything you do is going towards helping other people.

What is it like to work at the hospice?
Working at the hospice is great, we have a fantastic team who get on really well. Everyone at the hospice is really friendly and approachable. It didn’t take long for me to settle into my role and feel like part of the family.

What is your role and what does it involve?
My role includes planning and executing marketing for all areas of the hospice, I will liaise with internal and external designers & suppliers to produce all marketing materials. A typical day will involve planning social media, editing videos, proofing design work and updating our websites.

What do you enjoy the most?
The thing I enjoy the most about my job is the variety of work, there is always something new and exciting happening and as a creative person it’s great to be coming up with new ideas and ways to support the hospice.

Linda Johnson, Head of Clinical Services.

What attracted you to work at Dove House?
My nursing career began when I was 23. During my nurse training I quickly realised that I wanted to work with terminally ill and dying patients. In July 1991, when jobs were advertised at Dove House, I applied and was thrilled to get an interview. I was asked many questions at interview but the one that sticks in my mind was “what I would do if a patient was dying and wanted to see their dog?” I replied “bring the dog in!” When I was offered the post as D grade Staff Nurse I was over the moon.

What is it like to work at the hospice?
Telling people I work at Dove House Hospice has always been a conversation stopper; people often think it must be a gloomy and depressing place. I always tell them it’s a great place to work, yes there are sad times but working at the hospice you really feel you are making a difference. I often show visitors around the hospice and they comment on the sense of calm and warmth as you enter the building, the welcome by staff and volunteers alike. They are surprised by the smiles, the conversation and the laughter. People are amazed by the sheer size of the hospice, the beautiful facilities, and the varied work that is done.

27 years later I still feel very lucky and privileged to work here, there is nowhere else like it. I am incredibly proud of what we do, to be part of such a fantastic team, and to be part of something that really makes a difference. Our team helps people make the most of the time they have left and recognises them as the person they are.