#178 "When I Leave This House, I Leave in a Box" How One Request Built a Service with Bill Thompson

What happens when a person is truly listened to, when supporting an individual becomes a catalyst for community action? In discussion with Bill Thompson, Clinical Assistant and Service Administrator for the Care Choices Service, I find out how a request to stay at home to die led to the creation of a volunteer based service to support people in planning ahead. Listen in to hear how the service was developed and the impact it has made. 

This episode has been kindly supported by the Living Well Dying Well Trust. The creation, development and content of the episode remains the responsibility of Clare Fuller.

Key messages

• The catalyst for development of Care Choices Service .

• The ethos, "we already have compassion… all we need is a little steer"

• The reframing of "difficult conversations" to tender conversations and recognition of the magic of silence

• What the volunteer pathway looks like with application, phone conversation, two-day face-to-face training and  safeguarding.

• Ongoing support for volunteers.

• Bill shares two cases studies and how the Care Choices Service supported patients to achieve their wishes.

• The geography of the service and future development plans

• What the potential barriers to development are, namely funding, capacity and quality control.

• Bill's own planning and how his family have been involved - with a great personal example of open discussion and action.

Resource

• Access info about the Care Choices Service 

• Access the excellent resource on Care Choices Service at Resources 

• Find out more about ReSPECT

• Listen to the podcast ReSPECT and Advance Care Planning with Dr Zoe Fritz 

• Access info about My Care Choices Register  

• Find out more about Suffolk Good Neighbour Network

  
  

Bio

Bill Thompson is the Clinical Assistant and Service Administrator for Care Choices Services.

Bill applies his extensive experience as a former Speech and Language Therapist within the NHS to his role, providing logistical, training and governance support alongside his innate compassion to volunteers and patients.