{"id":6631,"date":"2024-03-25T11:48:23","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T11:48:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/?p=6631"},"modified":"2024-03-25T11:51:13","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T11:51:13","slug":"lizzies-placement-experience-at-pilgrims-hospices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/2024\/03\/25\/lizzies-placement-experience-at-pilgrims-hospices\/","title":{"rendered":"Lizzie\u2019s Placement experience at Pilgrims Hospices"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/files\/2024\/03\/Lizzie.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6632\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/files\/2024\/03\/Lizzie.jpg\" alt=\"Lizzie\" width=\"536\" height=\"331\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Within the embrace of Pilgrims Hospices in Ashford, amidst the corridors, therapy rooms, and family areas, a beacon of warmth and compassion shines through the dedicated efforts of individuals like Lizzie Threlfall. Lizzie, a vibrant and empathetic 25-year-old, is not just another student on placement; she\u2019s a testament to the transformative power of heartfelt care and genuine dedication.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>With a Psychology First Class Honours Degree already under her belt and now pursuing a Master\u2019s in Social Work at the University of Kent, Lizzie found herself drawn to Pilgrims Hospices for her first placement. Hailing from Maidstone, the opportunity to immerse herself in the hospice\u2019s social work team felt like fate knocking at her door.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was a little apprehensive at first,\u201d Lizzie admits, reflecting on her initial impressions. \u201cYou have your own image of a hospice before you\u2019ve been involved with one. It was totally new to me. But I thought, why not give it a go?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>From the moment she stepped through the doors, Lizzie was enveloped by a sense of belonging. The warmth of the team and the genuine welcome she received dispelled any doubts she had. \u201cI was taken by surprise, very much so,\u201d she shares. \u201cI never expected to feel so drawn to working here. In fact, I don\u2019t want my placement to end.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"testimonial-box\"><p><q>\u201cEach day is different,\u201d she says with a smile. \u201cYou never know what each new day will bring, and I love that.\u201d<\/q><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>What struck Lizzie most was the stark contrast between Pilgrims Hospices and other environments she had encountered. \u201cMost areas are very procedural,\u201d she explains, \u201cbut here, it\u2019s much softer. You have the real opportunity to become a genuine social worker, putting the person at the centre of all you do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The diversity of experiences at Pilgrims Hospices has been a revelation for Lizzie. \u201cEach day is different,\u201d she says with a smile. \u201cYou never know what each new day will bring, and I love that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lizzie\u2019s enthusiasm for her work is contagious, spreading even to her fellow students. \u201cI\u2019ve been sharing my experiences with them,\u201d she says, \u201cand they\u2019re amazed at the depth of learning and emotional connection we foster here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, Lizzie\u2019s journey at Pilgrims Hospices has been one of growth and enlightenment. She speaks passionately about the invaluable tools she\u2019s gained, particularly in communication. \u201cPatients have so many different issues to deal with,\u201d she explains. \u201cBeing able to effectively communicate and advocate for them is crucial.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"testimonial-box\"><p><q>\u201cI never considered palliative social work before,\u201d she admits, \u201cbut now I can\u2019t imagine being anywhere else.\u201d<\/q><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>But beyond the skills and knowledge acquired, it\u2019s the sense of purpose and fulfilment that resonates most deeply with Lizzie. \u201cWorking here has reaffirmed my passion for helping others,\u201d she reflects. \u201cIt\u2019s not a depressing place, as some may assume. It\u2019s a happy and safe environment, where everyone is supported.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As Lizzie looks ahead to completing her Master\u2019s and embarking on her career as a qualified social worker, her heart remains with Pilgrims Hospices. \u201cI never considered palliative social work before,\u201d she admits, \u201cbut now I can\u2019t imagine being anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With gratitude in her heart and determination in her stride, Lizzie Threlfall is not just a social work placement student; she\u2019s a shining example of the profound impact one individual can have in the lives of others. And as she dreams of joining the Pilgrims\u2019 team permanently, there\u2019s no doubt that her journey has only just begun.<\/p>\n<p>If you are interested in learning more about the many roles on offer at Pilgrims Hospices, including volunteer opportunities visit:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pilgrimshospices.org\/job-vacancy\/stepping-stones-coordinator-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Work-with-us<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"h-each-year-pilgrims-hospices-give-care-and-comfort-to-over-2-500-people-in-east-kent-who-are-coming-to-terms-with-an-illness-that-sadly-cannot-be-cured-nbsp-the-charity-supports-patients-to-live-life-as-well-as-possible-until-the-very-end-free-from-pain-and-distress\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured.\u00a0 The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Within the embrace of Pilgrims Hospices in Ashford, amidst the corridors, therapy rooms, and family areas, a beacon of warmth and compassion shines through the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/2024\/03\/25\/lizzies-placement-experience-at-pilgrims-hospices\/\">Read&nbsp;more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81995,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[872,1080],"tags":[872,26579,1080],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6631"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81995"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6631"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6631\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6634,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6631\/revisions\/6634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6631"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6631"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/sspssr-news-events\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6631"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}