St Michael's Hospice

Who we are

We support adults with a life limiting and progressive condition, who live in Hastings and Rother.  Our specialist palliative care team is here to support you and your family – whether at home, in our hospice, or through outpatient appointments. Every person is different, so we’ll work with you to understand what matters most. Once you’ve been referred to us, we’ll give you a call to gather some data and information about you and discuss your needs. This is a chance for us to get to know you, and plan the best way forward together.

We work closely with your GP, hospital team, and other NHS services. We don’t replace them, we will contact but we’re here to offer specialist advice and support – both to you and to the professionals already involved in your care.

Our culture and values

We stand for excellence in holistic care and support for all those throughout Hastings and Rother affected by a progressive life-limiting illness or bereavement.

What are our values?

Our values underpin every aspect of work in the Hospice and set our behavioural standards not just to our patients and their families but to each other as colleagues. Our values are a moral compass and should guide all our actions and are:- 

Respectful - We act with dignity and integrity

• Respecting the contribution and views of others, even when they are different from our own
•  Acting quickly and fairly to deal with improper conduct, including any act of harassment,
  discrimination or abuse
• Admitting when we get things wrong and making sure lessons are learnt from mistakes
• Making sure the Hospice is an environment where questions are welcomed, open and honest
  feedback is invited and heard, and concerns are raised and acted on.

Innovative - We lead the way

• Being curious about new technologies, developing imaginative and creative ways of working
• Being open to different approaches and eager to share successes and failures
• Being focused on solutions and overcoming challenges, seeing the opportunity within
• Working in a collaborative way, fostering innovative partnerships to improve systems, processes
  and services
• Ensuring all personal opportunities for learning and development are taken, promoting life-long
  learning

Kind - We show kindness

• Being polite, friendly and welcoming to all
• Acting with thoughtfulness and compassion towards colleagues, patients, families, carers and
  the community
• Being generous with our time and knowledge, supporting those involved in the care of people
  with palliative care needs
• Being self-aware, able to reflect and be accountable for our individual behaviours and impact
  on others

Inclusive - We are stronger together

• Embracing the uniqueness of each of us, recognising the contribution made by all colleagues,
  volunteers, and supporters
• Learning from the experiences of all individuals irrespective of age, race, gender, sex, sexuality,
  faith or (dis)ability, or in other ways
• Inspiring each other through positive actions and encouragement
• Working in an integrated way, recognising and valuing the skills, qualities and contribution of
  others
• Engaging with, working in partnership and being responsive to the needs of our whole
  community
• Championing the Hospice within our own communities, reflecting positive attitudes and
  behaviours
• Fostering a safe, open environment for the whole community to feel comfortable in.

Our values were created through a series of workshops we held with our employees and volunteers

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

St Michael’s Hospice aspires to be a place where everyone feels welcome; whether you are cared for or supported by us, employed by us, volunteer for us, or support us in any way. We recognise that being a diverse and inclusive organisation is enabling us to achieve our vision of a kind, resilient and empowered community who are ready, willing, capable and confident to support people living with dying, death and loss. People should have equitable access to our services and be treated with kindness and respect. We continue our established work with patients, families and bereaved people to truly understand their individual needs and strive to meet them.