Tonderai’s story

Meet our senior palliative care social worker, Tonderai.

Tonderai is our senior palliative care social worker. She has a vast amount of experience in social care, including as a hospital social worker, duty hospital social worker in A&E, and duty community social worker as well as community social worker.

Here, Tonderai talks about her role and the wide variety of help that our Palliative Care Social Work Team can offer individuals receiving care and those close to them.

“It’s all about what we can do to make your life easier while you’re already going through this difficult time.” 

“As palliative care social workers, we can help you solve challenges that you’re facing. On top of your physical needs, you might be worried about your loved ones, children or adults that are vulnerable, or a pet that needs looking after, or financial struggles, or a stressful living environment. We can help you resolve those issues, so that you don’t have other stresses on top of your health needs. It’s all about what we can do to make your life easier while you’re already going through this difficult time.” 

“We are here to support you with all your needs, not just physical ones.” 

“It’s important to make sure we’re providing you with holistic care, which supports you with all your concerns. You might be struggling with emotional, practical, social, spiritual, and mental health needs too. They all play a part in your wellbeing, and we are here to support you with all your needs.” 

“We can support you with any social issues and welfare questions.” 

“We work with the wider Rennie Grove Peace team that is providing your care, including nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, so that we can support you with any social issues and answer any welfare questions you may have.” 

We are here for carers too 

“It’s so important to ask carers, ‘how are you coping?’” 

“It’s so important to ask carers, ‘Tell me about yourself, how are you? How are you coping?’ For many carers, the focus is understandably on the person who is unwell, so to have someone checking in on them makes a difference, particularly if they’re feeling overwhelmed. I let them know ‘you’ve done your best, you’ve done your part, but we can give you that little bit of extra help’. It’s just about checking in on them and making sure they know that we are there for them too.” 

“There’s nothing that gives me more joy than helping someone through something hard – that might have been lingering for a long time.” 

“I am passionate about social work, really passionate. There’s nothing that gives me more joy than helping someone through something that may have been causing them distress, like resolving an issue that might have been lingering for a long time and is playing on their mind. Supporting people and just knowing that you’ve given them that little bit of peace of mind – it’s very satisfying for me.” 

“You don’t have to figure things out on your own.”

“I want everyone to know that they don’t have to figure things out on their own. Whether it’s help with accessing benefits and financial support, discussions around different types of funding, or helping you find support with cleaning or shopping, we’re here to listen and help you with any concerns you have.” 

Attend our free one-to-one welfare clinic 

To attend our free one-to-one welfare clinic or to find out more about how our Palliative Care Social Work Team can support you, speak with a member of your Rennie Grove Peace healthcare team or contact us.

Contact us

Or you can download our Palliative Care Social Work Team leaflet:

Read the leaflet

Our Palliative Care Social Work Team can: 

• Provide money and legal guidance – i.e. benefits and financial support etc 

• Help you find the right support – connecting you to the right people and services 

• Help with family conversations – to make sure everyone feels heard 

• Signpost you to day-to-day practical help – helping you access support services e.g. with shopping, cleaning and meals 

• Guide you through forms and important processes