'Compassionate' end of life care worker praised for looking after dying 'with gentle ease'

A care worker at a care home in Bristol has been praised for being “gentle, passionate and compassionate” and looking after the dying person, their family and the staff “with the same gentle ease”.

Jane Reynolds, a senior care assistant at St Monica Trust’s John Wills House care home in Westbury-on-Trym, has won two awards this year for her work in end of life care.

Back in October, Ms Reynolds won the Palliative, Day Service and Live-In Worker Award at the Care and Support West Awards and in November, she won the Palliative Care Award at the GB Awards South West.

The judges said: “The way Jane talked about her job made me feel I would like her to be there if I had a loved one dying. She was so gentle, passionate and compassionate and looks after everyone, the dying person, their family and all the staff with the same gentle ease.”

Wendy Leaman, manager of John Wills House Care Home, called Jane Reynolds “second to none”.

She added: “She can quite literally find a solution to every problem and always with a smile on her face. The unit just wouldn’t be the same without her - she is simply irreplaceable.”

'She brings comfort with a great, big hug, a few tears and sometimes a naughty joke!'

“Jane is well-recognised as the go-to person for all staff, who at times, can struggle with the realities of looking after residents who are dying. Informally, she provides her own brand of comfort – which often involves a great big hug, a few tears and sometimes, a naughty joke!”

Ms Reynolds has worked for the St Monica Trust for twenty-six years and credits caring for her terminally ill mum as the inspiration for her career. She said: “I was working as a shop assistant when mum became ill and I knew nothing about people dying.

"She didn’t want to go into hospital or a hospice as she wanted to be cared for at home. My mum was lovely, a very quiet, gentle soul."

Ms Reynolds went through a whirlwind of emotions within a matter of months, as in the space of six months she found out her mum was seriously ill, she got married and then had to deal with her mum dying. “There was no-one I could talk to or ask questions and I was left with the feeling that things could’ve been handled much better for mum and me,” she says.

“After she died, I knew that I wanted to care for people and that I could use what I’d experienced to help others. For me now, looking back, I think it’s because of mum that I am able do the job I love and I’ll be forever grateful to her.”

Her experience means she feels she can “comfort the families as I know what to say. I know what worked for me when my mum died and it has given me an insight into helping other people. I do need to get to know the family. It doesn’t just happen overnight. If you see them hurting you do what you can.

'I'm just doing a job I love'

“I think she would be over the moon at me winning these awards. I am just doing a job I love but it is nice to be recognised for it. When I read what my manager had written about me for the awards, that was enough for me. I have been overwhelmed by everyone’s support.”

Ms Reynolds describes her role in end of life care as the “best job in the world”.

“When I started my job in end of life care, people told me I had the worst job in the world. But for me it is a real privilege. I know you can really make a difference. There are no downsides to the job.”

“We have a chaplain here who gives us support and all of the team are here for each other.”

She says: “To work in end of life care, you need to have patience, empathy and be prepared to listen. Offer the relatives and friends a cup of tea and be patient and kind. It is not always about the residents, it is about their families too. If the family ask a difficult question, the worst thing you can do is lie. It is the not knowing that makes people scared.”

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