Jo Palmer, Maples Care Home’s very own Clinical Manager, has been shortlisted for The Palliative Care/End of Life Award at this year’s Great British Care Awards.
Jo, who joined Maples Care Home during lockdown in April 2020, now faces a tough interview with the judging panel next month with the results to be announced at a gala dinner in April 2021.
Having started her working life in the travel industry, Jo was later introduced to the world of care when her grandmother was diagnosed with dementia.
“This experience gave me an insight into the care industry and what is required in a caring role and environment, particularly when dealing with vulnerable people in often very difficult and distressing circumstances,” she recalls.
Following this intensely personal experience, Jo decided to change careers and train as a nurse. “This profession soon became very much part of my heart,” she says.
After qualifying, one of her first roles was a community nurse where she spent a considerable amount of time with people in end-of-life (EOL) situations and discovered a passion for EOL care. She successfully completed a Level 5 qualification in Leading and Managing Services to Support End of Life and Significant Life. “This has given me a greater appreciation of supporting those during the last days of life, and working with families, carers, and individuals during times of crisis,” she says.
Since joining Maples, Jo has involved various internal and external professionals in supporting the staff, families and residents to provide a dignified end-of-life experience.
Jo has become an EOL champion and is working hard to develop her team of nurses and carers to achieve a much greater quality of EOL care in the home. She is working toward implementing the six steps laid down by the National End of Life Care Programme’s End of Life Care Pathway and is empowering staff to ensure that residents have a ‘good death’.
As a result of her unique approach, EOL residents have increasingly avoided being admitted to hospital because Maples can now support them to spend their last days peacefully in a place of their choice. This was particularly important at the peak of Covid-19. Families were able to visit the home (safely and according to strict hygiene protocols) and spend time with their loved ones before their passing.
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