A day in the life

Amanda Reid, Spiritual Care and Bereavement Lead, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), highlights some of her daily work.

CHAS is the only charity in Scotland that provides vital hospice services for children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

We have two children’s hospices: Robin House in Balloch and Rachel House in Kinross. We also support families across Scotland through our outreach team, supporting families in their home and community. I am the Spiritual Care and Bereavement Lead for CHAS and the Lead Chaplain. I am based at Robin House and Ali Pandian is the full time chaplain in Rachel House.

Both hospices are purpose-built home from home environments, providing accommodation for eight families in each hospice from across Scotland at any one time. The hospice supports the whole family, it is a place where families can relax, recharge their batteries and have fun with their children. We offer respite for the referred child through short planned breaks, emergency support as well as provide that much needed one to one end of life support and care.

We are currently supporting over 300 families across Scotland, as well as a significant number of families who receive bereavement support. Some of our families have been using our hospices for several years and others come as emergency admissions from home or hospital for end of life care.

We have a purpose built room in both our hospices called the Rainbow Room. These special rooms are for families who wish to spend time with their child after death. The Rainbow Room provides a private, calm and restful place for families to spend time together, and say their final goodbyes.

Bereavement support is available to the whole family: parents, siblings, grandparents and the extended family and it doesn’t end when the families leave. I believe it is more beneficial to our families if they are introduced to their local church so when the time comes, they will be supported within their own church community.

In my role as Chaplain, I journey with parents and families through some very happy times and also through the darkest of times. I offer religious and spiritual care to all, regardless of faith or beliefs. The loss of a child can raise big questions about life and death and I’m available to explore these questions with our families. I also conduct the majority of the funerals at Robin House. Families often say: “We would like you to conduct the funeral service because you knew my child and you know our story.” It’s so important to families to have someone who has walked at least part of their journey with them.

Chaplaincy within the world of children’s palliative care is very different from any other kind of ministry I’ve encountered or experienced. It is a world I feel humbled and privileged to serve within. And as a mum of three I cannot begin to imagine the heartache and pain of losing a child.

The hospices are special places for families to spend precious time together; making memories in a home from home environment, knowing that the medical team is nearby.

It is difficult to put into words the work we do at Robin House so I’ll leave you with words from a parent.

“At Robin House we got to hold our daughter for the first time without tubes and equipment. We got to cuddle her … just the three of us until she took her last breath.”