Our specialist social workers are experienced in dealing with the problems faced by people who have a life threatening illness. We can help you through the benefits maze, with obtaining special equipment, housing problems, resolving many financial issues including debt and help you to deal with employment problems.

Your illness also affects your family and those close to you. It can be difficult to talk about the illness and the strong emotions that accompany it. Sometimes talking to someone outside the family can help. As specialist social workers we have the skills and training that can help families face these difficulties and help them talk about them if appropriate.

You may be worried about what to tell the children in the family and how to find the right words. Children will quickly sense that something is upsetting the adults around them and may worry even more if they think things are being kept from them. They may even think they have done something to cause the problems. We have a lot of experience of working with families affected by serious illness. We can work with the children to help them express their worries and feelings.

We provide bereavement support for adults and children. Our bereavement support groups meet throughout Blaenau Gwent and individual support can be provided to children and adults. We also hold a children’s bereavement group and provide books and activities specially designed to help children come to terms with serious illness or a death in their family

For our leaflet on the Social Work Department click here