About Us
"Most dying today is not well managed. Instead, we are witnessing a rise in shameful forms of dying. It is not cancer, heart disease or medical science that present modern dying with its greatest moral tests, but rather poverty, ageing and social exclusion."
- Allan Kellehear - Professor of Sociology, University of Bath
Omega Continues to Reach Carers from Across the Country
Our Work
Omega is focused on the following activity:
- Supporting carers, including those with responsibility for looking after a patient with a life-limiting or long-term condition
- Providing support to former carers, and the bereaved
- Raising standards in end of life care
- Collating and sharing information and resources in respect of a wide range of care-related issues
- Collaborating with other organisations to improve quality of life in the community
Omega facilitates group sessions, runs social activities and encourages peer support. We work with clinicians, Third Sector organisations, care professionals, expert advisors, businesses, volunteers and others, to achieve tangible improvements in general care and palliative care.
Our Achievements
In addition to managing a growing network of carer groups and continuing to work in several communities engaging with, and supporting un-paid family care-givers, including hidden carers, our achievements have included the following activity:
2009
Omega delivered the first national snapshot of End of life care in primary care. This internationally significant survey includes information about 4487 deaths from 502 general practices in 15 PCT areas. Nine out of ten English Strategic Health Authority regions are represented. Facilitated by Omega, this audit was funded by Primary Care Trusts and the NHS National End of Life Programme and jointly delivered by the Gold Standards Framework national team, The Evidence Centre, and The University of Birmingham.
We supported the successful development and delivery of 2 other web-based platforms to host audit/improvement applications of the GSF After Death Analysis tool.
2010
We developed a number of strategic relationships and expanded delivery of facilitated groups support sessions under the auspices of the Department of Health funded Caring with Confidence programme. We developed a bereavement support programme and trialed and developed a successful bereavement outreach approach. 8 members of the Omega facilitator team received coach training and began supporting the work of other delivery partners.
2011
We devised a group training resource suitable for health care workers involved in supporting people approaching end of life or who have recently faced bereavement. We launched the Wolverhampton Carer Forum with support from Wolverhampton City Council. We also launched a new group for carers of people with autism.
Building on our successful track record in developing and testing guidance material we developed a range of resources in response to requests from groups and individuals.
We extended the level of assistance we provide to families affected by motor neurone disease by launching the Omega MND iPad appeal.
Omega Continues to Reach Carers from Across the Country
We have delivered over 1000 friendly group session places across the country. So far we have held sessions in the following areas:
Shropshire Staffordshire London
Wolverhampton Hereford Blackburn
Birmingham Walsall Dudley
Solihull Leeds Lancashire
Merseyside West Sussex Suffolk Surrey
Greater Manchester
We are keen to reach out in new areas and welcome opportunities to provide support to people with caring responsibilities and the bereaved.
If you have an interest in working to support carers please get in touch to discuss whether our flexible approach will provide a suitable solution. We would also welcome your help to enable us to reach some of the many thousands of hidden family care-givers who need and deserve support.
