Palliative and End of Life care

Who we are

Team of Community based Children’s nurses, nurse associates, health care assistants, play specialist and administrators lead by a Palliative and Complex Care Practitioner working alongside the child and families wider health, social and voluntary support network.

Our work

We offer holistic care to children and young people and their families, on a palliative care pathway, by working alongside other health and social care professionals and voluntary organisations. We:

  • Holistically assess the needs of children and families and, together with parents to produce a joint plan of care.
  • Reduce or prevent hospital attendances or admissions by providing a skilled paediatric nursing service.
  • Enable and empower parents to look after their child in the most suitable environment with our support.
  • Act as family advocates and network on behalf of children and families.
  • Deliver standards of care aiming to be ‘caring, safe and excellent’ in an MDT approach.
  • Work in partnership with families to ensure a co-ordinated approach to family-centred care throughout their child’s life.
  • Offer short breaks if appropriate to child and families needs.
  • Deliver 24/7 on-call advice for children and families at the end of life.
  • Provide bereavement support.

The care given will be guided by the wishes of the individual child/young person and their family, whether in the children’s hospice, acute setting or in the community.

Availability

The team operate 7 days a week from 8.00am to 8.00pm.

There is an 24/7 on call service for children at the end of their life. A decision when the 24/7 on call service is needed will be made between the family and health professionals and contact details and how to access will be shared with family at the time.

Referrals

Referrals are accepted from GPs, hospital consultants and other healthcare professionals please see our referrals page.

Useful link

Page last reviewed: 11 November, 2022