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We are here every step of your journey...

For families facing the heart-breaking knowledge that they will almost certainly outlive their child; we provide specialist care and support services for children with life-shortening conditions, due to illness or injury, from birth until they no longer need us.

The hospice is designed to provide a safe, home-from-home environment for the children and their families we support.

Our comfortable and spacious hospice, based at Grace Road in Trentham, is superbly equipped with facilities to meet the various needs of our children and to create treasured memories.

Take a tour of our childrens services

How We Care

Once referred to the hospice, each family is allocated their own Family Liaison Nurse who will be a familiar face to guide them through the care and support available both at the hospice and in the wider community.

Each child that accesses our services has a detailed, co-ordinated care plan which is integrated with all aspects of care. The Family Liaison Nurses help to reduce the pressure many families face when their son or daughter is diagnosed with a life-shortening illness.

Whatever a family needs, the Family Liaison Nurses can help families get the support they need.

What Makes Us Special

Sensory Room |
Garden Space |
Family Room |
Activity Play Room |
Specialist Music Room |
High Spec Bedrooms |
Cinema Room |
Transition to Adulthood |

 

Our sensory room features a vibrating bed to help children with hearing impairments feel the music, as well as bubble tubes and bright colour changing lights to offer a unique sensory experience. The space is often used for structured group sensory communication sessions. Our hospice physiotherapist can also support with postural management and physio in this calm and relaxing environment so that the children don’t even realise they’re doing exercises as they’re engrossed by the colours and lights.

 

The garden is a safe space which is fully wheelchair accessible so that disabled children and able-bodied children can play together.

 

The family lounge feels and looks like a normal family home, there’s a soft play area, lots of toys, books and a large TV. Families can truly relax in here, having a chat and a cup of tea while their children relax and play together.

 

At the heart of the building is the play room with walls covered in arts, crafts and colourful decorations. A play session often involves:

  • Sensory play using bubble tubes, ultra violet light and fibre optics.
  • Story time using sensory story sacks, tactile toys and music.
  • Messy play with spaghetti, gloop, shaving foam and jelly.

    • All children have a play profile which documents the best settings for them, their likes and interests.

 

Our special music room allows all our children and young adults to enjoy and experience music. There is a whole range of traditional musical instruments to play with – one of the most popular is of course the drum kit!

There is also a range of specialist interactive equipment which allows children and young adults to feel, or see, music with a sensory board to feel vibrations and computer software which converts notes into colours and pictures.

 

The bedroom corridor has 8 bedrooms with different beds, allowing us to accommodate a premature baby or a teenager. Our rooms are comfortable, homely and are also equipped with hoists to support our families.

Parents and siblings are also welcome to stay while their child is looked after by our care team. This gives parents a break from the daily routines and a chance to have a full night’s sleep, knowing their child is safe.

 

Our amazing new home cinema rom is complete with starscape ceiling is a huge hit with our children and their families. Whether it be a gathering for special family film time, a chilled out movie session with friends or stargazing, the adaptability and spaciousness of the room means that everyone can enjoy precious time together in comfort. Grab your popcorn and relax!

 

From arranging medical and hospital appointments to how they receive the equipment they need to care for their child, much of the support parents have counted on since their child was born is no longer available to them in the adult services world.

Having supported families every step of the way, we made a decision that we’d no longer discharge at 19 and would instead be there for as long as they need us. Our focus is very much on supporting young people to live their lives and to enjoy every experience they can. Our Transition Support Worker helps our young people adjust and settle into our young adult services.

  • Our Services
  • End of Life Care
  • Dougie Mac Memory Day
Our Services

Play and Activities

Our play team ensures that there are always lots of fun things to do, whether it’s one-to-one or in a group, all activities are adapted to enable each service user's full engagement. Play sessions can also get very messy and usually involve plenty of paint, glue and glitter.
Specialised play activities are offered such as sensory massages to enable children and young adults to develop new skills and experiences. Our play team are Makaton trained, along with other communication methods, to ensure our service users’ voices are always heard and valued.

Short Breaks and Respite

Whether it’s for a few hours, a day, or longer, our respite stays are often a lifeline for parents and carers. For the children and young people staying with us can be like a mini-holiday - the chance to meet up with friends and have lots of fun.
For someone used to being a carer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year, it’s chance to do things other people take for granted - sit on the sofa and watch a movie, spend time with their other children and even enjoy an uninterrupted night’s sleep.
We can also care for the child or young person in the comfort of their own home, meaning that they’re in an environment they know, while their parents or carers make the most of a few hours off.

Counselling and Support

Wherever a family is in their journey, our team of highly trained counsellors and therapists are able to offer each member of the family a wide range of emotional support services. Whether one-on-one or in a group, the emotional support we provide will be tailored to each individual’s needs and may include music, art or play alongside more traditional forms of counselling.
Counselling sessions are tailored to the family member’s needs and give them the time and space to talk about issues that are affecting their day to day lives.
In addition to one-to-one counselling, we also offer support groups where parents, siblings and carers can get together with others facing the same challenges as them. Our Mens group, Bereaved Mums support group, Siblings group and Parent and Carer support group are co-ordinated by our Family Support and Counselling Teams.

End of Life Care

Bereavement Support

 

End of life care and bereavement support is a priority for the team here at the hospice.

The care team works alongside the family to ensure that their wishes are at the centre of care provision. Providing a calm and comfortable environment for the family to be together is vital. The team can support with symptom management as well as the significant emotional and practical care each family needs. The team can help to create final memories and experiences for families.

Garden Room

 

Within The Donna Louise building, we have a private bereavement suite, The Garden Room, where a family can spend time saying goodbye to their child after they’ve passed away.

It’s a comfortable space, with its own private access. There’s a lounge, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. Families can use the rooms however they choose, personalising them with photos, teddies and their own bedding.

The Garden Room is available for those who have died at the hospice or elsewhere.

Dougie Mac Memory Day

Dedicate and grow our Forget Me Not Garden

Our memory page is a safe space for remembrance of all of the children and young people supported by the hospice throughout the years. As part of our hospice Memory Day, join us and other families in treasuring your memories and the life of your child.

Help us to grow our forget me not flower garden by adding messages, memories, or photos you’d like to share. You can add as many flower messages or memories as you wish and access the page at any time.

Donations are optional but help us continue to provide specialist services for local children and families in our care.

Dedicate a Forget Me Not

“It’s such a fun place, there is so many exciting things to do. It’s like a little holiday for her – she cries when she has to leave!”

-Parent of Child

Frequently Asked Questions

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Children

Will I have to pay to stay at the hospice?

No, thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, all children, young adults and adults can stay at the hospice free of charge.

In fact, all hospice services in the hospice and in the community are free of charge to anyone who needs them.

If you would like to make a donation to help support the continuation of our services, just visit our DONATE page-thank you.

How are families referred to the children’s service?

Anyone can refer a child to us. A family friend, a family member or a professional or of course you can refer yourself. We do ask that the family has given their permission to be referred. We’ll accept referrals at all stages of a child’s condition and we’re happy to receive referrals by telephone, letter, fax or e-mail.

Do you only offer care in the hospice?

No, while a lot of our care is given within the hospice, we also work out in the community and often spend time in a family’s own home. This means we’re able to provide flexible care and support to meet their particular needs.

Do you only look after children with Oncology illnesses?

No, we offer care and support to children with a variety of life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, which may be as a result of illness or injury. This includes children with metabolic conditions, Epilepsy, Muscular Dystrophy, heart conditions, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Cerebral Palsy and associated problems as well as benign brain tumours (Neurofibromatosis).

Can extended family and friends visit?

Yes, we have an open visiting policy although it is good to know in advance if you are expecting a large group of guests.

Who is responsible for my child in the event of a fire?

We rehearse a strict emergency fire procedure. Should there be a fire in the building, the nurse looking after your children will ensure they are moved immediately to safety.

Are all family bedrooms en-suite?

Yes, all family rooms have their own bathrooms.

Who will look after any siblings?

All siblings are invited to take part in the activities in and around the hospice, but they remain the responsibility of parents/guardians at all times.

When I stay at the hospice will there be other families staying too?

Yes, we can care for up to eight children at any one time. Sometimes we have whole families staying, while on other occasions it may just be the child.

Can we come to the hospice whenever we want?

We operate a booking system to ensure visits are fairly allocated amongst families, but we will do our best to accommodate requested dates. In an emergency, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help.

Will I have to pay to stay at the hospice?

No, thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, all children, young adults and adults can stay at the hospice free of charge.

In fact, all hospice services in the hospice and in the community are free of charge to anyone who needs them.

If you would like to make a donation to help support the continuation of our services, just visit our DONATE page-thank you.

How are families referred to the children’s service?

Anyone can refer a child to us. A family friend, a family member or a professional or of course you can refer yourself. We do ask that the family has given their permission to be referred. We’ll accept referrals at all stages of a child’s condition and we’re happy to receive referrals by telephone, letter, fax or e-mail.

Do you only offer care in the hospice?

No, while a lot of our care is given within the hospice, we also work out in the community and often spend time in a family’s own home. This means we’re able to provide flexible care and support to meet their particular needs.

Do you only look after children with Oncology illnesses?

No, we offer care and support to children with a variety of life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, which may be as a result of illness or injury. This includes children with metabolic conditions, Epilepsy, Muscular Dystrophy, heart conditions, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Cerebral Palsy and associated problems as well as benign brain tumours (Neurofibromatosis).

Can extended family and friends visit?

Yes, we have an open visiting policy although it is good to know in advance if you are expecting a large group of guests.

Who is responsible for my child in the event of a fire?

We rehearse a strict emergency fire procedure. Should there be a fire in the building, the nurse looking after your children will ensure they are moved immediately to safety.

Are all family bedrooms en-suite?

Yes, all family rooms have their own bathrooms.

Who will look after any siblings?

All siblings are invited to take part in the activities in and around the hospice, but they remain the responsibility of parents/guardians at all times.

When I stay at the hospice will there be other families staying too?

Yes, we can care for up to eight children at any one time. Sometimes we have whole families staying, while on other occasions it may just be the child.

Can we come to the hospice whenever we want?

We operate a booking system to ensure visits are fairly allocated amongst families, but we will do our best to accommodate requested dates. In an emergency, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help.

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We take the quality of our services very seriously and we are always striving to ensure we are providing the very best care for our patients and their families. If you would like to feedback any compliments, comments or concerns on the service you have received, please share your thoughts on our Contact page.

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Children’s Care Services Reception: 01782 654440

Monday-Friday 9am-5pm