Meet Heather

“The children, the families, the staff and the volunteers make St Oswald’s Hospice a truly special place to work.”

To mark 21 years since our Children and Young Adults (CYA) Service opened, we’re sharing Q&As with some of the staff and volunteers who provide care to babies, children and young adults with progressive life-limiting conditions, and their families. Here, Heather – who has worked on the unit for 15 years – reflects on the excellent care provided in the unit and the new roles to have been added to the team.

What attracted you to the service? 

I wanted to care for children with complex needs, learn new skills and make a difference to families.

What is your role at the hospice?

I look after children and young adults during their short breaks with us, attending to all their holistic care needs.

This includes giving medications, ensuring their nutritional needs are met, providing personal care, social and emotional support, respiratory care, observations and monitoring deterioration or improvement in a child or young adult’s condition.

I also enjoy taking the children on trips, allowing them and their families to make memories.

How do you feel the CYA service has changed in the time you’ve been here?

The service has grown and changed a lot in the last 15 years. We used to have 3 or 4 children staying with us but now we can have up to 7 children and young adults with us at any one time.

We have a bigger team of staff now, with a variety of skills and experience. Some new roles have been created in the last few years to help better meet the needs of our young people.

This includes my own Nurse Associate role as well as the Activity Co-ordinator role, Trainee Advanced Care Practitioners and our Occupational Therapist.

What is your favourite thing about working in the CYA service?

My favourite thing about working here is taking the children on trips and doing activities with them. Sometimes the most unexpected things make them smile. These activities include adaptive surfing, Wet Wheels boat trips and hydrotherapy. The reactions from the children are amazing and the photos taken provide priceless memories for them and their families.

How would you describe the care we offer to children and young adults?

The care we offer the children and young adults is excellent.

We have a highly skilled, hard-working team who provide the best care possible. This gives families a much needed and well deserved break from their caring responsibilities, knowing that their child or young adult is safe and being well cared for, all while having fun!

What makes St Oswald’s Hospice Children and Young Adult Service special?

The children, the families, the staff and the volunteers make St Oswald’s Hospice a truly special place to work!