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Orchard Service - North Worcestershire

  • We are the North Worcestershire children’s community nursing and p alliative care team. We provide nursing care and psychosocial support at home to babies,  children  and young people, who have acute or  long term  complex health care needs.

  • Service hours: 9:00am – 8:00pm 7 days a week

About the service

One of our key aims is to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and support early discharge where possible.

We assess care needs together with children, young people and their families so that the ongoing care plan reflects what matters to you. We can become involved from diagnosis or when symptoms start to cause difficulties.

We work closely with GPs, children’s hospital wards, paediatricians, health visitors and school health nurses. We will discuss with you which other services may need to be involved, ensuring that all your child’s needs are met.

We aim to respect each child and families individual needs and preferences. This includes spiritual, social and cultural wishes by offering choices and creating personalised, holistic care plans.

Support for Families Team

The Support for Families Team (SFT) is part of the Community Children’s Nursing Team (Orchard Service), of whom we work closely.  

The SFT provides emotional, psychological and social support as well as practical advice for the whole family in their own home or local community. We can work with family members at any stage from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. We also offer pre and post bereavement support.

Our aim is to provide focused support working on what you feel is important at the time. 

In order to accept a referral to SFT, the child or young person must have a nursing need and be seen by our Community Childrens Nursing Team.

We know that when your child is diagnosed with a long term, complex or life limiting/threatening condition it can cause huge changes for the whole family. We offer the following support;

  • One to one listening and emotional support
  • Practical advice and signposting to information about benefits, financial and housing queries
  • Information on illnesses, treatments and procedures in child-friendly, developmentally appropriate ways
  • An opportunity for the whole family to explore, express and make sense of their thoughts and feelings about the child’s condition
  • Support and advice around the often typical feelings of low mood, stress, anger or anxiety
  • Support with thinking about self-esteem and identity
  • Help with adapting and adjusting to changes including changes in roles and parenting challenges
  • Pre and post bereavement support

The Home Support Team

Children and young people who have health care needs that cannot be met by universal and specialist services alone may be entitled to a bespoke package of care.

Worcester Health and Care NHS Trust provide packages of care to children and young people following assessment and agreement by local commissioners. The Home Support Team are responsible for providing these packages of care. The team is made up of Health Care Support Workers and Trained Children’s Nurses. They work very closely with the Community Children's Nursing Teams.

View the National Framework for Children and Young People's Continuing Care

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Who do you work with?

We work with the families of any child/young person seen by the Orchard Service for a long term or complex health condition. Parents can have time for themselves and young people can be seen without their parents if this is what they prefer.  We can also work with siblings of the child when the issue is related to the child’s health condition.

Are our discussions confidential?

We need to tell the doctor/GP and the Orchard Service Nursing Team that we are seeing you or your child but the details of what is discussed can be confidential within the Support for Families Team. It can be helpful to let key professionals know we are working with you and it can be useful to think together about what information might be good to share, e.g. the main aims of our work together. You can discuss with us if there are things you would prefer not to be shared. We have a responsibility to share information with the relevant agency if we are worried someone is at risk of harm.  

How do you work?

At the first meeting, we like to ask questions relating to the whole family, find out what you would like help with and agree a plan together with you about how best to meet your goals. We would consider if we are the best people to help or whether there is a more appropriate service. The first appointment usually takes about an hour. You may meet us for a single session, a series of appointments, or we can talk with you over the telephone. Together we can spend time working on the best way forward for your circumstances.

Where can we meet?

We can come to your home or we can sometimes meet young people in their school. We can also sometimes arrange to meet in local community centres e.g. children’s centres or GP practices if that feels most appropriate

How can I make a charitable donation? 

Through charitable donations, the Orchard Service in Worcestershire is able to provide additional equipment and support resources for sick children who are cared for at home. To help us optimise and enhance quality of care the Orchard Service has a charitable trust fund, and we would appreciate any contributions, either as a direct donation or through fundraising. The money is used in a variety of ways, for example comfort products, support groups and family events. Beautiful memory boxes are bought and given to parents and siblings to keep special mementos in.

How to access the service

Please email the Orchard Service Acute Referral Form by email to: 

South worcestershire whcnhs.ccnworcester@nhs.net

North worcestershire whcnhs.ccnredditch@nhs.net