WellChild Impact Everyday 2018/2019 report released

WellChild is releasing its latest #ImpactEveryday report today to show how we have made an impact on the lives of seriously ill children and their families across the country.

You can access the report here (PDF / 8MB)

Covering the financial year 2018-2019 the review highlights WellChild’s achievements across all of our areas of work. One big theme which emerges is our work empowering families with the confidence to care.

WellChild Chief Executive Colin Dyer says in the review: “Not only have we seen expansion across all our core service areas, but the advances we’ve made in giving families the skills and confidence to care for their children safely at home are proving crucial across the country on a daily basis.”

Among WellChild’s achievements during the year were:

• The establishment of new Better at Home training resources for parents, so they can learn to look after their seriously ill child in the home. During the year we were able to establish new Parent Trainer Nurses in Cardiff and Ayrshire and Arran meaning the programme now supports parents and carers in England, Scotland and Wales.
• Developing a prototype of the first medicines management app for families caring for a child with serious health needs. Complex management of medicines is a key part of caring for a child at home and the app will be a crucial resource for parents and carers.
• Publishing a new set of national training principles for all professionals involved in training parents and unpaid carers. It is recognised that systemic change is needed in order for every family to get the training that they need. Our national guidelines set out what good training must look like for parents to be fully equipped to care for their seriously ill children at home.

WellChild was also able to introduce three new WellChild Nurse posts in Manchester, South East London and Gloucestershire and we carried out 37 Helping Hands bedroom and garden makeovers creating safe, sensory and accessible home lives for children with serious health needs across the UK.

In his letter in the review WellChild Patron HRH The Duke of Sussex says: “It is heartening to hear about the progress that has already been made, particularly regarding the empowerment of parents and carers. The expansion of the WellChild Nurse and Helping Hands programmes, together with the continued development of the new Better At Home parent training resources, is having a real impact on families across the country.”

WellChild was also able to introduce three new WellChild Children’s Nurse posts in Manchester, South East London and Gloucestershire and we carried out 37 Helping Hands bedroom and garden makeovers creating safe, sensory and accessible home lives for children with serious health needs across the UK.