This week, Lead Nurse for Children and Young People, Julie Mellor, launched a new trust-wide strategy that sets out a 5-year plan on how CHFT will be improved and transformed to support children and young people in Calderdale and Huddersfield. The strategy has been backed by CHFT Charity, who are also launching a Ray of Sunshine Campaign to raise funds to support the ambitions of the charity, and enhance the care and experience of children, young people, and their families.
Lead Nurse for Children and Young People, Julie Mellor, said: “The launch of the trust wide CYP strategy and Ray of Sunshine Campaign is pivotal to our continued journey of improvement for the care of children and young people. Our hospitals should feel magical, and no child or young person should feel intimidated in the hospital or receiving care in the community. I appeal for all staff to support the strategy and fundraising campaign and help invest in children and young people today for our adults tomorrow.”
The Children and Young People Strategy sets out a plan of our ‘journey to outstanding’ for the care of children and young people in CHFT. Within the strategy, there are 7 golden rules for CYP to focus on:
- Understand my rights.
- A chance to be involved.
- Remember it is my choices.
- Value me.
- Support me.
- Work together.
- Keep in touch.
On Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th of July, a handful of paediatric colleagues and the charity team held CYP engagement stands at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital to launch the strategy and explain to colleagues that no matter where they work, they will come across children and young people. It was great to speak with a variety of different colleagues to understand their needs and to share the goals of the strategy.
CHFT Charity’s Ray of Sunshine Campaign aims to brighten the care and experience of babies, children, young people, and their families, by granting wishes and providing ongoing support in hospital and within the community. CHFT Charity are prioritising 7 key areas to raise funds and support projects:
- Help me to sleep well.
- Keep me entertained and distracted.
- Provide me with a homely and visually appealing environment.
- Offer me peer support and social activities.
- Help me to stay calm and comfortable.
- Provide me with play therapy support.
- Help my parents/careers feel welcome and cared for.
We are asking for all colleagues to support children and young people where possible, whether it’s smiling and waving to a child/young person in the corridor to making sure they are comfortable and relaxed whilst going through a procedure. Invest today for our adults tomorrow.
From September, we will be launching a Fundraising Campaign in line with the Children and Young People Strategy. Are you connected to a local school, community group, or business? Well we would love to come along and share our plans and help you to understand how you can help - email chftfundraising@cht.nhs.uk to arrange a meeting - we need you!
