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Day SupportKeech Hospice Care

Day Support services

Day Support provides specialised play and educational activities, symptom management, memory work and specialist palliative care nursing in the community or at the hospice.

For those children attending the hospice for Day Support sessions, there is a purpose-built care area which includes a teenage room, sensory room, play area, educational IT equipment and changing facilities.

Day Support is offered to children and families for a specific period of time to achieve an agreed goal, and usually lasts six weeks. However this can be extended if necessary.

Parents are welcome to attend the session or leave their child at the hospice for their session.

Parents will need to be present for Day Support sessions carried out in the home by the play specialist.

Parents or carers who are attending a complementary therapy session at the hospice can use the Day Support facilities, where their child can be cared for during their sessions. These sessions must be booked in advance.

KEECH HOSPICE CARE – DAY SUPPORT SERVICES

Day Support also offers:

▪ Tots & Toys group for children under five years

▪ specialist play ▪ ‘Parents Supporting Parents’ – a

parent-led support group. The whole family is invited. (Please contact the hospice for dates.)

▪ specialist palliative care clinic appointments.

Catering

Children attending Day Support will be catered for free of charge. Meals can either be ordered from our menu to have on the unit or taken at our in-house restaurant, Valerie’s; there is also a vending machine in the restaurant area selling light snacks and drinks. Parents or carers can either bring their own lunch or purchase it here.

social worker play therapist doctorstaff nurse complementary therapist

senior staff nursehousekeeperpalliative care support worker

Referrals

All referrals to Day Support can be made by both internal and external health and social care professionals.

Parents or carers are able to contact their Keech community nurse or community palliative care support worker to request a referral into Day Support.

Attendance

Attendance is flexible, according to need. Transport can be provided if there are no other means for the family to attend Day Support. Where possible, a volunteer driver, accompanied by a member of staff, will be provided to collect and return children to their home or school.

Day Support times

Day Support is primarily run Monday to Friday, 10am–3pm; however, this can be flexible, according to the needs of the child and family. Day Support sessions in the community will last for one to two hours.

KEECH HOSPICE CARE – DAY SUPPORT SERVICES

Day care area

The Day Support team

The team consists of:

▪ a qualified paediatric nurse ▪ a play specialist ▪ a palliative care support worker ▪ a range of volunteers.

Day Support services are supported by specialist doctors, a social worker, supportive care team (music, art and complementary therapists), housekeepers, caterers and other volunteers.

Seeking advice

All the children who attend Day Support are unique and each medical condition can vary in complexity from child to child. We strongly urge that parents and carers only seek advice on their child’s condition from the team of professionals working with them.

All staff receive training, some of which is very specialised, to meet the care needs of the children. Many of the areas of training are updated on an annual basis.

Please be aware that all staff are trained in basic life support and the use of the defibrillator. In the case of an emergency, 999 will be called. Our medical team is in the hospice providing care 9am-5pm, seven days a week, and is on call outside these times for advice and support.

For further information regarding Day Support services,

please contact the Day Support nurse on

01582 497871.

senior staff nurse music therapist

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As a charity, Keech Hospice Care’s survival depends on the community for 70% of its funding with only a small amount (30%) provided by the NHS, local authorities and the Department of Health.

To help us continue to look after local families when they need us the most, please donate at www.keech.org.uk/donate.

Uwaga: Jeśli wolelibyście Państwo otrzymać poniższe informacje w innych język-ach, dużą czcionką lub w innych formatach (np. na kasecie, płycie, inne), proszę o kontakt z naszym Zespołem ds. Komunikacji Polish

If you would like this information in other languages, large print, braille, audio tape/CD or other formats, please contact comms@keech.org.uk.

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Where we provide care

Adult and children’s service

Children’s service

Tel: 01582 492339 info@keech.org.uk www.keech.org.uk

Keech Hospice Care, Great Bramingham Lane, Streatley, Luton, LU3 3NT. Registered Charity No. 1035089