News

Five-year plan will support local children and young people

Lead Nurse for Children and Young People, Julie Mellor, with four-year-old Alexandra in our hospital
Julie with Charity Manager, Emma Kovaleski, and Emily
Julie with 10-year old Kian, Non-Executive Director Robert Markless and PAT dog Daisy
Assistant Director of Nursing Simon Riley-Fuller and Head Nurse Louise Riby with Julie

Here’s our Lead Nurse for Children and Young People, Julie Mellor, with four-year-old Alexandra, excitedly and proudly launching our new Trust-wide strategy which sets out how Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust (CHFT) will improve and transform to support children and young people in Calderdale and Huddersfield.

The five-year strategy is being backed by our CHFT Charity, who are also soon to launch their 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.

Julie said: “The launch of the 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 colleagues to support it and the fundraising campaign and help invest in children and young people today for our adults tomorrow."

The Strategy has seven golden rules as part of the Journey to Outstanding for the care of children and young people in CHFT:

  1. Understand my rights
  2. A chance to be involved
  3. Remember it is my choice
  4. Value me
  5. Support me
  6. Work together
  7. Keep in touch

Julie and our Charity Team are pictured below as they visited both hospitals explaining to colleagues that no matter where they work, they will come across children and young people. They heard some lovely feedback:

“I have seen some beautiful interactions between staff and children around the hospital this week.”

“Fantastic strategy and example of great engagement.”

“Our CHFT children are so lucky to have you all.”

“Absolutely incredible, feel proud!”

Our Charity’s Communications and Marketing Assistant, Emily Overend (pictured right in the second image), said: “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.” The seven key areas the Charity will focus on to support projects are:

  • 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

Picured top to bottom:

  1. Lead Nurse for Children and Young People, Julie Mellor, with four-year-old Alexandra
  2. Julie with Charity Manager, Emma Kovaleski, and Emily
  3. Julie with 10-year old Kian, Non-Executive Director Robert Markless and PAT dog Daisy
  4. Assistant Director of Nursing Simon Riley-Fuller and Head Nurse Louise Riby with Julie