Strategy Development Workshops
During March, the ODN worked with the NHSE System Improvement team to facilitate 3 successful face-to-face workshops. There was large representation across the region with approximately 40 professionals
Outputs for the workshops:
To share ideas regarding what matters in Children’s Cancer in NW
To develop vision and mission of the NW CC ODN
To develop priorities for the ODN to focus on and identify opportunities for working at organizational, ICB, and regional ODN level
To support the co-development of the NW CC ODN strategy
Next Steps of Strategy Development
Patient and family engagement will be undertaken through 2 site visits at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to carry out the “What matters to me?” Project.
The ODN are working with Youth Workers, Family Support Services and Play Specialist Teams within the region to collect feedback from patients/families.
What matters to me? is all about young people expressing what they feel is important to them. This can be expressed through art, images, music, poems and any other way! We would love to hear about what is important to the young people and family members.
The ODN will then collate the feedback to ensure their voices are heard and at the heart of the strategy development and priorities of the ODN.
Following the professional workshops and the patient engagement workshops, the focus is identifying themes and priorities. Additional information will be extracted from the Launch event, Mural boards, Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey and the Service Scoping Self Assessment Project.
The project team are working with Sonia Sparkles, Illustrator, to create pictorials. The project team will draft a strategy and work plan, including agreed vision and mission, from the workshops, to be sent out for consultation and critical friend review. This will be circulated to the wider network of professionals.
Site visits to North Wales & Isle of Man
The QI Lead and ODN Manager will be visiting the POSCUs within North Wales and Isle of Man weeks commencing 17th and 24th April.
This will be an excellent opportunity to meet the team, understand the services and patient pathways for oncology patients/ families. It will provide an opportunity for professionals working in those providers to discuss successes, challenges and highlight innovation ideas, current and future improvement projects.
We are looking forward to carrying out the site visits and understanding how we can work in partnership moving forward.
Collaborative Working
The Joshua Tree Children’s
The Joshua Tree Children’s Cancer Charity provide bespoke programmes of support to improve the emotional well-being and mental health of all immediate and extended family members who are affected by childhood cancers, for as long as they need it. The Joshua Tree, for the past 20 years, have offered open-ended, life-long support to children affected by cancer and their families.
We act quickly with immediate access to services such as counselling where local NHS providers simply don’t have capacity to meet demand.
We currently work with over 25 partners and hospitals across the paediatric oncology sector – that number is growing every year.
We know our support makes an impact, as 88% of people who use our service say it has improved their wellbeing.
To make a referral to The Joshua Tree simply contact a member of the Family Support Team:
Telephone: 01606 331858
Email: familysupport@thejoshuatree.org.uk
Website: www.thejoshuatree.org.uk
NW TYA ODN
NW TYA ODN have been continuing the work on the Service Review, benchmarking 3 Primary Treatment Centres and 12 Designated Hospitals to the Service Specification. This work has been a huge success and the ODN Senior Leadership Team are currently reviewing the responses with a final paper to be published in the coming weeks.
The TYA ODN was represented on a panel discussion at the CCLG/TYAC study day in Nottingham. The impact of BRIGHTLIGHT on cancer policy was discussed, showcasing the progress of the TYA ODN in the North West.
We know that workforce is a great asset to the TYA and Children’s Cancer ODN, so we have paired up and registered to be a Florence Nightingale Foundation Member Organisation, giving all TYA and Children’s Cancer Nurses across the region access the opportunity to develop leadership skills and take part in elective placements and internships.
The ODN welcomes support and input from colleagues across the North West. To find out more about the work of the ODN, please follow our NHS Futures page, https://future.nhs.uk/NorthWestTeenYoungAdultODN, or email Lucy McKie lucy.mckie@nhs.net.