STARFISH - working together to support families

Starfish is a working partnership between Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, University Hospital Dorset (UHD) Children’s NHS Nurses, (UHD) Paediatricians and Gully’s Place. Starfish enables families to have essential choices about where they spend their final days together with their child. When it comes to providing end of life care for a child or young person who has a life-limiting condition, being able to give a family a choice about where they receive care is a priority. Whether in hospital, at a hospice or in the familiarity of a family’s own home, this choice can only be possible when organisational boundaries can be crossed. The Starfish team has evolved especially for this purpose. Starfish is a collaboration that enables a shared workforce, shared resources, facilities, knowledge and skills that support the whole family every step of the way

Hannah Wilson – Lead Nurse at Julia’s House

“Collaborative working and being part of the Starfish team is something that has evolved and grown over time and I feel very proud to be part of this partnership,” says Hannah Wilson. “With the agreement in place it means that we are able to jointly work in partnership with our UHD colleagues, to ensure children, young people and their families have informed choices in end of life care, whether this is at home, in the hospice or in hospital. “This multi-disciplinary approach ensures that nursing, medical, pharmacological and emotional support is also offered and provided to families supported by the Starfish team. “As well as the nursing and medical support, at Julia’s House we have a Family Support Services Team that care for the child, young person and their whole family. This team comprises family support workers, sibling workers, a social worker, and complementary therapists. Counselling can be provided at the point of referral and moving forward, whenever it might be needed, in Poole and through Julia’s House. “As a Starfish team, we are able to be responsive over a 24-hour period to a family’s needs in any particular moment, as they are constantly changing, and every day is so different.

Beth Squirrell UHD Children’s Palliative care nurse Josie Roberts UHD Clinical Lead for Children’s Community nursing services & Palliative Care

I’m passionate about working together,” says Josie Roberts, “getting to know each other, building trust and supporting each other as a team. We are a wider workforce combining our knowledge and a variety of skills to enable the best care possible for children and their families. Collaboration is essential and Starfish aims to foster a culture of shared responsibility and mutual support. “During such challenging moments, families going through end of life care with their child deserve this individualised support. What they truly need are options and to be allowed to choose where their child spends their final days. Without our collective efforts, these vital choices just wouldn’t be available. “Julia’s House and UHD nurses support the families together as one team wherever the family choose to be. As members of the Starfish team, we collaborate seamlessly across all areas: Julia’s House, UHD, the ward, Gully’s Place, and in families’ homes. We serve as a unified point of contact and build relationships with the family - so that they have a familiar face there for them, offering round-the-clock support and medical guidance