The children’s hospital social work team in Newcastle provides a wide range of support and services to families and children receiving treatment at both the city’s hospital sites – the Great North Children’s Hospital at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) and the Freeman Hospital.
The team includes social workers, family support workers and bereavement counsellors. They understand that having a child in hospital can be a very frightening and emotional time for families, and are there to support them.
As well as a daily duty service, the team can offer more focused support and can continue community based support for children living in the Newcastle area.
Services
- Emotional support, helping families through a very difficult time in their lives
- Liaison with other professionals involved in a child’s care or treatment, to try and demystify some of the medical terms used
- Practical support such as easing travel difficulties to and from hospital, or finding somewhere to stay
- Problem solving
- Helping families gain confidence, allowing them and their child to experience a positive hospital stay
- Supporting extended family members and siblings
- Liaison with other agencies, for example, housing, employers, etc
- Close liaison with the palliative care team and bereavement counsellors
- Help when planning for discharge from hospital and preparing to go home
- On going support in the community if living in Newcastle
- Liaison with a child’s local community based resources
- … Time to listen to you
Contact us
Monday to Thursday: 8:45am – 5:00pm
Friday: 8:45am – 4:30pm
Telephone: 0191 282 5334 or ask ward staff to contact the team on your behalf
