A Vision of Quality End-of-Life Care

for Babies, Children & their Families

Cathy Quinn

Consultant Midwife in Bereavement & Loss

RGN; RM; MAC; MIACP

End–of-Life

Care Working

Groups

End-of-Life

Care

Team Leader

Networking

Staff

Education and

Training

Bereavement

Support

Team

Achieve & Sustain Quality

Standards for EOL Care

A Vision of Quality End-of-Life Care

Baby/Child & Families

Achieve & Sustain Quality Standards for EOL Care

Baby/child &

Families Needs &

Preferences

Create a Culture of Dignity & Respect in

relation to End-of-Life Care

Right Care and Support at the

right time

Reliable Service

Coordinator oversees and coordinates Quality

EOL Care services

Evidence based practices

Audit practice

“Strive for excellence”

Effective communication with accurate and timely

information

Skillful, competent and knowledgeable

Staff

Enabling families to be empowered

Coordinator

Named Coordinator who is responsible

for overseeing, co-ordinating and driving

forward Quality End-of-Life Care services

Facilitates staff in achieving Quality

Standards

Audits practise e.g. family feedback

Who is your Coordinator ?

Bereavement Support Team

Aim: To provide additional bereavement support/care in the

hospital/unit

Deliver Family Centred Care - Placing the End-of-Life Care needs

and preferences of babies, children and families at the centre of all

activities e.g. planning, design and delivery of care

Team Members e.g. Bereavement Officer, Chaplaincy, CMS

Bereavement, Social Worker

Clarity of each members role in the team and the service

they provide

Services designed to meet the needs of all bereaved families

End–of-Life Care Working Groups

Multidisciplinary Group -passionate & committed

Placing the End-of-Life Care needs and preferences of babies, children at the centre of all their activities e.g. planning, design and delivery of care

Advocating for the End-of-Life Care needs of babies, children and their families

Responsible for creating and monitoring guidelines and protocols to ensure that they are consistent and ensure the best possible care for all babies, children and their families.

Staff Education and Training

Aim: to develop staff skills, competencies and knowledge

On-going education e.g. organised events, impromptu sessions in the clinical setting and linking in with other events e.g. Induction Programmes

Staff supported in their roles

Who provides EOL Care education in your hospital/unit?

Networking

Opportunities for staff to share information, to discuss pertinent issues and challenges and to get support from colleagues

Building an End-of-Life Care framework of Quality Standards across all paediatric and maternity hospitals/units will minimise inconsistency and variation in the provision of EOL Care across sites…

Achieving the Vision

Committed to meeting EOL Care Quality

Standards

Passionate about making a difference.

Building on quality initiatives already in place

Patience…advancing slowly but surely

Honouring all quality initiatives no matter

how small

Equal acceptance and acknowledgement of

every death regardless of age or gestation