Once this has been done, reports are then
presented to our Applications Sub-Committee which meets every six weeks, although
emergency cases can be dealt with immediately. Each case is treated strictly on its own
merits, and if the level of disability falls within our Charitable remit, sessions of
respite care are allocated according to need.
Parents are then informed by letter of the exact package of care, and a suitably
qualified nurse is carefully selected from our
James Hopkins Trust
Bank, currently standing at around 30 all over the county. Wherever possible the nurse
will be geographically close to each child's home. After a preliminary
"get-to-know" visit, the nurse thus assigned remains with the same child and
family on a regular basis, normally weekly, by day or by night. Therefore, over a period
of time sometimes lasting for years, a special bond of trust and stability evolves with
each child, whilst the parents can better cope with their own caring, safe in the
knowledge that the respite programme is tailored to their own needs, in its frequency and
flexibility, carried out by a qualified professional. If there is a crisis, care can be
increased, if the situation improves, care can be adjusted accordingly.
To this end, all cases are kept under review by the Nursing Co-ordinator either by
further family visits, or simply by a friendly telephone call to parents or nurses. All of
our services are free to all in the county, and our nurses, in turn, are paid a
professional hourly rate. Most of our respite care takes place in the family home, but
increasingly, use is being made of our facilities at Kite's Corner, which the nurse and
child may use as an alternative, taking advantage of our day room, therapy
room or multi sensory rooms. Families can also use Kite's Corner as
a drop-in centre or use the facilities during one of our organised
playgroups.
