Making a Referral to Chestnut Tree House

We welcome referral from any source, on the understanding that it has been discussed with the child or young person's family. However, families and young people may refer themselves.

The referral process

• Children and young people must be aged between 0-18 at first referral. If accepted we acknowledge that some young people may live into their early twenties and we would hope that our services and care environment could meet their changing needs.

• Children and young people must have a progressive life limiting condition, or potentially life threatening condition.

Group 1
Life threatening conditions for which curative treatment may be feasible but can fail, e.g. cancer and irreversible organ failure (children in remission are not included), where access to palliative care services may be necessary when treatment fails. Children in long term remission or following successful curative treatment are not included. (Examples: cancer, irreversible organ failures of heart, liver, kidney.)

Group 2
Conditions where premature death is possible, where there may be long periods of intensive treatment aimed at prolonging life and allowing participation in normal activities. (Examples: cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy).

Group 3
Conditions with severe disability leading to susceptibility to health complications and likelihood of premature death.

Group 4
Irreversible but non-progressive conditions causing severe disability to health complications and likehood of premature death. (Examples: severe cerebral palsy, mulitple disabilities such as following brain or spinal cord injury).

• Children with a non-progressive illness or disability cannot normally be accepted, for example less severe forms of Cerebral Palsy or Asperger's Syndrome.

• Parental permission is sought to request medical information about the child's illness and prognosis.

• A home visit may then be arranged to discuss the referral further and establish what support the family is looking for.

• Referrals are discussed monthly with the Clinical Nurse Manager, Community Team Manager, medical advisor and GP.

• All young people accepted are subject to review, either on an annual or bi annual basis.

• When a family have been accepted, the level of support offered to them is dependent on their needs and the stage of the child/young person's illness.

To learn more about Chestnut Tree House services please download our guide from the link below.

Please find a Chestnut Tree House Referral Form and a Consent to Access Medical Information Form below. Click on the links provided below to download.