The Local Offer is a tool that helps users find nearby services related to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and tells them more information about whether those services are suitable for them and how they can access them.

People and services commissioned by West Sussex County Council to support children and young people with special educational needs in West Sussex are required to complete the following questions about the services they offer.

For more information on the Local Offer, please visit https://westsussex.local-offer.org/

SE7 Questions

1. What does your service do?

Chestnut Tree House is the only children’s hospice in Sussex, and provides care and support for life-shortened children and their families.

Our services include:

• Assessment advice and information for children and young adults with life limiting conditions, 24 hours a day
• Specialist short breaks, emergency and end of life care provided at Chestnut Tree House, 24 hours a day
• Specialist short breaks, emergency and end of life care in the child’s own home, 24 hours a day
• Support for the entire family following diagnosis through the whole disease process by the multi-disciplinary team at Chestnut Tree House
• Beareavement support which includes befriending, counselling and spiritual care
• Support and advice on the transition from paediatric palliative care services to adult services
• Chestnut Tree House provides a ‘home from home’ environment with 10 children’s bedrooms plus eight family rooms, a wet and dry play area, computer and music rooms, a multi-sensory room, hydrotherapy pool and Woodland Walk. The house is set in beautiful gardens within an area of outstanding natural beauty.

2. Where is it located and what areas does it cover?

Chestnut Tree House is located in Arundel, West Sussex. We care for life-shortened children and their families across East and West Sussex and South East Hampshire.

3. Who does your service provide for?

Chestnut Tree House provides a service for children and young adults from 0-19 years of age with progressive life-shortening conditions. Children and young people must be aged between 0-17 at first referral, and those accepted on to our case load are not expected to live into adulthood.

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.

4. How can I start using the service?

Referrals can be made by anyone, as long as it has been discussed with the child or young person’s family beforehand.

Parental permission is sought to request medical information about the child’s illness and prognosis. The child’s medical information is assessed to establish if the child or young person meets our criteria. A home visit may then be arranged to discuss the referral further and establish what support the family is looking for.

Chestnut Tree House is funded by charitable donations and there are no costs to pay, this includes all meals. Medical cover is also provided for your child/ young person during their stay. Care is free.

5. How are decisions made about who can use your service?

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

All young people accepted are subject to review, usually on an annual basis.

Families are kept informed on the status of the referral and final decision by letter.

6. How do you communicate with service users and how are they involved in decision making/planning?

We have a comments box for service users to communicate any feedback they may have. Families can discuss queries or issues with their keyworker or another member of staff at any time.

We conduct a yearly questionnaire to get feedback from service users.

Leaflets are available explaining the services offered and various parent, grandparent and sibling events are held for family members to attend.

7. Is your service fully accessible?

Our facilities include a main lounge, computer room, wet and dry play areas, gardens, hydrotherapy pool, music room, multi-sensory room, reflections, meadow garden, Woodland Walk, young people’s wing and children’s bedrooms.

The building is fully wheelchair accessible, with hoists in the changing and swimming pool area, bedrooms and bathrooms. Activity equipment such as swings in the outdoor play area and picnic tables in the Woodland Walk are designed to accommodate wheelchair users.

8. What training are the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had or are having?

Chestnut Tree House is registered with the CQC and complies with all of their standards. All staff and volunteers, both at the House and providing community services, has to complete a comprehensive induction and annual training plan. This includes all mandatory training and specialist training to meet the individual needs of the children.

There are many specialist staff at Chestnut Tree House, including specialist nurses, doctors and therapists.

Chestnut Tree House works closely with many other services and each child’s package is tailored to meet their individual needs.

9. Who can I contact for further information?

Please email CTHAdmin@stbh.org.uk or call 01903 871800 for further information.

If accepted onto our caseload, you will be assigned a Keyworker who will then become your first point of contact.