Working with professionals

At Acorns we work with a range of professionals across agencies in order to provide all-round, holistic palliative care to children and families.

Visit an Acorns hospice

If you are a professional service provider with an interest in paediatric palliative care or are professionally interested in what we do at Acorns, then you can arrange a visit to one of our hospices.  Our three hospices are:

  • Acorns in Birmingham. 103 Oak Tree Lane, Selly Oak, B29 6HZ. Tel: 0121 248 4850
  • Acorns in the Black Country. Walstead Road, Walsall, WS5 4LZ. Tel: 01922 422 500
  • Acorns for the Three Counties. 350 Bath Road, Worcester, WR5 3EZ. Tel: 01905 767 676
Garden at Acorns in the Black Country

There are various ways to arrange a visit to one of our hospices. Each hospice holds a visitor’s afternoon 10 times a year where any member of the public can visit for a talk and a tour. If your interest is more specific you can phone and talk to one of the managers about arranging a professional visit where you can discuss the interest and any professional issues you may have.

Nursing: Contact the Head Nurse at the hospice you wish to visit.

Social Work/Community support: Contact the Family Team Manager at the hospice you wish to visit.

Medical: Contact the Head of Care at the hospice you wish to visit.

All other professionals: Contact the Head of Care at the hospice you would like to visit.

Professionals Days

Acorns occasionally hold an ‘invite only’ Professional Open Day where there is a presentation of our services followed by a tour.  If you or your team would be interested in being invited to one of these events please contact the Head of Care at the relevant hospice.

Sharing hospice best practice

We are committed to ensuring children and families receive the best possible care and support throughout their palliative care journey.

We are always willing to share policies and practice where appropriate and to contribute to work groups, committees and initiatives across the West Midlands. Nationally we actively participate in Together for Short Lives and Hospice UK, supporting work ranging from siblings, diversity and benchmarking to user involvement, infection control and quality groups.

We also regularly contribute to regional and national conferences and to publications. Staff contribute to various education programmes working with local universities. Staff can also occasionally act as a ‘guest speaker’ to talk about Acorns services or broader palliative care issues.

Student nurse and child at Acorns for the Three Counties

Student placements

We support student placements for students studying for relevant professional qualifications. Student nursing placements, as well as physiotherapy and social work placements are offered on a regular basis in liaison with local education providers. There is also scope for other professionals such as art therapists to undertake placements if we are able to meet the supervision requirements.

To discuss this further please contact your local hospice (details above).

Work experience

Unfortunately we are unable to offer work experience placements at Acorns hospices for schools and colleges. However, if young people over 16 are able to commit time over a longer period they are welcome to apply to become volunteers. Find out more about becoming a care volunteer at one of our hospices.

Useful links

Sources of information for healthcare professionals

National Children’s Bureau: www.ncb.org.uk

The National Council for Palliative Care: www.ncpc.org.uk 

Together for Short Lives: www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk 

Hospice UK: www.hospiceuk.org 

Extra help and resources

Contact-a-Family

Support and information for parents caring for a child with any disability or special need.Lots of information about rare disorders and conditions and option to organise groups for parents to support each other.

www.cafamily.org.uk 

DirectGov – Caring for Someone

A source of further information about public services and guidance for people with carer responsibilities.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone 

NHS Choices

A source of information about illnesses and conditions.

www.nhs.uk 

Sibs

Sibs is the only UK charity representing the needs of siblings of disabled people.

www.sibs.org.uk 

Together for Short Lives

A guide has been published by Together for Short Lives that sets out very clearly the background, descriptions and applications of personal budgets with some poignant examples as supporting evidence.

www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/get-support/supporting-you/family-resources/young-persons-guide-to-personal-budgets-in-england/

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Our care

A boy is laying in a hospice bed with his head on a lego pillowcase. He is looking at a book which is held by an Acorns staff member wearing scrubs and a mask

Care for children

A smiling boy with a feeding tube in his nose is sitting with his mum in the sensory room at Acorns Birmingham hospice. There are colourful lights, mirrors and toys in the background

Support for families

Information for professionals

Refer a child

Nurses Carmel and Neil lean over a bed to provide care, they are wearing scrubs and face masks for infection control

Care Education

Acorns Children's Hospice Website Logo

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