https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/procedures-and-treatments/holistic-needs-assessments-children-cancer-and-their-families/
Holistic Needs Assessments for children with cancer and their families
We realise that when your child is diagnosed with cancer, this can affect many areas of family life. This is why you will be offered an appointment with your keyworker at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to discuss your family’s concerns and situation as well as what help is available. This is called a Holistic Needs Assessment.Families have told us this this would be beneficial for them:
“Would be helpful if there was someone to talk to parents, deal with concerns and worries [about] how to live during and after the treatment.” (Quote from Parent Survey)
This appointment is a conversation with you, your child (depending on their age and understanding), and your child’s keyworker or outreach nurse. It is an opportunity to discuss any issues and worries in relation to your child, their brothers and sisters, as well as how you are finding things personally.
We aim for this appointment to take place within a few weeks of your child’s diagnosis, and then to review this at key points in your child’s treatment pathway.
What areas will we be asked about during this appointment?
We are interested in the wellbeing of all family members, because we realise that how you are feeling has a direct impact on how you can care for your child. We also recognise the impact of cancer on the wider family, so we will ask about how they are managing too. The appointment will cover the following areas.
- Physical needs
- Family and social situation
- Educational needs
- Psychological wellbeing of child and family
- Spiritual needs
What happens after the appointment?
Your keyworker or outreach nurse will write a brief summary of the conversation, including a plan of what has been agreed, and whether any extra help from other teams is needed. You will be sent a copy of this, and we will also ask your permission to share this with other key professionals, such as your CLIC Sargent Social Worker, your child’s local consultant and nursing team, and your child’s family doctor (GP).