Posted on: 16 November 2023

Over the last 12 months, we’ve delivered Year of the Child to increase awareness of CNWL’s expertise in children’s healthcare.

On Monday 13 November, we gathered at Trust Headquarters to share the progress we’ve made so far. We were joined by Executives, Borough and service directors, Governors, ICB colleagues and representatives from across children’s services.  

Outlining our plans to continue the great work started through the campaign, we launched our ‘Autism Roadmap’ and the ‘Being a Parent at CNWL’ booklet.

Opening the event, Chief Operating Officer, Graeme Caul, highlighted our achievements:

  • We delivered 35 bespoke training sessions
  • Over 500 staff, colleagues and parents attended the sessions
  • We’ve had over 275 additional views (online) of the recorded sessions
  • We hosted a Neurodiversity Conference for 200 staff members

Chief Nurse, Maria O’Brien, looked to the future:

“Year of the Child links to our broader focus on bringing together physical and mental health across our children’s services. Improving relationships within our services, supporting each other and thinking of ourselves as one team, enhances our ability to provide more holistic care.”

You can see CNWL’s children and young people service map here.

Autism Roadmap

Associate Director for Children’s Services, Zoe Sargent, introduced our Autism Roadmap, a new digital tool for parents, carers and families to find support for children that have been diagnosed with autism, or who may be waiting for a formal diagnosis.

Autism is different for everyone, but the roadmap aims to offer advice and guidance about some of the challenges autistic people and their families may face and how our services can help, including the different types of support available at CNWL 

Topics include attention and listening, communication and language, sensory, eating habits, toileting, sleep, mental health and more.

More information about the Autism Roadmap will be coming soon.

Being a Parent at CNWL

being a parent at cnwl image.JPGParents face additional responsibilities that can make their working life a little harder if they don’t get the right support at work. For example, supporting someone working around school times or taking time away with children when they are ill.

Community Services Director for Inner London, Sarah Hulme, spoke about the guide we have created for staff, which offers practical advice to support those returning from maternity or paternity leave and beyond into later parenting.

Staff can find the booklet on Trustnet. 

Year of the Child Legacy Committee

We’ve also established a committee that includes our children and young people service leads, who will continue to develop and shape our children’s services.

They’ll continue with a programme of webinars and training sessions, including a session that is coming up on 30 November on neurodiversity and the brain perspective.

All details can be found here.