The Care Quality Commission (CQC), has rated Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Loughborough as outstanding following an inspection in June.
CQC carried out this inspection as part of its routine monitoring of services. The hospice, run by Cope Children’s Trust, is a specialist palliative care service that supports babies, children, and young people up to the age of 25 with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
Rainbows Hospice supports with symptom management, emergency care, short breaks, end of life care and bereavement support. The service supports people in the hospice as well as in the community and in hospitals.
CQC has again rated how effective, responsive and well-led the service is as outstanding. The ratings for how safe and caring it is have been upgraded from good to outstanding.
Craig Howarth, CQC deputy director of operations in the midlands, said:
“During our inspection of Rainbows Hospice, we were delighted to find a service delivering exemplary and compassionate care to young people and their families at some of the most difficult points of their lives.
“Young people and their families told us about their very positive experiences receiving care from the hospice’s services, and how much they valued the support from staff. We found care often exceeded people’s expectations, providing valued reassurance during challenging times.
“We saw staff go above and beyond to understand the individual needs and preferences of young people they supported, while respecting the entire family’s routines, preferences and concerns. They adapted rooms for people who returned to the service, and one child told us about their matching bedding, gentle music and time allocated for swimming.
“It was encouraging to see how staff involved families in people’s care and listened to their views and concerns. They provided them with practical help and emotional support, and were very understanding of their situations. Parents told inspectors this help was a lifeline.
“Rainbows also offered compassionate and personalised support to bereaved families. Staff ran a range of activities and sessions, including a glass memory leaf workshop where families created personalised leaves in memory of their loved one to be hung on a memory tree sculpture.
“The service’s whole-family approach to care shone through and helped staff focus on providing care that met young people’s individual needs. Other care providers should look at this report to see what they can learn.”
Inspectors found:
- Rainbows had set up community hubs to offer social, emotional, therapeutic and practical support to children, young people and their families in their own communities.
- The hospice had a warm, welcoming environment with an uplifting atmosphere. People told inspectors that staff felt like part of an extended family.
- Staff arranged a range of activities to entertain people staying at the hospice. Inspectors saw an impromptu karaoke party which young people really enjoyed and benefited from.
- Leaders were visible and approachable. Families understood who to speak to if they had questions or concerns.
- The hospice collected feedback through various methods, including feedback cards, whiteboards and letters. Inspectors saw families and young people actively participate in giving feedback which was helping to shape the service.
- A community cultural link worker supported people and families from diverse cultural backgrounds to help meet their cultural, religious and social needs.
- Staff gave advice on healthy eating, physical activity and wellbeing to help people live healthier lives.
- Rainbows collaborated with partner organisations to help people receive consistent care while moving between services
