Haven House was founded on the vision and passion of Sue Irwin (see ). Since 2003 we have been supporting children with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Central and North East London and West Essex.
Vision
To ensure that all children who are life-threatened or who have a range of disabilities and complex health needs together with their families in our area are offered a range of caring, competent and high quality services which respond to their needs.
Mission
We aim to identify all of the children (0-19) who meet our criteria and work with their families to advocate for services which could be located either in the community or in the hospice.
The multi-disciplinary team take the lead in ensuring that each child and family receives safe and timely high-quality care which is chosen to meet the child's individual needs delivered by a caring, compassionate and competent team.
We aim to take every opportunity to network, collaborate and learn from the contribution of all local and external partners.
Values
Children and their families are at the centre of everything we do.
We aim to be an employer of choice for staff by offering continuing professional development to meet their full potential.
Integrity is of the upmost importance in all that we strive for at Haven House. Our aim is to be open, transparent and respectful in all our working practices by creating a culture that is both diverse and inclusive of all.
"Children’s Hospices UK is the national voice for children's hospice services and the children and families they care for. We strive to ensure that the estimated 20,000 life-limited children in the UK, and their families, have access to the unique range of services children's hospices provide."
http://www.childhospice.org.uk
"ACT is the first and only organisation in the UK concerned with the needs of all children with life-shortening conditions and their families, regardless of the particular diseases involved. Haven House, along with other hospices for children, is a member of ACT. ACT, in consultation with the membership, publicly launched the Charter for Children with Life-Threatening Conditions and Their Families in June 1993."
http://www.act.org.uk
"Hospice Information is a joint venture between St. Christopher's Hospice and Help the Hospices. It brings together the experience and established reputation for high quality of the Hospice Information Service at St. Christopher's and the national remit and innovative information developments of Help the Hospices. Together, we want to provide a world-class information service for health professionals and members of the public, on UK and international hospice and palliative care."
http://www.hospiceinformation.info
"Help the Hospices is the national charity for the hospice movement, founded in 1984 by Anne, Duchess of Norfolk."
http://www.helpthehospices.org.uk
This web-based resource provides information on the lifelites project, which aims to improve the quality of life for children with life-limiting illnesses, through the use of information technology.
http://www.lifelites.org
Europe's leading cancer information charity, with over 4,500 pages of up-to-date cancer information, practical advice and support for cancer patients, their families and carers.
http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk
KidsHealth provides families with accurate, up-to-date, and jargon-free health information they can use.
http://www.kidshealth.org
Clic Sargent supports families with children suffering from cancer or leukaemia.
http://www.clic.org.uk/
The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is the only UK charity focusing on all muscular dystrophies and allied disorders. It has pioneered the search for treatments and cures for over 40 years and provides practical, medical and emotional support to people affected by the condition.
http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/
The Mission of the Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (JTSMA) is to be there for everyone affected by or involved with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), providing support and information, and investing in research. The JTSMA is the only British organisation dedicated to providing support, care, information and the funding of research into SMA.
http://www.jtsma.org.uk/
The Batten Disease Family Association (BDFA) was created in 1998 to support and help families, carers and professionals, who have contact with a child with Batten disease.
http://www.bdfa-uk.org.uk/index.htm
For help and support with conditions relating to the heart.
http://www.bhf.org.uk/index.asp
The Contact a Family Directory Online has lots of information on specific conditions and rare disorders in children and young people.
http://www.cafamily.org.uk/Idx/m.html
This website from the Department of Health provides details about services or benefits affecting carers.
http://www.carers.gov.uk/
This government site brings together information on public services, and includes sections health services, caring for a child or adult and disability.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/CaringForSomeone/fs/en
RADAR is an organisation campaigning for better lifestyles for disabled people and their families.
http://www.radar.org.uk/RANE/Templates/frontpage.asp?lHeaderID=2
NHS Direct has a wealth of information about illnesses and conditions and also links to other organisations.
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Contact a Family is the only UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children - no matter what their health condition. They also enable parents to get in contact with other families, both on a local and national basis.
http://www.cafamily.org.uk/index.html
Whizz-Kidz provides specialised mobility transport for children, as well as training, information and advice to change the lives of disabled children.
http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/Page.asp
This organisation works to help bereaved families.
http://www.childbereavement.org.uk