Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust has recently recruited a dedicated youth worker, to support children and young people with long-term health conditions in their transition from paediatric services to adult services.

Youth worker, Nicholas Henry, will be supporting patients between the ages of 11 and 18 and providing ongoing support up to 25 years for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Staff across the Trust can make referrals for support ranging from appointment anxieties or crisis moments during a patient’s stay, to linking children and young people, and their parents or carers, to relevant support services and community teams including mental health resources and services provided by the voluntary sector.

The youth worker role is funded by South West London ICS, and is a pilot project, initially in place for a period of 12 months.