North Lincolnshire’s first-ever campus to offer short-breaks alongside supporting life limiting and palliative care needs of families is set to open in Scunthorpe.
The brand-new complex care campus, which will be called Tree Tops, will replace the existing outstanding Cygnets short breaks home and will enable more children to benefit from short breaks with staff delivering excellent care to children with complex needs, including physical difficulties and health needs.
Tree tops will also offer support to families to develop their skills if their children have complex health needs at any point of their journey, enabling them to remain close to their homes and family members.
Scunthorpe MP, Holly Mumby-Croft, and Cllr Julie Reed, cabinet member for children, families, and communities at North Lincolnshire Council, were two of the first people to tour the purpose-built facility and see the support first hand.
Cllr Reed said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to see this fantastic new facility open to our families. Tree Tops means that, for the first time in North Lincolnshire, families will be able to access palliative care right here instead of travelling out of the area, which I know will be a huge comfort in what can be a distressing time in people’s lives.
“Growing up in a family of children with disabilities, I know how exhausting delivering care around the clock can be, so having a wonderful space like Tree Trops, where a parent can drop their child off, knowing they will be well looked after and where they will receive excellent care, is a real lifeline. It will enable parents to have a couple of nights off and recharge their batteries – which can make all the difference.”
As well as enabling families to access palliative care, those visiting Tree Tops will also be able to benefit from expert advice – learning how to support their children with specialist, complex needs, including physical mobility issues, after they have left hospital.
Young people will also be able to join in a wide range of activities helping them to build important life skills.
Tree Tops was developed by the council alongside young people, their families, and steering groups and built using Government Levelling Up cash.
Holly Mumby-Croft, MP for Scunthorpe, said: “Every child in North Lincolnshire deserves access to the best possible facilities – and having seen the environment at Tree Tops, I’m confident that is what is being delivered – it is a fantastic facility that will help children and their families when they are having a really tough time.
“I’m also especially pleased to see Government Levelling Up cash making a difference on the ground, improving people’s lives in North Lincolnshire.”
Families can access information, advice and support, via the North Lincolnshire SEND Local Offer website.
