Hospital support for children and adults
A calm, familiar person beside a child or adult in hospital, supporting them alongside the ward team.
Please don't include detailed medical information in a first email. We'll arrange a secure way to share it.
About this service
Hospital can be frightening and overwhelming, especially for people with learning disabilities, autism, brain injury or mental health needs. Our support workers provide support on the ward, helping the person feel safe, communicate what they need and get through tests, treatment and long days.
Our staff support the person alongside the ward team and do not carry out clinical tasks. Nursing and medical care stays with the hospital. We follow the ward's guidance, share what we know about the person, and raise concerns with the nurse in charge straight away.
We can provide support for a few hours, for set shifts or around the clock, and we keep a record of every shift for the hospital team and the people funding the support.
What this looks like
- Support on the ward, for set hours or around the clock
- Help to communicate needs, worries and preferences
- Keeping the person calm and occupied through long days
- Support at mealtimes, with activities and with family visits
- Clear handovers to the ward team at every change of shift
Who refers
Hospital discharge and safeguarding teams, children's and adults' social workers, learning disability liaison nurses and families refer to us.
How support is funded
Support can be funded by local authorities, the NHS (including continuing healthcare and personal health budgets), schools and SEND teams, direct payments, and families paying privately. Paying for care
Why teams use us
Support you can rely on, led by a clinician, with records you can see.
Clinical leadership
A paramedic leads safeguarding, risk and escalation, and is on call whenever our staff are working.
Records you can rely on
Every shift, incident and concern is recorded digitally, with progress summaries for the people who commission the support.
One provider, children to adults
We support children, young people and adults, from 14 to 25 and beyond, so there is no hand-off at 18.
Safer recruitment
Enhanced DBS with barred list checks on the Update Service, references, and an induction before any shift.
How it works
From referral to the first shift, with everything agreed in writing.
Refer
Tell us about the person, the support and the hours, using the referral form or by email.
Screen
We review every referral the same working day and come back to you with questions or next steps.
Confirm in writing
We agree the support, the staff and the start date with you in writing before anything begins.
Report
You get records of every shift and regular progress summaries, and we flag concerns straight away.
Common questions
Do your staff carry out clinical tasks in hospital?
No. Our staff support the person alongside the ward team and do not carry out clinical tasks. Nursing and medical care stays with the hospital.
Can you provide enhanced observation support?
We provide support workers who stay with the person and work to the ward's observation plan, escalating to the nurse in charge. Clinical decisions remain with the ward.
Can the same staff support the person after discharge?
Often, yes. Where the person needs support at home or in the community after hospital, we can plan for familiar staff to continue.
Related support
Short-notice and emergency cover
Short-notice cover for children's and adults' social care teams.
Find out more about short-notice and emergency coverSupport work
Support for children, young people and adults with complex needs, at home and in the community.
Find out more about support workTransition support (14 to 25)
Support for young people aged 14 to 25 moving into adulthood and adult services.
Find out more about transition support (14 to 25)Make a referral.
Tell us about the person and the support they need. We review every referral the same working day.
Or email referrals@eviqa.health, or call 01626 717587. Please don't include detailed medical information in a first email. We'll arrange a secure way to share it.