What does this service provide?

Who we are

We are a team of skilled health care assistants, nurses, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist and physiotherapist.

What we do

We provide nurse led, planned respite stays for children and young people with complex and/or fluctuating health needs. Children and young people can stay with us for either two or four nights at regular periods throughout the year.

A range of fun activities are always on offer to help children and young people enjoy their time away from home. These include:

  • craft activities
  • games
  • soft play
  • sensory room
  • walks
  • garden activities

Before coming to stay at Bluebells, children and young people will be invited to attend for visits on site and members of the team may also visit them within their own home. This is to ensure the team can appropriately meet their needs and that care and support plans can be agreed. It is important that families as well as the children and young people accessing the service feel happy and confident about their first stay.

Appointment information

Who you'll see

Children and young people staying with us will have their medical and personal care needs met by nurses and trained support staff to ensure they are safe and comfortable during their stay. They may also meet with our occupational therapist, speech and language therapist and physiotherapist depending on their needs.

How can I access this service?

The service is for children and young people up to and including 19 years of age with complex and/or fluctuating health needs who are resident within Sussex and being supported by Children’s Continuing Health Care (CHC) (or Adult Continuing Health Care as appropriate) and/or Local Authority Children’s Social Care. 

Referrals to our service are made by NHS Sussex Children’s Continuing Health Care (CHC) team and the Children’s/Adult Social Care teams at West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove local authorities. 

Referral forms should be completed by the CHC team or Children's/Adult social care team supporting the provision.

Download the referral form

 

Where can I access this service?

Contact details
Telephone: 01825 722 112 (Request to be transferred to Bluebells short Breaks Service)
Where to find us
Address: Chailey Clinical Services, Beggars Wood Road, North Chailey, East Sussex, BN8 4JN

You can find us using the what3words address snippet below on the what3words website:

heads.workloads.self
Go to what3words

Alternatively, use the Google map below to get directions and plan your journey:

Open Google Maps directions
Waiting times

Waiting times vary depending on availability at Bluebells and the needs of the children, young people and their families identified by the referring team.

The frequency of stays is agreed with the referring continuing care, continuing health care or local authority team.

Related pages

Get the best from your NHS

If you need advice about our services, facilities or staff, or would like to make a comment, please contact Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS).

Contact details

You can contact PALS by the following:

Telephone: 01273 242 292

Give feedback

Tell us what you think about our services, what we are good at, where we can improve, and what matters to you? All feedback will be shared anonymously wherever possible, but if you have any questions about this, please ask.

Submit feedback