Children’s tool – background and guidance The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 12) states Children and Young People have a right to have their views heard in all matters affecting them and for these to be taken seriously. Parents and carers will also have views regarding care of their child and their views should also be sought. In the Children’s Unit at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) we have been using various surveys to capture feedback from children, young people and their families. We have used paper surveys but we are now exploring ways to gain feedback electronically and using social media. The survey has been used with the older age groups on our adolescent unit, Fistral Ward, for the last year. Feedback is collated by members of staff and displayed on a board in the ward for staff and patients to see. The survey was developed from the adult inpatient survey using our CARE campaign questions and incorporating the Friends and Family questions. The questions were developed with young people from local schools. Instructions for use The survey should be given to children and young people to complete before they are discharged – from our experience the younger patients respond better when they are encouraged by people they know. In a hospital setting this might be done with a Play Specialist. Some younger patients might like to add some narrative around the shapes – this is very valuable additional feedback and should be encouraged. If themes are emerging and you respond to them, this should be displayed. You might do this on a “You said, we did” board. Further specific focus groups and questionnaires can be developed to get more information about specific themes – the ward sisters/charge nurses & matron should support staff to do this work and liaise with other departments if necessary. It is important that the messages from the feedback are shared widely via notice boards, ward meetings, newsletters and via Directorate and/or Divisional meetings. Page 1

Ward Name:Date: How likely are you to recommend our ward to friends and family if they needed similar care or treatment? Any other comments…? Any other comments…? Any other comments…? Do you feel the doctors and nurses listened to your worries and point of view? Do you think the staff were kind to you? Do you feel you can talk to staff and ask them any questions? Extremely likely Neither likely or unlikely Extremely unlikely Likely Unlikely Don’t know Yes No YesNo YesNo Page 2

What do you think about your room and the bathroom facilities? Were they clean? Have staff asked you if you have any pain while you have been here? Any other comments…? Any other comments…? Any other comments…? Any other comments…? Any other comments…? Do you think staff have done everything to help you control your pain while you were here? Have you been offered a good choice of food? How would you rate the hospital food? GoodPoor YesNo YesNo YesNo Yes No Very good Good Fair Poor Don’t know Page 3