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Mental Health Investment Fund transforms NICU support for families
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices has partnered with St Peter’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Chertsey, Surrey, to provide ground breaking emotional support for families, made possible by funding from the Surrey Mental Health Investment Fund.
After identifying a potential gap in support on NICU, Katie Richards, Head of Strategy and Partnerships at Shooting Star, successfully secured funding to embed a dedicated in-reach Family Support Worker as part of the NICU team. Vikki German, a family support worker with 15 years of experience at Shooting Star successfully applied for the role.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Vikki took a secondment with the NICU, where her personal connection as a grandmother of a NICU patient and her professional expertise proved invaluable.
Now, Vikki works on the unit twice a week, offering a mix of emotional care and practical support. She helps parents bond with their babies through activities like reading and story massage and facilitates coffee mornings to encourage community among families. She also participates in parent-led ward rounds and psychosocial meetings to address emotional needs.
Her role centres on early intervention, offering practical and emotional support at a critical time in families’ lives. Vikki’s approach ensures parents feel seen and supported in their journey.
Vikki explains:
It’s important to create space for families to just be ‘mum’ or ‘dad,’ away from the medicalisation of their baby’s care.
Her role extends to some of the most difficult moments, supporting families when outcomes are not as hoped. Vikki provides compassionate bereavement support, from helping families create keepsakes like hand and foot casts to guiding them through funeral arrangements. Families can also say goodbye to their child in the comforting environment of Shooting Star’s Willow Suite at Christopher’s hospice, with continued bereavement care for years afterward.
For families, these small acts make a world of difference. “It’s the little things families remember at the worst time of their lives,” Vikki says.
Parents deeply value the support. Vikki recalls one mother saying her child had “a beautiful death,” reflecting the care and dignity provided in even the hardest circumstances.
The Surrey Mental Health Investment Fund, a £10.5 million initiative by Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board and Surrey County Council, aims to enhance mental health and emotional wellbeing across Surrey.
Through this innovative partnership, Shooting Star continues its mission to bring compassionate, life-changing care to families when they need it most.
Dr Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer for Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership said:
This vital work, made possible by the Mental Health Investment Fund, is a shining example of how thoughtful funding can transform lives. Katie Richards and the team at Shooting Star saw an opportunity to extend their impact, ensuring families facing unimaginable challenges never feel alone.
Mark Nuti, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, and Public Health, Surrey County Council said:
It’s wonderful to see the impact that Katie and the Team are making by supporting families in Surrey. It’s hard to imagine the difficulties these families face, but the emotional support from Shooting Stars provides comfort and a community at a time when they need it most.