Young boy laughing with Little Havens nurse
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Little Havens

About Little Havens

Little Havens provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people living with complex or incurable conditions, from Essex and the surrounding boroughs.

We offer care and support for each child or young person, and their whole family, in their homes and at our hospice in Rayleigh, Essex. 

Explore Little Havens

Care and support at Little Havens

You can choose from the wide range of support, activities, and facilities we offer, including: 

  • ‘Day Stay’ sessions, for respite, to give your child a change of scene, the chance to take part in enjoyable activities, meet and spend time with other children or young people their age, in a safe, accessible environment, with all the support and facilities your family needs.
  • Comfortable, free accommodation for family members – so you can stay with your children.
  • Overnight respite breaks – an important chance to give parents and carers time to rest and recuperate.
  • Emergency stays – when something unexpected happens, we are here to help.
  • Specialist care for children and young people approaching the end of their life, and for their families, including a private bereavement suite where families can stay when their child has died, and bereavement counselling.
  • Social groups and activities suited to your child’s and family’s needs, including support and activities for siblings
  • Landscaped gardens with sensory areas, wheelchair-accessible swings and adaptable play equipment.
  • A multi-sensory room, a ball pool and messy play areas.

The hospice is set in beautiful meadowland, surrounded by expansive, landscaped gardens, sensory areas, wheelchair-accessible swings and other adaptable play equipment. 

Our facilities include a multi-sensory room, a ball pool and messy play areas. 

We offer comfortable, free accommodation for family members, so families can stay with their children and make the most of their time together. 

Our beautiful, private bereavement suite, The Woodland Suite, provides a supportive space for families to stay when their child has died. 

Initial contact may be made either by a child or young person, parent or carer, or any professional directly involved in the child’s care. Anyone making a referral must have the consent or the parent/guardian or young person themselves. More details are here.

The Caseload Liaison Nurse will come out and visit you at home or if you are in hospital on the ward if this is easier. We will then gather information from your doctors and hold a multi-disciplinary panel meeting to support our decision on whether your child meets our criteria.

This usually takes a month but can be done more quickly in an emergency. If you are accepted for care you will be invited for an introductory visit for about an hour to meet the team, see the hospice and ask questions before your first stay.

You can call 01702 552 200 with details about the child’s condition.

The Caseload Liaison Nurse will come out and visit you at home or if you are in hospital on the ward if this is easier. We will then gather information from your doctors and hold a multi-disciplinary panel meeting to support our decision on whether your child meets our criteria.

This usually takes a month but can be done more quickly in an emergency. If you are accepted for care you will be invited for an introductory visit for about an hour to meet the team, see the hospice and ask questions before your first stay.

Our services are provided absolutely free of charge, from diagnosis and throughout your life’s journey.

Little Havens is part of Havens Hospices, which includes Fair Havens. If your child is approaching the age of transition into adult care, we can discuss whether these would be appropriate for your child.

Related services

Find out more about how the Little Havens team can support children living with complex or incurable conditions, as well as their families. 

Wellbeing Care

Community Team

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