Meet the Youth Liaison and Engagement Coordinators at Sheffield Children’s

Meet Odessa and Nat, our Youth Liaison and Engagement Coordinators!

This duo works with young people aged 12 and over across Sheffield Children’s and in the community, including members of the Sheffield Children’s Youth Forum, to make sure that they are involved in shaping their own care experience. Their roles are funded by Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, who support Sheffield Children’s by funding groundbreaking research, specialist medical equipment and new facilities, creating an engaging environment built with children in mind.

Nat said: “We speak with young people during all stages of their care, whether in hospital or in the community. We want to support teams in making sure that the care that we deliver is young-person friendly and accessible.”

Odessa added: “We work with teams at Sheffield Children’s directly by taking a look at the resources available to young people, the environment in which they’re receiving care, and more. We have also developed a questionnaire that we have worked closely with the Youth Forum here at the Trust to make sure that it is suitable for young people to fill out.”

From hospital to community – engagement throughout the care journey    

Our whole-child approach at Sheffield Children’s means we support children not just in a moment of need, but throughout their entire health and care journey, be that in hospital, school or at home. Odessa and Nat work closely with young people across each stage of their journey, making sure that their voices are heard every step of the way.

Nat said: “It’s really important that we engage with children and families not just at Sheffield Children’s Hospital or any of the many sites across the Trust. We think it is really important that we speak to young people in the community too.”

Odessa added: “We’ve been very active in the community, being a key part of networking events across Sheffield. At these events, we directly engage with young people, seeking feedback and often having incredibly insightful conversations which can spur positive action and change.”

Healthier futures through lived experience

Odessa’s drive to create a healthier future for children and young people can be tracked back to the first time she walked through the doors at Sheffield Children’s over 25 years ago.

At just three years old, consultants discovered that she had developed a stage 3 neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer which can develop in early nerve cells. After an operation taking place over five hours, the team at Sheffield Children’s were able to remove the tumour and Odessa was able to return home, but not before picking up some inspiration for a future career.

Odessa said: “My family and I always speak about how amazing the team were at Sheffield Children’s, and it seemed inevitable that I would be back here. My whole career, I’ve always wanted to come back to Sheffield Children’s and support young people and families who might be having a similar experience as I did when I was younger. Working with Nat, we’re able to use our experience to make sure that children and young people have access to holistic care wherever they’re based.”

Nat agreed: “I’ve been at Sheffield Children’s for nearly a decade now and giving young people a platform is my passion. Working with Odessa means we’re able to ground our decisions in lived experience, which means that we can often relate to the young people who feed back to us. We want to make sure we reach as many people as possible, so that the needs of our young people are reflected in the care that we deliver at Sheffield Children’s.”

Charitable Impact – transforming the hospital experience

Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity helps Sheffield Children’s to go beyond what’s expected and deliver world-class care for children and young people. Through the generosity of supporters the charity allows us to invest in innovation, enhance environments for children and families, and support projects that would otherwise not be possible.

Nat and Odessa’s roles are part of the charity’s dedication to improving the lives of children and young people by helping Sheffield Children’s support patients and families whenever, and wherever, they need it. Before this role, Nat worked in the transition team at Sheffield Children’s. During her time there, Nat saw the need for more engagement with our young people.

Nat said: “I’m passionate about this role because I think this is a big turning point for Sheffield Children’s. Thanks to charity funding we’re here to support young people, and hopefully we’ll continue to make a difference to their experiences.”

If you’re a young person aged 12 or above, are receiving care at Sheffield Children’s, and want to help Nat and Odessa in creating healthier futures for our children and young people, please fill in this form: https://tinyurl.com/sheffchildrensform

To find out how you can help Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity continue providing services like this, visit sheffieldchildrens.org