Our Vision and Values

Compassion – Dignity – Family-Centred Care – Lifelong Support – Excellence – Belonging

Young child sat in a ball pool laughing

Our Vision

That every baby, child and young person with a life-shortening or life-threatening condition and every family who loves them can access compassionate, specialist care when and where they need it, shaped around what matters most to them.

We want children, young people and their families to have the support they need to live life as fully as possible – sharing ordinary family moments, having fun, making memories and finding joy, even through the most difficult times.

We want every family who comes to Francis House to feel welcomed, valued and that they belong.

Our Values

Image of a child sat in a toy police car with a woman holding the child's hand to her cheek and smiling. A caption alongside the image with the words Compassion and description of its meaning.

1. Compassion

We care with kindness, warmth and understanding. We take time to listen, to understand what matters to each child, young person and family, and to be alongside them through good days as well as difficult ones.

Image of a young woman in a wheelchair and an older woman placing the woman's hand on a dog to stroke its head. A caption alongside the image with the words Dignity and description of its meaning.

2. Dignity

Every child, young person and family is valued for who they are. We treat everyone with dignity, kindness and respect, recognising each person as an individual and listening to their wishes, choices and what matters to them.

Image of two young children, one a girls is sat in a wheelchair, she is laughing at a woman and boy sat next to her. A caption alongside the image with the words Family-Centred Care and description of its meaning.

3. Family-Centred Care

Serious illness affects the whole family. We provide respite, emotional support, sibling care and space to simply be together so no one walks the journey alone.

Image of young person with an iPad looking at a man pointing at the iPad smiling. A caption alongside the image with the words Lifelong Support and description of its meaning.

4. Lifelong Support

Once a child or young person is welcomed into our care, there is no upper age limit. We remain alongside them and their family as long as they need us.

Image of a child sat with a police hat on their head alongside a woman looking and smiling at the child. A caption alongside the image with the words Excellence and description of its meaning.

5. Excellence

We are committed to high-quality, specialist and holistic palliative care. We combine specialist knowledge and skill with kindness and compassion. We listen, learn and continually look for ways to improve what we do.

Image of a child sat in a high chair reaching for a drink cup with a woman sat at a dinner table smiling at the child. A caption alongside the image with the words Belonging and description of its meaning.

6. Belonging

Everyone is welcome here. We create a place where children, young people and families can be themselves, feel valued and know that they belong.

We celebrate individuality, we respect diversity and challenge inequality and ensure our care reflects the values and experiences of the people we serve.

Our Mission

Image of a young person being pushed along a corridor by a man, both are looking out of a window.

We exist to walk alongside children, young people and their families through the realities of serious illness, providing specialist palliative, respite, end-of-life and bereavement care that is personal, coordinated and grounded in compassion.

We do this by:

  • Offering a welcoming home-from-home where families can rest, recharge and feel safe.
  • Delivering skilled, specialist care across hospice and community settings.
  • Supporting the whole family, including siblings, so that no one walks the journey alone.
  • Working together with families, professionals and community services to ensure care is joined-up and responsive.
  • Championing equitable access to children’s palliative care and the needs of the families we serve.
Download a copy of our Vision and Values (7.3MB pdf)