ACORNS Children's Hospice Trust is expanding its care and bereavement support services in the Redditch area with the appointment of a new community worker.

Sheryl King has recently joined Acorns' community care team and is already working with 15 families with a life-limited child.

She provides home-based practical and emotional support for parents and siblings, as well as bereavement support in Redditch, Bromsgrove and south Warwickshire.

As a qualified nurse, Ms King has worked with both children and adults with learning disabilities for 20 years, joining Acorns from Wolverhampton Primary Care Trust where she was a community nurse.

Her new role involves supporting families and liaising with consultants, paediatricians, community services, social services and hospitals.

"My job is to provide support, act as an advocate and liaise with other professionals to ensure families can access the facilities and services they are entitled to," said Ms King.

"They can often feel isolated and not know where to turn."

Ms King added: "The work Acorns is doing has been very well received by health professionals in the area.

"They see it as a vital service and the new hospice is urgently needed as the area has limited respite services for children with life-limiting conditions."

Ms King and her community team colleagues are on call to families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

They are offering a holistic service that continues after the death of the child and throughout the period of bereavement, which can last many years.

The new post is being funded by the Lottery's New Opportunities Fund.