Creativity in Children’s Services

Hi, I am Kate, and I work for the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust. Over the past year, the Trust has been introducing Care Opinion to it’s 138 services within physical and mental health teams for all ages.

Instead of a one-size-fits-all launch, our team has taken a phased, bespoke approach, ensuring that each service area has the tools, resources, and materials that work best for them and their patients.

The Trust recognised early on those services across Herefordshire and Worcestershire support very different patient groups, each with unique needs and preferences. By taking time to listen to staff and involving teams in shaping the rollout, the Trust ensured that the platform didn’t just arrive as another digital tool—it became something meaningful and embedded into day-to-day practice.

Every team has had the chance to request and design materials that make sense in their settings. This collaborative approach has given staff ownership, boosted engagement, and helped patients feel more comfortable sharing their experiences.

Gathering feedback from children and young people can be particularly challenging, so the team developed resources that are not only engaging but also age appropriate. The designs included the Care Opinion bear, along with other imagery for older young people including emojis and graffiti paint splashes.

The team have designed a range of resources including:

• Stickers – fun, colourful, and easy to hand out after appointments or treatments, giving children a sense of recognition.
• Colouring sheets – a calming activity that helps children relax, while also opening a natural opportunity to talk about their experiences. We also produced mark marking sheets too.
• Certificates – celebrating bravery, effort, or simply taking part, these provide positive reinforcement while gently encouraging children and their families to share their thoughts.
• Greetings cards – handed to children, or their families with a personalised message inside. Some teams have even held competitions within schools to design the fronts of the cards.

By thinking creatively, we hope that feedback will become something children actively want to engage with—making their voices heard in a safe and supportive way.