Families at children’s centre greeted in Makaton

Visitors to a Southampton children’s centre are receiving a warm new welcome – in Makaton.

Staff at the Horizon Centre on the Western Community Hospital site in Millbrook wanted to give their waiting area a friendly and inclusive feel to help young patients and their families feel more relaxed.

After researching numerous different languages, the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) team came up with something they felt best suited their needs.

Makaton, which uses speech and symbols, is the UK’s leading language programme for adults and children with learning or communication difficulties.

Now the sign, spelling out “welcome”, is displayed behind the first-floor reception desk at the centre, where staff help children and young people struggling with their emotional and mental health.

Chantal Homan, Service and Quality Manager, who led the project, said: “We wanted to provide a welcoming environment and good first impression for our patients and their families.

“Clinical environments tend to sometimes feel a bit sterile and bland, so we decided to look at ways of creating a better all-round vibe.

“We considered numerous different languages for our new welcome sign before settling on Makaton, which seemed to be the most inclusive and felt right for what we were trying to achieve.”

Chantal contacted Solent NHS Estates with her unusual request and, before long, the team’s vision of a hand-signed welcome had been designed, printed and turned into reality.

Rochelle Sampson-Clarke, Estates Project Officer, said the use of Makaton in signage could be extended across other sites owned or managed by Solent NHS Estates, depending on feedback from patients, families and staff.

Pictured is Chantal Homan, Service and Quality Manager (left), and CAMHS receptionist Jane Watts (right) with the new welcome sign in Makaton.