A paediatric portfolio was established in HPCA in 2007 to focus on the development of hospice and palliative care programmes for children within existing hospices in South Africa.

The Mission of the Paediatric Portfolio is to provide and promote quality, comprehensive palliative care for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions including support for families and care givers, applying an integrated approach.

OBJECTIVES:

1. DEVELOPMENT
- To promote and support the development of children’s palliative care programmes
- To strengthen the capacity of hospices and development sites to provide quality palliative care for children
- To identify the need for staff with the relevant qualifications to promote and support the development of children’s palliative care
- To monitor minimum standards in hospices with children in collaboration with the Patient Care sub-committee
- To identify and promote best practise models
- To respond to challenges and barriers to the provision of children’s palliative care within South Africa

2. EDUCATION & TRAINING
- To establish an Education and Training task team
- To work in collaboration with the Education and Research Committee of HPCA
- To establish essential elements of a paediatric palliative care curriculum according to minimum standards
- To develop new training materials
- To evaluate and consolidate existing training materials
- To develop and implement elements of the strategic plan for training in collaboration with the Education and Research committee of HPCA
- To regularly monitor and evaluate training needs and the materials available
- To provide information and guidance through a CPC virtual resource centre

3. NETWORKING & ADVOCACY
- To monitor and evaluate the status of children’s palliative care in South Africa
- To collaborate with other HPCA sub-committees
- To promote palliative care for children with government agencies, parliamentary structures, donor and - national and international organisations supporting children
- To promote communication between children’s palliative care organisations through a strong network and membership of ICPCN

4. RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
- To access funding for the development of children’s palliative care
- To empower the families and community caregivers involved in our programmes
- Raise awareness of children’s palliative care in order to improve support from donors
- Raise the profile and improve marketing opportunities

5. RESEARCH
- Establish an evidence base for children’s palliative care by identifying areas that require research and programmes