Dr Vicky Queralt discusses the difference between care profiles and hospital passports, the importance of the child voice in effective paediatric care, and her new P.A.U.S.E framework to support healthcare professionals.
At Little Journey, we’re passionate about making healthcare experiences calmer, more inclusive and truly centred around children. To explore how our A Little About Me care profiles feature supports that goal, we spoke with Clinical Psychologist, Dr Vicky Queralt, who specialises in children’s emotional wellbeing, empowering children’s voices in healthcare and helping professionals deliver more personalised care.
How does A Little About Me differ from traditional tools used to gather patient information?
At the heart of both A Little About Me and existing tools like hospital passports is the aim to help children feel understood and supported in hospital. They both help staff know what a child needs, how they communicate and what will make their experience better.
The difference is that hospital passports, while an important first step, are often paper-based and lengthy, usually completed by parents or carers. This can mean the child’s voice gets lost. They’re not particularly child friendly, and with so much information, it’s hard for busy hospital staff to read everything and make adjustments in time.
With A Little About Me care profiles, we wanted to make it easier for families to share what matters to them, and easier for staff to act on it. It’s interactive, engaging and accessible, giving children a genuine say in their healthcare. It raises their voice, helping them share their thoughts, feelings and preferences in a way that’s empowering and meaningful.
We also listened carefully to caregivers, who told us that advocating for their child’s needs can feel daunting and exhausting, especially if their child has additional needs or is neurodivergent. They don’t want to seem like a nuisance, but they know their child best. You can hear more direct from parents and caregivers in our Spotlight Sessions podcast.
That’s why A Little About Me includes quizzes for both children and caregivers; recognising their expertise and giving space to share what triggers anxiety, what helps when their child is overwhelmed, and how they themselves can be supported.
When all these perspectives come together, healthcare teams receive a clear, accessible one-page profile before a family even arrives. Staff can prepare, make thoughtful adjustments and build rapport quickly so children and families feel welcomed, understood and supported.
What challenges do children face when expressing thoughts, emotions or preferences in clinical settings?
Many factors make it hard for children to express themselves in hospitals:
- There is the uncertainty and anxiety of being in an unfamiliar environment with bright lights, strange noises, strong smells and lots of new people. All this can feel intimidating and make it harder to feel safe enough to share how they really feel.
- When children are feeling poorly or in pain, putting emotions or preferences into words becomes even harder. Some worry they are not allowed to say what they prefer or assume that doctors and nurses know best, so they hold back. Speaking up to someone they don't know in an overwhelming setting takes a lot of courage.
- There can also be a power imbalance in clinical settings. They are often adult-led, where children are asked to follow instructions and be brave. That can make it harder for them to express what they think or need.
- Some children communicate or process emotions differently too. Neurodivergent children, for example, might mask how they feel or struggle to find the right words. Healthcare staff may misinterpret this, thinking a child is being uncooperative when they are actually doing their best.
When children feel safe and supported and have the right tools to express themselves, they are far more able to share openly. That is where A Little About Me care profiles makes a difference, giving children and caregivers a fun, accessible way to share what helps them feel calm, what might make them anxious and how staff can best support them.
How do healthcare professionals use insights from A Little About Me care profiles to improve care?
We developed A Little About Me in close collaboration with clinicians, listening carefully to their feedback and insights to ensure it is relevant, practical, and easy to act on.
Staff told us they needed something quick to read, clear to understand, and simple to use in busy settings. When a child and caregiver complete the quizzes, A Little About Me generates a short care profile, that families can share with staff right from the start.
The profile highlights a child’s needs, preferences and what helps them feel at ease. For example, it might say the child enjoys talking about football or music, or that waiting in a busy area can be overwhelming. These small insights help staff plan care that feels calmer, safer and more predictable, building trust quickly and making every interaction more compassionate.
Why is it important for healthcare professionals to pause when caring for children?
We know healthcare staff are under huge pressure, with long waiting lists and limited time. In that environment, taking a moment for personalised care can feel hard, but even a short pause can make a big difference.
That is why we created the P.A.U.S.E framework, a simple reminder to take a moment before an interaction to consider preparation, communication, sensory needs, personalisation and empathy.
It's not about adding extra work. It is about building small, meaningful habits. Pausing helps staff notice the child in front of them and approach with intention and empathy. When that happens, everything tends to go more smoothly. It shifts care from being purely task-focused to truly child-focused, making the experience calmer and more positive for everyone.
What resources or learning opportunities help healthcare professionals put the child’s voice at the heart of care?
We know healthcare professionals want to deliver the best care, even when time and resources are limited. So our focus at Little Journey has been on creating evidence-based training and tools that are practical and easy to use.
Our CPD-accredited training, built around the P.A.U.S.E framework, helps clinicians plan ahead, adapt communication and create calmer, more sensory-aware environments. The modules are reflective, flexible and packed with realistic strategies that can be used straight away.
Alongside this, the A Little About Me care profiles feature gives professionals a tangible tool to understand a child’s needs, preferences and communication style while amplifying both the child and caregiver voice.
Together, the training and profiles bridge the gap between awareness and action, helping staff turn insights into practice and make healthcare experiences better for everyone.
Ultimately, we want inclusive, personalised care to feel achievable, not another task on a to-do list but a natural part of how care happens. Every child deserves to be heard and involved in their care, and when staff feel supported to listen, healthcare becomes calmer, more compassionate and better for everyone.