Compassionate Care After the Death of a Child

A compassionate, multidisciplinary course providing healthcare and other professionals with the knowledge, skills and confidence to support
About this Event



Course Overview

This course is designed to provide healthcare professionals with practical knowledge and confidence in supporting parents, carers and other family members at and after the death of a child. While the programme includes a structured curriculum covering key aspects of grief and bereavement, it is also shaped by the expressed learning needs and interests of participants, allowing discussion of real-world challenges and issues encountered in practice.

Topics may include supporting siblings before and after a bereavement, understanding the influence of faith, culture and religion on experiences of dying, death and mourning, navigating statutory and legal processes following a child's death, and providing ongoing bereavement support to families. The course also recognises the impact that the death of a child can have on the professionals involved in their care and will explore approaches to supporting colleagues and teams following a bereavement.

The course is suitable for professionals from a wide range of disciplines who may support children, young people and families after the death of a child. Participants typically include doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, social workers, bereavement practitioners, family support workers, education professionals and staff from hospices, community services, voluntary sector organisations and other agencies involved in the care of children and families. The multidisciplinary nature of the course is one of its strengths, providing participants with the opportunity to learn from different professional perspectives and experiences and to develop a broader understanding of the support available to bereaved families.

The course emphasises compassionate, family-centred care and aims to equip participants with the skills, knowledge and confidence to support families through some of the most difficult experiences they may face. As the course explores sensitive topics relating to child death, grief and bereavement, some participants may find aspects of the content emotionally challenging. Anyone who has concerns about attending, or who would like to discuss their individual circumstances, is encouraged to contact the course lead in advance. We are committed to creating a supportive learning environment and can discuss any reasonable adjustments or support that may help participants engage with the course safely and comfortably.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the impact of the death of a child on parents, siblings and wider family members, and identify ways to provide effective support.
• Recognise how cultural, spiritual and religious beliefs may influence experiences of dying, death and bereavement.
• Describe the key statutory and legal processes that may occur following the death of a child and the roles of professionals involved.
• Apply the principles of compassionate, family-centred bereavement care, including supporting colleagues and recognising when additional ongoing support may be required for families or professionals.