Encourage adults to be open and honest as this is important in helping CYP manage their grief. The response of around them, particularly within their family, is important in helping the child/young person through the grief. If the family is not coping well with the loss then this means that the child/young person may also struggle. Reassure the parents/carers that it is ok for child/young person to see them cry as it gives the child/young person permission to show their feelings. Families who have been bereaved usually want people to talk about the person who has gone. It is ok to tell them you are sorry and even that you don’t know what to say. You can’t make it better for them and they would rather you said something than nothing. Signpost to local Children’s Centre if family has child under 5 years old so they can help families to support the bereaved child. Children’s Centres (as part of Early Start Teams with Health Visitors) have a key role in supporting all families who have children under 5 (not just those who have a child attending the Children’s Centre). When a younger child is bereaved the most beneficial thing is to ensure that parents/carers are receiving the support and encouragement to manage their own grief and support their child. All practitioners can refer children under 5 to Early Start teams by contacting the local Health Visitor Team or Children’s Centre. Crisis support for schools Crisis Line offers support to schools following a death in the school community. Schools can contact a crisis line to ring and gain support from a Senior Educational Psychologist following a bereavement in the school community. This is usually if a child attending the school or staff member has died, or there has been an incident that has a significant impact on the school. Tel: 0113 378 3645. Step by Step Samaritans service support with repercussions of suicide or – attempted suicide
Encourage adults to be open and honest as this is important in helping CYP manage their grief. The response of around them, particularly within their family, is important in helping the child/young person through the grief. If the family is not coping well with the loss then this means that the child/young person may also struggle. Reassure the parents/carers that it is ok for child/young person to see them cry as it gives the child/young person permission to show their feelings. Families who have been bereaved usually want people to talk about the person who has gone. It is ok to tell them you are sorry and even that you don’t know what to say. You can’t make it better for them and they would rather you said something than nothing. Signpost to local Children’s Centre if family has child under 5 years old so they can help families to support the bereaved child. Children’s Centres (as part of Early Start Teams with Health Visitors) have a key role in supporting all families who have children under 5 (not just those who have a child attending the Children’s Centre). When a younger child is bereaved the most beneficial thing is to ensure that parents/carers are receiving the support and encouragement to manage their own grief and support their child. All practitioners can refer children under 5 to Early Start teams by contacting the local Health Visitor Team or Children’s Centre. Crisis support for schools Crisis Line offers support to schools following a death in the school community. Schools can contact a crisis line to ring and gain support from a Senior Educational Psychologist following a bereavement in the school community. This is usually if a child attending the school or staff member has died, or there has been an incident that has a significant impact on the school. Tel: 0113 378 3645. Step by Step Samaritans service – support with repercussions of suicide or attempted suicide
Pathway-for-CYP-in-Leeds-who-have-been-bereaved-October-2016.docx