Following the death of a child or young person we have a bereavement suite at the house called ‘Stars’. This suite provides complete privacy for the bereaved family, with exclusive use of the kitchen/lounge area and private garden. It also includes a special adjoining bedroom for the child to lay at rest until the funeral. We are able to take referrals for this service for children who are not already on our case load.

The Care Team can support a family with their funeral arrangements to suit specific individual, cultural, spiritual and emotional needs as required.

We continue to support the family in the days, weeks and years after their child has died in a number of ways.

A few weeks after the funeral, the family are offered a visit from one of the members of staff who have been involved in their child’s care. If the family would like it, one of our Bereavement team will then keep contact with the family by phone. At any point, parents and carers can access counselling, and the siblings can have play and creative arts therapy if appropriate.

Remembrance events are held twice a year, in the summer and near Christmas, and every family is invited to these.

We also run groups for bereaved parents and for bereaved siblings at various points during the year.