Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T15:01:33.597Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evaluation of a British child bereavement service: The user's perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2010

Anne Lydon ,
Jean Hennings  and
Bernadette Ryan Woolley
Anne Lydon*
Affiliation:
Macmillan Research Unit, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
Jean Hennings
Affiliation:
Macmillan Research Unit, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
Bernadette Ryan Woolley
Affiliation:
Macmillan Research Unit, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Anne Lydon, Macmillan Research Associate, Macmillan Research Unit, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, Jean MacFarlane Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom. E-mail: anne.lydon@manchester.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

This article summarizes the findings from a 3-year independent evaluation of a regional Child Bereavement Service (CBS). The service was commissioned by a Primary Care Trust in Northern England, and funded by a British cancer charity, Macmillan Cancer Support. The need for a CBS was recognized by members of a Palliative Care Group who identified a gap in local services for bereaved children, who may be susceptible to short/long-term psychiatric/psychological disorders. The service was established to offer support for professionals working with bereaved children and their family.

Method:

Interventions provided by the service included pre/post bereavement support, individual work with the child and/or family, and group work. An evaluation (2004–2007), was conducted to inform service development utilizing semi-structured interviews with parents/carers of service users (n = 20), and semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals (n = 8). Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using grounded theory methods.

Results:

Referrals were higher than expected. Sixty per year were anticipated; however, in the first year alone, there were 255 referrals. Health and social care professionals who attended training courses, provided by the CBS staff, expressed confidence in providing bereavement support themselves, or by making appropriate referrals to the CBS. Parents and carers welcomed a service specifically for their children.

Significance of results:

The CBS is a viable organization that supports bereaved children as expressed in this article.

Keywords

Child bereavementBereavement services and support
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , September 2010 , pp. 297 - 303
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Auman, M.J. (2007). Bereavement support for children. The Journal for School Nursing, 23, 34–39.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beswick, J. (1996). Group work for bereaved children. Nursing Standard, 10, 35–37.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cerel, J., Frisad, M., Weller, E., et al. (1999). Suicide - bereaved children and adolescents: A controlled longitudinal examination. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38, 672–679.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Christ, G.H. (2005). Interventions with bereaved children. In Loss, Change and Bereavement in Palliative Care. Firth, P., Luff, G., Oliviere, D. (eds.). London: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Dehlin, L. & Reg, L.M. (2009). Adolescent's experiences' of a parent's serious illness and death. Palliative and Supportive Care, 7, 3–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Department of Health. (2006). National Service Framework for Healthcare. London: Department of Health.Google Scholar
Dyregrov, K. & Dyregrov, A. (2008). Effective Grief and Bereavement Support: The Role of Family, Friends, Colleagues, Schools and Support Professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Harrison, L. & Harrington, R. (2001). Adolescents' bereavement experiences: Prevalence, association with depressive symptoms, and use of services. Journal of Adolescence, 24, 159–69.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lecken, L.J. (2000). Attachment and loss experiences during childhood are associated with adult hostility, depression and social support. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 49, 85–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lowton, K. & Higginson, I. (2004). Bereavement in the classroom. European Journal of Cancer Care, 11, 28–31.Google Scholar
Monroe, B. & Kraus, F. (2005). Brief Interventions with Bereaved Children. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
National Institute for Clinical Excellence. (2005). Depression in Children and Young People. London: Department of Health.Google Scholar
National Institute for Clinical Excellence. (2004). Improving Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults with Cancer. London: Department of Health.Google Scholar
Nolbris, M. & Hellstrom, A. (2005). Siblings' needs and issues when a brother or sister dies from cancer. Journal of Paediatric Oncology Nursing, 22, 227–233.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ovretveit, P. (1998). Health Care Evaluation. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Pfeffer, C.R., Jiang, H., Kakuma, T., et al. (2002). Group intervention for children bereaved by suicide of a relative. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 4, 505–513.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ribbens-McCarthy, J. & Jessop, J. (2005) The Impact of Bereavement and Loss on Young People, Joseph Rowntree Foundation Findings. London: National Children's Bureau.Google Scholar
Sandler, I., Ayers, T., Wolchik, S., et al. (2003). The Family Bereavement Program: Efficacy evaluation of a theory based prevention program for parentally bereaved children and adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71, 587–600.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stokes, J. (1997). The challenges of evaluating a child bereavement programme. Palliative Medicine, 11, 179–180.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stokes, J. (2004). Then, Now and Always: Supporting Bereaved Children as They Journey Through Grief. Oxford: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Yin, R.K. (1991). Case Study Research, Design and Methods. London: Sage.Google Scholar