Our bereavement support service is a confidential therapeutic listening service.
The service is for adults (18+) who have experienced an expected bereavement and are struggling with the impact of their loss.
We designed the service for people going through a normal grief reaction. It offers a chance to talk to someone in a supportive and understanding environment.
We define normal grief as:
Grief that is eventually lessened as a person readjusts to their loss.
Grief affects everyone differently and can have a range of effects, including:
- Physical effects
- Emotional effects
- Changes in behaviour
- Changes in thinking and concentration
- Social impacts
- Spiritual or faith-related impacts
If you are referred to the service, you will be supported by a trained and supervised bereavement volunteer. Support sessions take place in a suitable community venue. The sessions are a safe and confidential space. They give you a chance to talk about your loss and explore ways of coping.
We offer different levels of support based on your individual needs. During your first appointment, we will carry out an assessment. This will help us find the support that is right for you.
- People with lower-level support needs will be supported by a trained bereavement volunteer or the volunteer coordinator.
- People going through more complex grief reactions may be supported by our Bereavement Service Counselling Lead.
Please note, we can only give short-term emotional support. We can't give practical help. Practical help includes things like clearing belongings. We also can't offer financial advice.
Referrals can be made by your GP, palliative care team, or another healthcare professional.
We are unable to accept self-referrals.
Once we get your referral, we will contact you within 2 weeks to confirm we have your referral.
We will then contact you to arrange your first appointment.
Your first appointment
Your appointment will be carried out by our bereavement coordinator or bereavement service counselling lead at a community venue.
During the appointment, we will talk with you about your bereavement and how it is affecting you. This helps us learn your needs and find the type of support that is right for you.
We will also discuss any concerns or risks and agree a support plan together.
If we feel that another service would better meet your needs, we will explain this and help direct you to the right support.
One-to-one support
Following your assessment, the bereavement coordinator will match you with a trained bereavement volunteer. They will do this as soon as possible.
You will be told the name of the volunteer who has been assigned to support you and when they will contact you. The volunteer will then get in touch to arrange your first session.
You will also be provided with contact details for the bereavement service should you need further support, wish to give feedback, or need to rearrange an appointment.
Our service is delivered by trained volunteers. They are supported by the bereavement support service coordinator. Some people may get support directly from the coordinator or the bereavement service counselling lead, depending on their individual needs.
Our volunteers get comprehensive training, regular supervision and ongoing support. This helps us give safe, compassionate and high-quality support to everyone who uses our service.
All volunteers are recruited through Northumbria Healthcare's standard recruitment process. This includes completing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Volunteers are required to follow all relevant policies, procedures and professional standards.
Our volunteers are committed to providing a welcoming, confidential and supportive environment for people going through bereavement.
Our team can offer a range of materials for adults on loss, grief and bereavement.
We can also offer age-appropriate resource packs for children. This includes anticipatory grief and children with special educational needs.
These resources can be accessed through your bereavement volunteer, who will be able to discuss the most suitable information and support for your needs.
For more information, please call us on 0191 293 4376.