Updated pathway and guide for professionals working with children and young people in Leeds who have been bereaved

11th December 2019

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Responding to death is something that affects everyone. For children and young people, the impact on them can be profound and can run through a life course. Long term, there can be effects on their socialisation, some children report being bullied as a direct result of being bereaved, and it can also impact negatively on concentration and educational attainment.

The Pathway and Guide for professionals working with children and young people in Leeds who have been bereaved first published in 2016 has recently been updated, to include new services available in the city. The 2019 version also encourages professionals to explore if bereavement is an underlying factor if a child or young person is struggling, even if this link is not immediately obvious. The Pathway has been compiled by Leeds City Council with support from bereavement charities across Leeds.

Aim of the Pathway

The aim of the Pathway is to

  • Set out a citywide approach to addressing the needs of children/young people who have experienced bereavement.
  • Describe the integrated pathway in Leeds for a child/young person who has been bereaved.
  • Provide staff with clear guidelines about how to support a child/young person

The intended outcomes for Leeds are:

  • A more open attitude to discussing death and bereavement.
  • Grief responses normalised.
  • Practitioners feel more confident to support children/young people and refer appropriately.
  • Children/young people who have experienced bereavement feel less alone and different.

Pathway

All the documents are also available to download from the Resources Section of our website.

 

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