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Bereavement
In the unfortunate event that a person has passed away, there are three things that must be done in the first few days:
- Get a medical certificate from your GP or hospital doctor (this is necessary to register the death)
- Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). You will then receive the necessary documents for the funeral.
- Make the necessary funeral arrangements.
Support Services
- Cruse
- Holding on Letting Go – A charity that supports bereaved children and young people across Kent and South East London aged up to 18. They help them to hold onto precious memories and let go of the sad ones before and after a bereavement. This service is free but requires a referral, anyone can make a referral.
- Kent Bereavement Service | CHUMS – Offering specialist bereavement support to children and young people from 3 ½ up until their 26th birthday in Kent and Medway. This support is needed when a child or young person is experiencing complicated grief or traumatic bereavement. This support service offers support through virtual, either by phone or online via Microsoft Teams, or face to face in a suitable community venue. This can include 1:1 support and therapeutic groups for children, young people and parents/carers.
- Pilgrims Hospice - Some groups are available to anyone living in east Kent who needs bereavement support, even if their loved one was not a patient of the hospice.
- Slide Away – Providing bereavement support to children and young people up to the age of 18, their families and those who care for them. Offering workshops for those bereaved of a parent or sibling, and memory days for those bereaved of another family member or friend. We also offer support to children and young people who have a parent or sibling with a life limiting illness.
- Sue Ryder - Online Bereavement Support making it easy to connect with the right support for you - whether that's information and resources, qualified counsellors or a community of others with similar experiences. These services are free and easy to access on your computer, smartphone or tablet. How do I support a bereaved child? See support from Sue Ryder
- Winston's Wish – A charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults up to the age of 25, find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief. Through information about grief, on-demand helpline, email and live chat services, bereavement support and counselling, they support young people to understand their feelings, process their grief and find ways to move forwards with hope for a brighter future.
PRACTICE POLICIES
Find out more about our policies and procedures
