Financially sustainable bereavement support

Project overview

Birmingham Hospice has a busy wellbeing team that runs a range of services, including:

• children’s pre- and post- bereavement groups
• parents’ groups
• drumming
• art therapy
• walk and talk sessions
• spiritual support
• education and training.

Previously, the team could only provide support to people who were already known to the hospice. But there is no other adult bereavement counselling service in Birmingham, and it can take several months to get on a waiting list for other services.

The team realised they needed to extend their reach so that more people could access the support they provide. To do this, they developed a new model of counselling with a private plan for those who do not already have a connection to the hospice.

Outcomes

Under the new model, each client is allocated 10 sessions with a qualified, registered counsellor. The aim of these sessions is not to overcome their grief, but to share tools that will help them manage it. After the 10 sessions there is some flexibility for those who need extra support.

The wellbeing team has developed aftercare resources to help clients continue to manage their grief, and everyone is invited to informal peer support groups.

Clients with a connection to the hospice can access the bereavement service for free. Those who do not have a connection can join a private plan, which is competitively priced compared to other local counselling services. There are discounted rates for those who are on a low income. 

Using this model, the hospice is able to see adult clients within four weeks of referral and children within a week of referral.

Key facilitators

The wellbeing team has several volunteers who are qualified counsellors, as well as unqualified bereavement support volunteers. All team members receive monthly training and supervision to help them manage their caseload.

Every client is assessed when they join the service. If they have more complex needs, which the bereavement service is not equipped to meet, they will be signposted or referred to other services. This helps make sure that everyone gets the right therapeutic support as quickly as possible.

Challenges

Birmingham is a very diverse area and it can be challenging to make sure that all communities are represented in the wellbeing service. For example, there is a growing Ukrainian community, all of whom have experienced grief, but there were no Ukranian staff or volunteers in the wellbeing team.

To improve representation, the team is working to recruit volunteers from different communities and who speak different languages. They do not necessarily need formal qualifications as the wellbeing team provide training.

The team is carrying out a pilot project training volunteers who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

The wellbeing team is looking forward to moving into a new building, which will be separate from but close to the hospice. The “Home of Wellbeing” will have more space and include a therapeutic garden.