A DAY IN THE LIFE
No two days are the same for the families bereavement support team. Here is an example of what a typical day might look like.
9.00-10.00 Often there will be new referrals to deal with either from various professionals or directly from families. Appointments are made for assessment visits to the family, usually in their own home where children often feel more safe and comfortable. During this hour I also take a call from a father wanting advice about how to deal with his toddler son’s reaction to his mother’s death.
10.00-10.30 Travel to a school near Alfreton. Some families do not find it easy to bring their children to the bereavement centre in Sandiacre and so some sessions might occur in a child’s home or school.
10.30-12.30 Session with Mark at his school. His mother died two years ago and, now he is 16, the school has become increasingly concerned about the effect the bereavement is having on his behaviour and attitude. Today’s session focuses on the way Mark’s relationship with his mother changed as she became ill and then died. We map this out on the floor using different coloured masks and “feelings” words on post-it notes. With Marks’s permission, I attend a multi-agency meeting to look at how his needs can be addressed by a range of services.
13.30-14.30 Session with 10 year-old Becky, whose father died in traumatic circumstances. Becky prefers to use play-dough and drawing as a way of communicating and so we use pictures, models and story-telling to explore her fears and sleep problems. Although one-to-one sessions are confidential, when her mum comes to collect her, Becky wants to share with her some of what we’ve been doing and this helps her mum understand her feelings better.
15.00-16.00 Write up session notes and deal with some admin before heading off for final session of the day in Swadlincote.
16.00-17.30 Assessment visit to a family where the father has died. Spend time separately with mum, older sister and younger brother and then also see the family altogether. At this stage only older sister, Alice, wants support. She is keen to talk about her feelings and, as she is worried about forgetting her father, wants to make a memory box. Agree her sessions will take place at our bereavement centre in Sandiacre. Younger brother and mum know that support is also available for them at any time should they need it.
