Support services at end of life

Download the infographic and service directory illustrating all the end of life support services.

You can also view the directory of services in a spreadsheet.

Step by step of introducing /signposting to bereavement services and support

The grieving process 

Grief is the response when we lose someone, and the grievance process is most associated with someone dying – but it can describe other life events involving loss such as the end of a relationship. It is a personal experience and there is no rule book about how you may or should feel, or for how long. Below is a link that discusses the 5 Grieving stages. (https://www.cruse.org.uk/understanding-grief/effects-of-grief/five-stages-of-grief/) 

Approaching sensitive conversations 

It's important to set the right tone, but don't over think it as that may stop you from doing or saying anything. 

Helpful hints 

Do's 

• Do create a safe place to talk where you can avoid interruptions and give them the opportunity to explain the situation in their own words 

• Ask how the individual is feeling and focus on the person. The needs of individuals may change over time so keeping an open dialogue is key 

• Speak calmly, listen and encourage the individual to talk. If someone opens up to you about how they are feeling it can be difficult to know how to respond, but just listening can be very helpful. They might not be asking for advice, so don't rush to give your opinion. Some people process grief by telling their story over and over again. This can help with their healing so be patient 

• Show compassion and empathy. It's better to do something than nothing – to acknowledge loss rather than ignore it. Sometimes it can be difficult for the individual to talk to family/friends as they may also be grieving, so having someone listen at work can be a great support 

• Ask them how they would like to be supported/signpost support. Individuals may benefit from a written summary of conversations as an aide memoire, this may be as an email or notes rather than a formal document 

• Supporting staff experiencing bereavement is emotional on the wider team and for the manager. Consider if you or the wider team require any additional support – speak to Human Resources or Occupational Health 

Don'ts 

• Don't be afraid of silence and don't try to unnecessarily fill the gaps. Try not to dominate the conversation and don't push them to talk if they don't want to 

• Don't make this a one-off conversation. Don't assume that because someone seems to be coping that they are or that they don't need your help 

• Don't get offended if they reject your support. They may have a lot of people helping them already or they may prefer to take care of everything on their own. Respect their decision but be there for them if they change their mind 

• Don't be embarrassed if they cry. Grief can be unpredictable and bereaved people might react in ways they can't anticipate. Remember that every emotion is normal. Likewise, don't be embarrassed if you cry, your conversation may stir up feelings of your own loss. However, it is important to remember that you are there to support them, so avoid taking over the conversation with your own story 

• Don't forget their bereavement. A bereaved person often has lots of support in the first days and weeks of their loss, but this can fade away. Bereaved people can grieve for the rest of their lives and find it difficult to cope without their loved one for years after the death. The workplace can be one of the first places they feel that their grief has been forgotten 

• Don't say you know how they feel. Even if you've been through something similar, it's unlikely you'll be able to understand exactly how they're feeling 

Practical information, support arrangements and counselling 

We can provide you with information about bereavement support services and practical advice about the things you may need to do following a bereavement. This could include: 

• collecting any personal items belonging to the person who has died. 

• making arrangements to see the person who has died. 

• the collection of the death certificate; and 

• how to register the death. 

Please let us know if we can be of any help regarding these or other issues. The Gov.uk website (www.gov.uk/after-a-death) also provides practical information on what to do following a death. 

We also know that the death of a loved one can be very traumatic for families. This can be even more so when concerns have been raised, or when a family is involved in an investigation process. 

Some families have found that counselling or having someone else to talk to can be very beneficial. You may want to discuss this with your GP, who can refer you to local support. Alternatively, there may be other local or voluntary organisations that provide counselling support that you would prefer to access.  

Below are some organisations that may be able to help you: 

• Solihull Bereavement Counselling Service. online: www.solihullbereavement.org. phone: 0121 424 5103. 

• GriefChat. online: www.griefchat.co.uk. phone: 01524 889823. email: info@griefchat.co.uk. 

• Cruse Bereavement Care. online: www.crusebirmingham.co.uk. helpline: 0121 687 8010. email: support@crusebirmingham.co.uk. 

• Child Bereavement UK support children and young people up to the age of 25 who are facing bereavement, and anyone affected by the death of a child of any age. Tel: 0800 028 8840 

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The third sector (including voluntary organisations, charities, social enterprise), local community groups and faith groups play an important role in providing vital End of Life care and support to individuals, carers and families. 

Within Birmingham, Birmingham City Council have developed Neighbourhood Network Schemes (known as NNS). The aim is to help older adults in Birmingham to lead healthy, happy and independent lives in their own homes and communities. Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) currently provide support.  

Each Birmingham constituency has a Neighbourhood Network Scheme which works closely with community organisations (“assets”) and the constituency social work team. The Neighbourhood Networks’ role is to strengthen local communities so that neighbourhoods become better places to grow old in. The purpose of NNS is to ensure that as many citizens over 50 as possible can access community-based support which can promote well-being and a better quality of life. NNS aims to do this through better coordination of community-based prevention & early intervention services. They develop partnership work between voluntary, community and faith organisations and the public sector, in particular Adult Social Care and health. 

The NNS workers list all the assets in the online asset directory and this is shared with social workers. The asset directory is also available for anyone to access and search for assets. 

Further information and Contact details for NNS Lead Facilitators can be found:  

Neighbourhood Network Schemes | Prevention and Communities | Birmingham Connect to Support 

How to Contact your local NNS | Prevention and Communities | Birmingham Connect to Support 

Neighbourhood Network Schemes in Birmingham | Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (bvsc.org) 

Voluntary Sector Services – BSol Commissioned Services: 

Crossroads Caring for Carers (Sandwell) Ltd - provides respite breaks for carers living within the Birmingham area, who care for people with dementia or those who have a palliative condition. T: 0121 553 6483, E: info@crossroads-caringforcarers.org 

Murray Hall Community Trust (Bridges Support Service) – supports people living with cancer and other life limiting diseases across Birmingham and who are registered with a GP in Birmingham. The service offers different support within the home other appropriate support/services, advocating and accompanying them on their cancer/palliative care journey. T: 0121 612 2939 and E: bridges.support@nhs.net  

Multi-Faith Support Networks: 

Chapel services, Local Faith and Religious Groups support within the community and individual organisations supporting their staff. 

Birmingham Council of Faiths – “Speak with Pride, Listen with Respect.” (bhamfaiths.org.uk) 

Compassionate Communities UK – Compassionate Birmingham 

https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/coronavirus-staff/health-and-well-being-chaplaincy.htm 

The following directories detail the local support groups and activities being provided in the community: 

Birmingham - Connect to support Directory: NNS Asset Directory 

Birmingham - BVSC Service Directory Health & Wellbeing: Route 2 Wellbeing Birmingham 

Birmingham and Solihull - The Waiting Room - Health and Wellbeing services at your finger tips – Birmingham & Solihull (the-waitingroom.org) 

Solihull - The Solihull Directory | solihull.gov.uk 

Information for Carers 

Relatives and Carers play a critical role in caring for people at home and become experts in their care, providing a valuable insight that health professionals can benefit from. By working in partnership, Carers and health care professionals can ensure that the patient receives the appropriate care and improve time and chances of recovery. 

Carers can access support including support groups and respite care, helping to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of carers. Links for information and support to carers below;  

Birmingham-  Birmingham Carers Hub  

Birmingham council- Support for carers | Birmingham City Council 

Outreach drop-in sessions- Outreach Service - Birmingham Carers Hub 

Forward Carers- - Forward Carers   

Solihull- Solihull Carers Trust  

Solihull council- Carers digital resources | solihull.gov.uk 

Carers card- Carers Card - Carers Trust Solihull (solihullcarers.org) 

Carers toolkit- NHS England » Carers toolkit 

Carers rights- Looking after someone - Carers UK 

Carers assessment- Carer's Assessment - Carers UK 

Social services can organise non-medical care – things like having meals delivered, home adaptations, and help with washing, dressing and eating. 

A social worker or another trained professional can assess someone’s suitability for this type of care and help organise it. They usually work as part of the local social services department (social work department in Scotland or health and social care system in Northern Ireland). 

If someone wishes to live at home, then they or a member of their healthcare team, or a family member, can request an assessment of their needs. Depending on their needs they may be able to get support from social services. 

Social services can also help when someone needs to move into a care home. 

If someone has a family member or friend looking after them (an unpaid carer), social services might be able to help them to get support as well. They can talk to them about their own needs. Support might include putting them in touch with local support groups, help with taxi fares if they don’t drive, and getting someone to take over caring for a while so they can take a break (this is sometimes called respite care). 

The local council, authority or health and social care trust may pay for some or all of the person’s social care. But the person may have to pay for some or all of it themselves. Whether they have to pay might depend on what care they need, where they live and how much money they have. 

Solihull adult social care:

• Adult Social Care (solihull.gov.uk) 

• Get help from adult social care (solihull.gov.uk) 

Birmingham adult social care:

• Adult social care | Birmingham City Council 

• Contacting us about adult social care services and support | How to contact us about adult social care services and support | Birmingham City Council 

• Help paying for care | Birmingham City Council 

• Arrange a social care conversation | Birmingham City Council 

• Report possible abuse or neglect of an adult with care and support needs | Report possible abuse or neglect of an adult with care and support needs | Birmingham City Council.