The Alder Centre - Bereavement Care Services

Bereavement Support

The Bereavement Care Service team provides an immediate response for families, parents and siblings who may be affected by the death of a child at Alder Hey. We offer continued support for as long as you may need with practical and emotional guidance.

We work to provide practical and emotional support to families at an extremely distressing time; we empower families to make their own choices whilst remaining sensitive to their individual needs and their individual situation immediately after the child has died.

The team is a support network for staff and families and is always available: 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The team will assist and support staff caring for families of children who die in the community. Outside normal working hours the team will aim to attend the hospital within an hour following a child's death.

Other ways the team support families

• Practical and emotional support when a child's family comes to Alder Hey for a post-mortem
• Liaising with the Coroners Officers, registrars, police, funeral directors or safeguarding team
• Preparing paperwork and supporting a family when they take their child to their appointed funeral director or hospice
• Arrange visits and support families during visits to the bereavement suites
• Complete mementos