What should good bereavement service support look like? Findings from pre-pandemic workshop discussions interpreted in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

introduction: There has been a lack of consistency in approaches to bereavement support provision and evaluation. As part of a study which identified outcomes for adult bereavement support services in palliative care, we conducted stakeholder workshops with people from professional and lived experience backgrounds, providing a view on what support interventions should look like. aims: The aims of this first workshop were to gather stakeholder views on the purpose, impacts and outcomes of bereavement service support. In this paper we summarise these findings and consider their relevance to bereavement support during and following the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: Stakeholders were divided into three groups and asked to consider how support services should help bereaved service users and what good bereavement service support looks like. Key themes were identified from the written and verbal content of the workshop.Findings: Three main themes emerged from the data; informal support and self¬management; the aims and purpose of bereavement service support and the timing, accessibility and quality of support. conclusion: Workshop findings align with public health models of bereavement care and recent service standards, identifying core support functions and aspirations for bereavement services. Finding the best mechanisms and modalities for meeting these, in the context of the late/post-pandemic period, presents both challenges and opportunities.