Bereavement Services and Support in Kingston: Community Engagement Report
Download (PDF 964.17 KB)Summary of report content
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to improve support for bereaved people. Plus, it is predicted that circumstances related to the pandemic will increase the numbers of people at risk of complicated grieving. Hence Kingston upon Thames conducted a review and dialogue with the community.
In 2021-2022, Kingston-upon-Thames undertook research to o support the South West London CCG’s programme aim to: ‘Improve awareness of, access to, and the quality of bereavement services and support for under-served communities’ in Kingston. They adopted a community engagement approach and explored the lived experience of those accessing bereavement services/support, what mattered most when grieving and the intersection with culture, faith and language barriers.
Three surveys were created and shared across Kingston communities, as well as 9 focus groups.
The results suggest that some people find counselling is helpful when provided face to face. However, bereavement care and support should be assessed and adapted to meet the unique needs of each bereaved person. Not all support will require formal counselling with a trained practitioner face to face. The aim should be to resource those most in need (those less resilient and more vulnerable in their grief requiring therapeutic support from limited resources or finances).
17 recommendations have been made as a result of this research, including
1) ENCOURAGE collaborative working between the borough bereavement officer, responsible for the local council funeral service, and organisations within Place.
2) PROVIDE bereavement services, crematoria and burial sites to meet the needs for all faiths, beliefs, and life philosophies, being mindful of community demand for culturally sensitive rapid burials or cremations.
3) IDENTIFY what bereavement services and support networks are available for people with varying capacity to engage (such as with learning disabilities) and address any gaps in provision.
4) OFFER all individuals who are experiencing a terminal illness (including their families, friends, and other carers), diverse and culturally appropriate, accessible information and support to assist in making pre-death funeral arrangements.