Many of us working in health and social care will come across situations at work where staff members are bereaved or perhaps experience the death of a colleague. Knowing what to say and do in these situations to provide support to employees and co-workers can be challenging and naturally people may feel apprehensive. These resources are designed to help managers identify some responses and actions to support bereaved employees, colleagues, teams and themselves in the workplace. The resources include key points that are relevant to all situations, as well as more specific points that may apply during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employees who are bereaved
This guidance is designed to help line managers have confidence to support employees who have experienced bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staff members may experience bereavement following the death of a close family member, friend, more distant relative or others they know. Each of us experience grief in our own way and our needs may change over time. Adopting a compassionate approach in the workplace with our employees may reduce their anxiety and help to lessen the impact of grief.
A print-friendly version of this resource is available here.
Experiencing the death of a colleague
The death of a colleague will be particularly unsettling and upsetting for their co-workers and team members.
This guidance is designed to help staff and managers identify some initial steps that may help to ensure people have an opportunity to express their grief, to mark the death in a way that feels appropriate for them and to receive the support that they need.
A print-friendly version of this resource is available here.
There is more information to help communicate with people who are bereaved here.
Experiencing the death of a colleague in health or social care: Supporting yourself and those around you
This video reflects on the strong relationships that often form within teams, and the far-reaching impact that a person’s death can have. This may not only be felt by their immediate colleagues, but ripples of grief can also be seen across other teams and the wider organisation. The video explores topics such as communicating the news, ways we might react, supporting ourselves and one another, and creating opportunities to share memories of a person who has died.
Click on the image to the right to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel
A transcript of this video can be found here.
A downloadable leaflet which accompanies the video can be found here.
Case Studies
Those of us working in health and social care may come across situations where we experience the death of a patient or colleague. Knowing what to say and do in these situations to provide support to ourselves and others can be challenging and naturally people may feel apprehensive.
These case study films highlight stories based on real-life experiences of staff working across health and social care in Scotland. They may be used as a tool to enable reflection and discussion.
Reflective Activity
You may wish to pause and reflect after watching the films.
Here are some questions to consider in your reflections.
- What did you notice about how you felt during the film?
- Have you been in a similar situation yourself? If so, do you remember how you responded?
- Where or from whom could you seek help in these situations or support afterwards?
- How might talking about this situation afterwards impact on how you felt?
Porter
Click the image to the right to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.
A transcript of this video can be found here.
Nurse
Click the image to the right to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.
A transcript of this video can be found here.
Care at Home Manager
Click the image to the right to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.
A transcript of this video can be found here.
Consultant
Click the image to the right to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.
A transcript of this video can be found here.
Home Carer
Click the image to the right to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.
A transcript of this video can be found here.
Admin Team Leader
Click the image to the right to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.
A transcript of this video can be found here.
GP Practice Manager
Click the image to the right to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.
A transcript of this video can be found here.
Coping with death and bereavement as a health and social care professional
This film introduces the acronym ‘TALK’
- Tell Ask Listen Kindness
which was designed to help health and social care professionals cope with death and bereavement. It encourages staff to support each other with simple strategies such as talking to your colleagues, asking how your team are doing, listening to one another and showing kindness to yourself and others.
Click on the image to the right to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel
Talking and being with people who are bereaved
This short film was developed for health and social care professionals who may encounter families who are bereaved, however it may also have some relevance to managers who have a staff member that is bereaved, or following the death of a colleague. It is important to be aware of ways to sensitively approach interactions with people who are grieving; to have the confidence to talk or just listen.
A downloadable leaflet which accompanies the video can be found here. A transcript of this video can be found here.
For more information
ACAS Guidance: Managing bereavement in the workplace - a good practice guide, May 2018
Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief - Scottish bereavement friendly workplaces toolkit