The development of a framework to support bereaved children and young people: the Irish Childhood Bereavement Care Pyramid

Abstract

Children's bereavement poses a challenge not only for children themselves but for the families, communities, volunteers and professionals who support them. The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network set out to develop a framework to provide a comprehensive guide for children's bereavement support. The model is based on contemporary literature, existing policy and the views of professions, volunteers and parents. The process resulted in the ‘Irish Childhood Bereavement Care Pyramid’. The major pillars of children's needs, support/service responses and staff competencies are described at four levels, basic up to complex. The aim of the Pyramid is to guide adults to ensure that children are provided with the information and reassurance they need around a bereavement, to promote early intervention as appropriate and to recognise those few children who need specialist support to learn to live with their bereavement. Family context and the child's changing developmental status are emphasised as core considerations.