Help for Professionals

SeeSaw welcomes contact from professionals working with children and young people who have been bereaved, or are expecting a bereavement, and would like to know more about how best to provide support. We regularly work with professionals from health, social care, child and adolescent mental health services, police officers, youth offending teams, and those working in children and young people’s services.

Some professionals will have received training in child bereavement but, for others, the first encounter with a bereaved child leaves them feeling anxious or unprepared. We are here to help.

Referring Families

We do not take referrals directly from professionals as we believe it is important for a family to make contact with us when they feel the time is right for them. However, if you are working with a family with complex needs, or those who may not feel able to make a referral, you can refer on their behalf, using our online referral form, and state that you have parental permission to do so.

Telephone consultations

If you are working with a family who have been bereaved, or are expecting a bereavement, and would like some advice on how you can best support them at this time, you can request a telephone consultation via our online referral form.

No Name Consultations

If you are concerned about a family you are working with, but do not have permission from them to share information, you can use our online referral form to request a no-names consultation with one of our clinical team, who can give advice and support.

Collaborative support

We believe that the best person to work with a young person is the one who knows them best. This is why we offer support to help professionals feel confident in their work and to give ongoing opportunities to access advice with someone who understands child bereavement. 

Sometimes this means that we will offer to work alongside a professional to provide advice as they support a young people affected by bereavement.

Training for professionals

We have developed online training for professionals working with bereaved young people.

The training incorporates evidence based information on grief alongside our professional experience to equip professionals to feel confident in understanding how grief affects children and young people, as well as providing practical suggestions on how provide support.

Our online training allows you to participate in your own time and at your own pace. For more information on how to access this, click here

Resources for working with groups

These two resources have been designed to be used either in a group setting, or one to one with young people. They have been created to be used alongside our Living after Loss book for adolescents.

Grief Psychoeducation Session Plan

This session plan provides information to help young people understand what grief might look like and how it can affect people. It is suitable for young people who;

• • • • • Have individually experienced bereavement.
        • Have a shared bereavement, eg a friend, someone in their school/community
        • Know someone who has been bereaved.
        • Have not been bereaved but wish to understand more about grief and its impact.

Memory Salt Jar Group Activity

Memory salt jar’s can be made individually, or in groups. They are a creative activity, promoting communication and
sharing of memories and feelings.
This activity can be done as a way of remembering a group member who has died, or could be done 1:1 for young people who have been bereaved of a loved one.