When you are involved in the care of a person who is dying or who has died suddenly, it is important to consider whether that patient has children or whether siblings are involved.

It can also pose particular challenges for professionals when a child accompanies family members to an Accident & Emergency or Intensive Care Unit as a result of the death or imminent death of someone who is important to the child.

The Child Bereavement Charity has written the following as part of a Department of Health funded project in 2008.

Professionals know that every family is different in the way they respond to a death, and therefore no culturally-specific information is included here, since we have found that staff can access general information on practical aspects of care, and what matters most is being prepared to approach each family individually and ask what would be most helpful.

Information for Staff

Considering Children's Needs when Someone Dies Suddenly 

Breaking Bad News - Information for Staff

Suicide - Information for Staff

Protocol for involving children when a parent is on ITU and is not expected to live

Information for Children and Young People

CBC has also produced leaflets for children which can be ordered from the CBC Shop or downloaded.

When someone special dies - Under 7 leaflet

When someone special dies - 7 to 11 leaflet

When someone special dies - young person leaflet