A qualitative evaluation of the provision of bereavement care accessed by service users living in a Health and Social Care Trust area in Northern Ireland

Within the health and social care sector in the United Kingdom, the management of death and bereavement has become increasingly challenging. This service evaluation sought to explore the bereavement care offered to individuals living in one Health and Social Care Trust catchment area of Northern Ireland. Qualitative interviews were conducted with key government and voluntary agency staff. The findings indicated that much of the bereavement provision is based on the interest and initiative of individual staff members, with few processes to assess the level of bereavement care needed and those best skilled to provide it. Recommendations are made for a bereavement care strategy that outlines a bereavement needs assessment process, identifying the scope of interventions and protocols for practice.