A CHILDEN’S bereavement counsellor has been recruited to support children helped by Shakespeare Hospice.
The Shottery-based hospice was among 36 applicants to receive funding from Warwickshire County Council’s (WCC) Covid-19 Recovery Fund.
Gurpreet Kalsi joins Children’s and Families Support Service (CFSS) team on a 12-month fixed term contract thanks to the funding.
The CFSS service offers support to children and young people, who have either been bereaved or who are facing the loss of someone close to them.
The new role will allow the charity to widen its outreach work into the hospital setting by providing specialist bereavement counselling input on the wards at South Warwickshire Foundation Trust.
The hospice’s head of clinical services Jo Poyner said: “We are delighted to welcome Gurpreet to the team and to be working in partnership with our NHS colleagues on this new initiative.
“Childhood bereavement can have a significant impact on children’s wellbeing, including their psychological health and educational achievement. When the loss of a loved one can be anticipated, early intervention and prompt access to services for children can help increase their prospects for a healthier and happy life”
The new appointment will help to facilitate early referrals for children related to a seriously ill patient and, therefore, early therapeutic pre-bereavement support.
WCC children’s services spokesman Coun Jeff Morgan said: “The post will serve to enhance the range of expertise available to children, their families and professionals, with the remit of providing specialist bereavement counselling and support to those most in need in our community.
“This project feeds into the council’s aim of ensuring Warwickshire residents’ mental health and wellbeing both, during and through the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic is supported.”
