Why Grief Awareness Matters in Care

Grief is present in every care setting, whether we name it or not. It's not only the grief that follows a death, but the full range of losses people experience in care:

• A person losing mobility, speech, or independence.
• Families grieving changes in their loved one's health and abilities.
• Anticipatory grief; the changes and losses that happen before death.
• The grief carers themselves feel when someone they've cared for dies.

I know first-hand how vital this is. Years ago, I worked for a children's hospice. I cared deeply, but I burned out and didn't receive support that I needed. That experience shaped the work I do now -supporting care teams with the grief awareness and resources I never had. I have always been passionate about the care industry; as a social worker I saw how hard care professionals work and the profound impact they have on service users and families, and my experience of burnout has deepened that passion. When grief is not recognised or supported, it has a direct impact on care quality. Families may become frustrated, withdrawn, or angry. Carers without grief awareness may take this personally or respond in ways that damage trust.

Carers also carry grief themselves. Without support, it builds up and leads to burnout, sickness, and staff turnover, all of which affect service quality and CQC outcomes.

Grief-aware carers can respond with empathy, adapt to emotional needs, and protect their own well-being. This means safer, kinder, and more consistent care.

CQC Quality Statements and Grief Awareness

Grief awareness supports the following CQC quality statements:

• Caring - Kindness, compassion and dignity
  Grief awareness helps carers respond to difficult emotions without judgement, preserving dignity even in challenging situations.
• Caring - Treating people as individuals
  Grief is personal, shaped by culture, values, and life history. Support must adapt to the person's unique way of grieving.
• Responsive - Person-centred care
  Grief changes needs quickly. Carers trained in grief awareness can adapt care in partnership, keeping it truly person-centred.
• Responsive - Planning for the future
  End-of-life planning is both emotional and clinical. Grief-aware carers can support families in planning a way that feels safe and respectful.
• Caring - Workforce wellbeing and enablement
  Carers need spaces to process their own grief to stay present for others. Group supervision and coaching help maintain resilience.
• Safe - Safe and effective staffing
  Unprocessed grief can lead to emotional exhaustion and mistakes. Supporting staff keeps staffing safe and effective.
• Safe - Learning culture
  Reflection after a death should include both emotional learning and clinical insights, embedding better practice.
• Well-led - Freedom to speak up
  A safe culture allows carers to say when they're struggling after a loss, improving wellbeing and care quality.

What I Offer

I provide grief awareness training and support tailored for care organisations, including:

• Grief awareness training for carers - covering grief in illness, disability, communication, self care, anticipatory grief, and after death.
• Group supervision sessions after significant losses - safe spaces to process, reflect, and support one another.
• One-to-one coaching for staff who are struggling.
• Workshops for families to help them understand and navigate grief.

This work supports carers, strengthens family relationships, meets CQC quality standards, and ensures safer, kinder care.

Next Steps

Grief will always be part of care work. The question is: will your team be equipped to handle it well, for themselves, and for the families you support?

I can help you meet CQC expectations and, more importantly, support your staff so they can provide the best care possible.

Get in touch to discuss grief awareness training and support for your team.