Many ministers of religion and hospital chaplains are attending our session as below.
Never has there been more need for pastoral care in the community with a wealth of baby loss charities closing. This session will help anyone who is supporting bereaved parents, namely in sensitive communication and to have a idea of what the bereaved parents have gone through, This is especially relevant with the current Maternity Scandals. We would welcome sending your pastoral lead to this training day. We will also provide all attendees with an attendee contact list so you can link in with local hospitals and charities that could benefit from your support the community:
The Foundation for Infant Loss Training would like to invite you to attend our baby/infant loss course that will focus on empathetic communication, navigating complex NHS complaints, and providing immediate signposting. Professionals often meets parents when they are frustrated or seeking answers about their care. This is particularly relevant in the recent climate of The National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation led by Baroness Amos.
Course Content: Part 1
The Impact of Baby Loss
- Understanding the Landscape: Statistics on miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death in the UK.
- The Nature of Grief: Recognising that grief is non-linear and can manifest as anger, confusion, or numbness.
- Unique Grief Factors: Understanding the complexities of loss in multiple pregnancies, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), or losses after long fertility journey
- Understanding the current national crisis in NHS England’s maternity services and how that may impact parents attitudes and levels of trust towards NHS services. This also applies to the investigations and convictions of both Letby and Fuller.
Sensitive Communication
- The Power of Language
- Active Listening: Techniques for holding space
- Compassionate Clarity: How to explain hospital processes (like post-mortems or investigations) without sounding clinical or defensive
- Common linguistic pitfalls to avoid, along with the “Compassionate Alternative.
- “The “Don’ts” of Baby Loss Communication
- Red Flags in Written Communication
- When writing letters or emails to bereaved parents, avoid these common “Process-First” habits
- Non-Verbal “Don’ts”
- The “Golden Rules”
- Example of a “Standard vs. Compassionate” comparison communication regarding a complaint
Navigating Concerns and Complaints
- Managing Anger: Recognising that parental anger is often a projection of deep pain; techniques for de-escalating while remaining empathetic.
- Safety First: If the anger turns to threats of physical violence consider an “Exit Strategy”—how to end the interaction safely without abandoning the parent’s needs.
- The National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP): Familiarising yourself and your team with the 9 standards of care parents should expect to help identify where service gaps may have occurred.
- Duty of Candour: Encouraging transparency when parents have questions about their medical care.
Staff Wellbeing and Vicarious Trauma
- Recognising Burnout: Understanding the emotional toll of hearing traumatic birth stories daily.
- Self-Care Strategies: Establishing “de-brief” sessions after difficult meetings.
- Workplace Support
Course Content: Part 2
A first contact meeting is often the most critical point in a parent’s interaction after a loss. For a officer, this is a delicate balance of providing a safe space for grief while being clear about the process for resolving concerns.
First Contact Checklist: Baby/child Loss
- Preparation (Before the Meeting)
- Opening the Meeting
- During the Conversation
- Closing and Next Steps
- Follow-Up (Within 24 Hours)
Role Play Scenarios: Our Training for staff regarding baby loss focuses on navigating the delicate balance between handling a service user’s frustration and providing compassionate, trauma-informed support.
Date and Time: Wednesday 3 June: ONLINE -10am – 4pm
Fee: £125 plus VAT (£150)
Certificate and resources post session are provided. Places are now LIMITED
Post expires on April 30th, 2026