Meet Nicola
SUDIC Bereavement Support, Child Bereavement UK, Leeds
'I’ve been working for Child Bereavement UK for three months and work four days a week, Monday to Thursday. I am a SUDIC (Sudden Unexpected Death of an Infant or Child) Bereavement Support Practitioner, a role set up in partnership with Elliot's Footprint and based within the Leeds Service, covering the West Yorkshire region.
My role supports families when a child dies and when there is a child death review. The support comprises of two roles, offering practical help through a keyworker role in addition to the longer-term bereavement support offer that families may require.
I offer practical key worker support to bereaved parents and carers to help them to better understand, engage with and navigate the SUDIC processes and organisations involved, which can include the police, coroners, hospitals, employers and schools. I also advocate, as appropriate, on behalf of the parents and carers ensuring the family's voice is heard throughout the process. In addition to this work I provide bereavement support for bereaved parents and carers when they choose that it is the right time for them.
My role also involves identifying and working to fill gaps across the SUDIC landscape such as the development of a SUDIC bereavement parent/carer support group in Leeds and a Professionals Advisory Support Network for SUDIC professionals. The bereavement support has also now widened to include the surviving sibling/s, recognising the need for whole family support.'
The Impact of Nicola's Role
These are a few of the comments which we have received from parents who have been supported by our bereavement support worker, which show show the vital work which Nicola provides when families need it most.
"The support set up by Elliot's Footprint has just been a godsend as I felt so alone, you don’t expect your baby to die and then to be left to sit in your house all on your own to figure out how to survive. Elliot's Footprint has helped me have someone to talk to."
"I cannot begin to explain how the support from Nicola is helping. I'm a person who has to be strong for everyone else and was (am) finding it increasingly difficult to be able to do this. I cannot show my feelings to the rest of my family. Nicola allows me with time with her (face to face) to organise my thoughts, gives me someone to talk openly with who doesn't judge but also shows me its okay to be like I am. I cannot thank you enough for listening. I cannot begin to try to put into words how vital Nicola's role is in supporting me with losing our princess. She's a wonderful lady who definitely knows how to support others and help them to rebuild their lives after suddenly losing their child."
"Thank you for being there to listen, I’m devastated and beyond hope so I am concentrating on my little girl and making sure she is ok, she keeps asking where her little sister is, the help from Elliot's Footprint means I will keep putting one foot in front of the other."