Children's Bereavement Task Force team shortlisted for Nursing Times Award
Huge congratulations to our Children's Bereavement Task Force team, who have been shortlisted for a prestigious Nursing Times Award in the Innovation category for delivering Compassionate Care to the Deceased Child or Young Person.
The Children's Bereavement Task Force includes Robert Cole, Head of Nursing, Children and Young People; Joanne Gardner, Roald Dahl HDU Clinical Nurse Specialist; Cherie Clare, Head of Bereavement & Quality Facilitator, Corporate Nursing; and Emmanuel Kormi, Chaplain.
The team identified a gap in our children's services and developed a compassionate approach to support bereaved families and colleagues following the death of a child or young person. Their work also complements the recent launch of our Swan Model of Compassionate Care, helping to ensure families receive the highest standards of care and support during the most difficult times.
Robert Cole said: "The death of a child is one of the most devastating and traumatic events a family can experience, particularly when it is sudden and unexpected. Parents and family members may witness or be directly involved in resuscitation attempts, with emergency services often present during these critical moments. Our innovation ensures that every member of staff delivers consistent, compassionate, family-centred care, regardless of the site or setting. By standardising our approach, we aim to provide equitable, high-quality support to bereaved families at every stage of their journey, ensuring that compassionate care is never dependent on location."
The Nursing Times Awards will take place at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Thursday 29 October 2026. We wish the entire team the very best of luck.
