Support when a baby or child dies

Support for when a child dies offered by the Rosie’s Rainbow Fund is provided by Jenni Thomas OBE

Soon after Rosie died I met and supported David and Carolyn through my work as a bereavement counsellor .When Rosie’s Rainbow Fund  was founded by her parents and sister Ellie I was delighted to be asked to be a Patron. My role now with the charity involves providing grief support for families when their child dies.

I am one of the ’ Rosie’s Rainbow team ‘ at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where I also offer training to the staff.

The grief experienced by parents when their baby or child dies cannot be adequately described. The feelings can be overwhelming and isolating in their intensity Each child will have their own special meaning to their parents and family Grief is not uniform; it is more about how at any given time families may be coping and there is a very wide range of normal coping behaviour. Recognising and responding to parents’ very varied feelings and trying to sense what they need is the aim of my work My intention in supporting parents is to be sensitive to what they need and to trust that they will help me understand what is important to them at this time. The support I offer is specifically intended for both fathers and mothers, individually or as a couple and for the children in the family, the brothers and sisters

How to make contact for support ……

Parents can request support before, during, or after a the death of their child. The situation of loss may be when a baby or child is not expected to live or due to a sudden, unexpected death

There are different ways that parents may like to be supported.

A telephone support time can be booked both during the day or evening to suit the family or a grief support meeting can be arranged either at their home or at a mutually agreed venue.

If you would like to contact me and have access to email, please send a message to info@jennithomas.com. I will contact you as soon as possible to see what support you would find most helpful and what can be arranged .

Or a message with your name can be left on 07825350594.

My travelling within an 80 mile radius of Marlow in Buckinghamshire is provided by the charity, however ,any further travelling costs will require funding .

Support Groups

From time to time Jenni will be running a Peer Support Group for bereaved parents to offer an opportunity to share experiences and offer mutual support.

Workshops

When Someone Dies -- bereavement skills sessions to help parents and grandparents understand and respond to the needs of children when experiencing loss .

These groups will be held in Buckinghamshire.

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About Jenni Thomas OBE

My career began in the NHS in the 1960’s on a Special Care Baby Unit and Children’s ward where as nursery nurse I learnt the value of listening to grieving parents. My knowledge of grief and loss has come from the families I have been privileged to know which has informed me in my role as a bereavement counsellor and trainer.

In 1994 I founded a national UK charity, the Child Bereavement Charity [formerly Trust] in order to make support and training more widely available in the UK. In 2000, I was the joint winner of the Nye Bevan Life Time Achievement award for my work as Paediatric and Maternity bereavement counsellor for the Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust. I received the the OBE in 2002 in recognition for my work in Child Bereavement

Under the auspices of both the NHS and the Child Bereavement Charity [CBC]

I devised and ran pioneering education and support programmes for a wide range of professionals, caregivers, volunteers and all whose work involves contact with grieving families. I have been involved in writing publications and producing resources that accompany the training and information material in this field. My honorary doctorate from Buckinghamshire New University in 2007 was awarded in recognition of my contribution to bereavement education. I am a member of the Royal College of Nursing and have also been involved in working with the Department of Health both as an adviser and trainer on bereavement issues.

In 2008 I retired after a long and happy career in the NHS and now enjoy semi-retirement working as a consultant and spending more time with my children and grandchildren .

For further information about my work as a facilitator and trainer .

www.jennithomas.com.