The study aimed to explore how children and families can best support each other following the death of a parent and to understand how those around them can offer a supportive response.
Eleven children aged 10 to 18 and seventeen parents who have experienced a parental death participated in in-depth interviews to explore their experiences and perspectives of support. A systematic review has been undertaken to identify and synthesise previously published evidence of support experiences for children and surviving parents following parental death.
Findings from the interviews and review will be synthesised, working with families and professionals to develop a model and resources describing a supportive response for bereaved children and families.