New keyworker role to support families through child death reviews

Our trust has appointed its first lead bereavement keyworker for child death review, strengthening support for families following the death of a child.

The new role, which Emma Thornhill has recently taken up, ensures our trust meets the national requirement for all bereaved parents to have access to a nominated keyworker to support them through the child death review process.

A child death review is a statutory process that takes place following the death of every child. It brings together professionals from across health, social care and other agencies to understand the circumstances surrounding a child's death, identify any learning and consider whether any changes could help prevent future deaths.

The process also aims to ensure families are supported and given the opportunity to have their questions answered.

As a single point of contact, Emma will guide families through what can often be a complex and unfamiliar process, helping them understand each stage of the review, ensuring their questions are heard and answered, and connecting them with ongoing bereavement support and community resources.

The National Child Mortality Database highlights that understanding why a child has died is an important need for bereaved parents and can form a significant part of the grieving process.

Even where a diagnosis is known before death, families may still have questions about their child's illness, care or treatment. Child death reviews aim to help provide answers while supporting families through their loss.

Emma's role is intended to provide families with a consistent source of support during what can be a particularly difficult time.

By offering a single point of contact, the role can help reduce feelings of isolation, give families the opportunity to share their thoughts and questions throughout the review process, and ensure they are supported throughout what can be a lengthy and emotionally challenging journey.

Emma Thornhill says: “It is an honour and a privilege to be able to support families through what is often the most harrowing time of their lives.

“The child death review process can feel overwhelming and complicated for parents who are already coping with an unimaginable loss.

“My role is to be that single point of contact, helping families understand what is happening, making sure their questions are heard, and supporting them to access the help they need.

“I want families to know they do not have to navigate this process alone, as I know how important it is that they have somebody alongside them, holding their hand through what can be a very complex journey.”

Emma joined Musgrove Park Hospital in 2013 as a healthcare assistant, and with support from colleagues and mentors, she went on to complete her nursing associate qualification and developed a particular interest in supporting children and families following bereavement.

She later became involved in our trust's work around sudden unexpected death in childhood (SUDIC) and bereavement processes, helping to deliver teaching and support alongside colleagues.

Although the lead bereavement keyworker role is new, it builds on the work already being carried out by our trust's child death review team, who’ve been conducting reviews in line with national guidance for a number of years.

Dr Chris Knight, one of our consultant paediatricians, says: “The introduction of this role represents an important step forward in how we support bereaved families in Somerset.

“Emma brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and compassion to the position. We know that families can find the child death review process challenging and emotional, and having a dedicated keyworker will help ensure they feel listened to, supported and included throughout.

“This role will help bridge the gap between families and the many agencies and professionals involved in the review process, while making sure parents have a trusted point of contact at a time when clear communication and compassionate support are so important.”

By providing dedicated support, advocacy and guidance, the new role aims to make the child death review process more accessible and family-centred, ensuring parents are supported, informed and heard every step of the way.