West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership Supporting Grief and Loss in the context of Covid 19

Health and local authority partners in West Yorkshire and Harrogate recognise that during the Coronavirus pandemic people are experiencing the death of family and friends in difficult and painful circumstances.

It is very likely that due to the restrictions people may not be with their loved ones at the time of their death or they may have witnessed traumatic scenes and it could have happened very quickly.

Restrictions also mean that the usual practical and emotional support people can physically get from family and friends following a bereavement may not be there.

Our intention is to commission a regional helpline with a free phone/text number (underpinned by an online function so people can access via email) to support our population to be able to access the information and advice they need, and to be able to offer emotional health and wellbeing support as well as practical support.

Individuals accessing the line will be supported to access the most appropriate support for their needs and this may well be linking to services much closer to their home/current residence.

This service is responding to a unique and evolving situation and we will need to evaluate capacity and use, as well as better understand the needs of our population, as we go.

As such this specification is high level in content and we will work with chosen provider/s to evaluate and adapt their response as required.

A 24 hours a day 7 day a week telephone/text or email service offering information, advice and guidance a (both practical and emotional) provision for people who have experienced grief, sadness and/or loss or have been affected by bereavement through the Covid-19 phase in West Yorkshire and Harrogate.

Contract Period: - It is envisaged that this service will run for 12months as a minimum May -April 2021 (dependent on national policy/response offering new infrastructure) The service provider/s will be expected to continuously adapt to respond to changing need as we progress through this pandemic and therefore the specification is subject to change (in consultation with both the commissioner of the service and the provider/s) Total Contract Value: - We anticipate funding up to 500 calls initially per month with the contract value being worked through with the provider/s and recognising that there may be start up/mobilisation costs General Context Bereavement, which is a difficult experience under any situation, including wider grief and loss is taking place under very challenging circumstances during the Covid-19 pandemic and will potentially be combined with feelings of fear and anger and mistrust.

The number of deaths as a direct consequence of contracting Covid-19 in addition to deaths from other causes means that the average death rate has significantly increased and demand for bereavement support and advice in relation to grief and loss is on the increase.