Ms Alison Hocking1,2, Ms Melanie Van Diemen1, Ms Catherine Ludbrook1, Prof Lynette Joubert2
1Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia, 2University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia
Biography:
Alison Hocking is the Allied Health Service Development Manager at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, having previously been Manager of Social Work & Diversity at RMH. She is a current PhD student at the University of Melbourne.
Melanie Van Diemen is a Grade 4 Social Worker at RMH and is the first social worker in an Advanced Practice role at the organisation. She has extensive experience in clinical social work provision and was one of the inaugural Victorian state-wide Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigators.
Abstract:
Background:
Bereavement care is an essential practice in acute hospitals, provided to patients, families, and carers before and after death. At the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, many clinical staff offer elements of bereavement care, though there is no standardized training or practice. An advanced practice grant from the Victorian Department of Health was awarded to establish a social work role for complex bereavement care in acute settings.
Aims:
This study aimed to assess current bereavement care practices among multidisciplinary teams in haematology and ICU. It also tested and evaluated a model of care for complex bereavement, with a focus on establishing evidence for an advanced practice social work role.
Methods:
A mixed-methods study was conducted, beginning with a pre-survey to staff with both qualitative and quantitative questions. The effectiveness of the bereavement model of care was analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Thematic analysis was also applied to the focus group feedback following the model of care trial.
Results:
97% of surveyed clinical staff believe that bereavement care is part of their role. The most challenging circumstances are when the person dying has young children or death is the result of an unexpected medical event. While discussing and documenting bereavement support needs was helpful, a ‘one size fits all’ model is unlikely to be consistently implemented.
Conclusion:
An advanced practice social worker in bereavement care has the capacity to support consistent and appropriate practice from the multidisciplinary team, ensuring escalation of care in complex cases.