The death of a loved one, friend or colleague is a unique and traumatic event. People react in very different ways, and it is common to feel a whole variety of emotions, which can be unnerving and at times overwhelming.
We know that while many bereaved people can cope reasonably well, others struggle to manage their loss. It can leave people feeling shocked and saddened, and often, extremely vulnerable.
It is important for colleagues to feel cared for and receive support, especially in the first days and weeks following their bereavement.
This plan helps us do this by assisting colleagues who are grieving a death by:
And in doing so it recognises that:
This plan applies to SPS staff, MSPs and their staff. It will remain under review and updated as needed.
We want to be sure colleagues are fully supported following the death of someone close to them. To do that, we must be briefed, prepared and equipped.
A bereavement can bring up difficult feelings for all of us but particularly for those with anxiety and mental health issues.
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After a bereavement, it is normal for someone to experience upsetting emotions and physical symptoms. However, people experience grief differently and there is no ‘normal’ or ‘right’ way to grieve, so sensitivity to those differences should be maintained.
At the same time there are some common experiences and to know others have shared these can be helpful. Many people talk of feelings of numbness, shock, guilt and being overwhelmed, making the most ordinary daily tasks a challenge. Others may have more severe reactions ranging from anxiety to depression; and this could have the potential to interfere with both work and home life.
When someone has died under sudden or traumatic circumstances it can make these feelings worse. At times of considerable trauma, people tend to look for certainty. If certainty is not there, then this can amplify any feelings of grief and distress.
The death of someone close can affect people in different ways. Individual circumstances, the nature of the relationship, and the required observance of different religions may vary.
As a guide, SPS staff and MSPs’ staff can take two-weeks compassionate leave through the Parliament’s paid special leave arrangements. Compassionate leave applies to MSPs. How MSPs will be paid during the period of absence is determined in accordance with the Members’ salary scheme.
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Talking about grief is an important part of getting through a bereavement, and most people will cope with help and support from family, friends or close colleagues.
However, people experiencing complicated grief are encouraged to seek professional help from their GP to obtain the right treatment for their needs. Counselling support is also available through the Parliament’s occupational health partners.
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Team discussions are designed to help those grieving a loss of a colleague in a guided environment. A qualified occupational wellbeing adviser can offer a reflective space to enable team members to share their grief and remember their friend and colleague.
It also provides an additional level of reassurance to those who may be experiencing anxiety or stress and are unsure about where to find resources and support. These sessions can help facilitate resiliency and recovery before harmful stress reactions damage health and wellbeing, family relations and work performance.
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Continue to reach out at regular intervals. We all struggle with what is the right and wrong thing to say but avoiding the subject can compound their grief and make them feel more alone. So, stay in touch, listen, offer practical support and seek help from others if needed. Remember, some colleagues may be left without practical or emotional support at a time they need it most, especially if they live alone.
In addition to supporting team members, do not forget about yourself and the impact the bereavement may have had on you. Supporting someone else’s grief may bring up difficult feelings from your own past bereavements and that is normal. Even if you have not lost anyone close to you, you may be very fearful that it might happen.
In the circumstances, there are a few ways in which we might be notified that a colleague has died. We might be contacted by their family/next of kin or told by another team member who is a close friend of the colleague who has died. The Chief Executive’s Office will coordinate matters internally.
It is important that all colleagues ensure that up-to-date contact details for themselves and their emergency contact are on iTrent.
Managers and MSPs will inform the immediate team first. It is advisable not to share how the person died without consent from the family/next of kin. They will then identify other colleagues who may be affected to let them know and liaise with the Chief Executive’s Office to produce a communication to the wider organisation.
We ask colleague to respect the feelings and privacy of the family, particularly on social media.
The telephone counselling service offered as part of the Employee Assistance Programme is available to colleagues’ immediate family members.
The Deputy Chief Executive will provide support to the next of kin to deal with the practical arrangements including final salary and pension arrangements.
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Lots of organisations have specialist support and guidance available to help colleagues at this difficult time.