These slides were part of a live online webinar titled "Pet bereavement and developing protocols". There are lots of things that you can do to make things easier for everyone when there is a loss of a pet. This 1 hour webinar looked at what you can do in practice to make things easier for clients, colleagues, friends, family and yourself when you are involved with providing support for those experiencing the loss of a pet.
1. Welcome to the
Pet Bereavement Support Webinar Series
from
Webinar 6 of 6:
Pet bereavement support and developing protocols
2. Welcome to the
Pet Bereavement Support Webinar Series
from
With Julia Dando MA – Training Manager, SCAS
3. Pet Bereavement Support
What will we be looking at today?
• Who will be needing support?
• How can you meet their needs?
• What things can you put in place to
make the experience easier?
5. Supporting the Client
What do they need?
• Recognition of their loss
• Permission to grieve / Permission to stop grieving
• To know that you hear and understand what they are telling you
• To know that they are not being judged
• Opportunity to reflect and question with someone that understands
• Information – after-death body care options, how they can check on
their pet in its new home, etc
6. Pet Loss Support
Protocols
Physical Resources
Environment
Compassionate
communication Staff support
Self care
7. Pet Loss Support
Protocols
Physical
Environment
•Quiet room
•Somewhere to sit down
•Refreshments
•Separate Exit
8. Pet Loss Support
Protocols
Resources
•Handouts, Website
•PBSS information cards, leaflets and posters
•Tissues
•Envelopes/bags for fur/hair
•Sympathy cards
9.
10.
11.
12. Pet Loss Support
Protocols
Resource
Materials
•Handouts, Website
•PBSS information cards, leaflets and posters
•Tissues
•Envelopes/bags for fur/hair
•Sympathy cards
14. Resources
Further Reading
Companion Animal Death
by Mary F. Stewart, Butterworth-Heinemann
Death of an Animal Friend
Produced by the Society for Companion Animal Studies
(SCAS)
Absent Friend
by Laura and Martyn Lee, published by Henston
Goodbye, Dear Friend
by Virginia Ironside, published by Robson
Coping with Pet Loss
by Robin Grey, Sheldon Press
Handbook of Veterinary Communication Skills
by Carol Gray and Jenny Moffett
15. Pet Loss Support
Protocols
•Verbal recognition of the bond
•Pre-bereavement discussions
•Validation of grief
•Referral when appropriate
Compassionate •Follow up
communication
16. Supporting the Client
Effective / Active
Listening Skills
• Encouraging phrases
Reflecting – “I see…..”
– “Go on….”
Restating
• Open vs. Closed
Paraphrasing questions
– Who?
Asking open – What?
questions – When?
– Where?
Summarizing – (Why?)
• Allow silences/pauses
17. Supporting the Client
What do they need?
• Recognition of their loss
• Permission to grieve / Permission to stop grieving
• To know that you hear and understand what they are telling you
• To know that they are not being judged
• Opportunity to reflect and question with someone that understands
• Information – after-death body care options, how they can check on
their pet in its new home, etc
18. Pet Loss Support
Protocols
•CPD
•PLS Officer
•Mentoring scheme
•Debriefs in staff meetings
•PBSS
•Talk about it
•Journal
•Know your limitations
Staff support
Self care
19. Pet Loss Support
Protocols
Reflect upon what things you already
have in place
What additional things could you put in
place?
21. FREE
Introducing “Pets as Therapy”
30th April 2012 at 1pm (GMT)
and repeated on 6th June 2012 at 6pm (GMT)
Bridging the gap: The role of horses and other animals
in mental health and counselling
Thursday 10th May 2012 @ 1pm (GMT)
Pet Bereavement Support Webinar Series
Starting on 30th May 2012
on Wednesdays at 1pm (GMT)
Welcome to the 5th in a series of 6 webinars looking at Pet Bereavement Support
My name is Julia Dando and I work for The Society for Companion Animal Studies
Ask audience who it is that they will be supporting in terms of clients Veterinary clients (pet owners) People rehoming aniamls Animal welfare officers and staff Your family, friends, Yourself
Remember last week we looked at what people need? There are also some practical things you can put in place to support people.
Colours – there is a reason that dentists and doctors/hospitals go for pastel shades….calming Bright pictures can be used but avoid specific breeds and species….flowers and scenes may be more appropriate
Some practices create a Grief information pack containing a variety of information sheets and leaflets.
Pre-bereavement discussions: Access to support for anticipatory grief – pre-euthanasia / rehoming discussion about the process.
Remember the active listening skills that we looked at last week If you missed the session on how to support people it will be repeated on 4 th July – those of you that did attend the recording is still there for you to remind yourself of the tools and skills you can use.
Remember again about what people need? Refer to yesterday’s training – people need YOU to LISTEN – and sometimes this will be the ONLY important thing (more than you giving THEM information).
Supporting others can be very emotionally draining for yourself – don’t BURNOUT. Its all very well having protocols in place – but if people don’t know WHO is responsible for doing what – it wont work and things get missed and forgotten. PLSO – Useful BUT you are a team – EVERYONE needs to be involved. Duties for a PLSO could be: Writing up pet loss support (PLS) practice protocols – developed and agreed by the practice team Ensuring everyone in the practice, including new staff and non-clinical team members has a copy of the practice pet loss support protocols Taking a mentoring/training role for other staff in PLS ensuring that the principles behind the protocols are understood and acted upon Acting as the first point of contact for PLS related issues Ordering PBSS leaflets, posters and ensuring surgery display for PLS Ensuring a deputy PLSC is appointed Making sure condolence cards are ordered for use in practice Ensuring condolence cards are personally written and sent to a bereaved client ALSO: DO SOMETHING ELSE – do something that does NOT involve supporting people or animals. Even if its just for a few hours a week. Go to the cinema, play sports, go for a walk, go out for dinner, go dancing. Limitations – remember you are NOT a counsellor (unless you are a counsellor of course) – Don’t expect to fix it……
Make a list – what is possible given your environment – your client needs and your resources available