Child and Adolescent Bereavement Services (CABS) - NGH

The countywide Child and Adolescent Bereavement Service (CABS) offers individual and group bereavement counselling to children and adolescents in Northamptonshire. It also offers support to families where a member has a terminal illness.

The service is run by a full-time qualified bereavement coordinator and administration support. They are assisted by volunteer bereavement counsellors, who are trained in counselling (covering areas such as person-centred counselling, psychodynamics, and cognitive behaviours).

Children and young people can be seen as outpatients at Northampton General Hospital, in school, at home, and in a variety of other settings. The location of appointments is agreed between the families and the counsellor to provide the most suitable package of care to the child or young person.

CABS can also support parents, carers, school staff, and other professionals who are working with a bereaved child or adolescent. Training can be provided to schools and agencies.

Professionals can make referrals to CABS via the Children and Young People's Referral Management Centre (RMC).