Exploring Grief as a Factor of Service User Distress With a Community Learning Disabilities Team: A Service Evaluation

ABSTRACT Background This service evaluation was conducted with an NHS Community Learning Disability Service (CLDS), which provides multi‐disciplinary care for people with learning disabilities, their families and care providers. Understanding how bereavement is addressed in learning disability services is important, given the often complex impact of grief* on people with learning disabilities' mental health and behaviour. Aims This study aimed to evaluate whether bereavement was considered as a factor of service user distress by a community learning disabilities team. It also aimed to identify concepts regarding the service response strategies to bereaved people with learning disabilities in distress. Methods This evaluation explored whether a CLDS considers the impact of bereavement when supporting service users in distress. This study also evaluated the CLDS response strategies to bereaved people with learning disabilities in distress. A mixed‐method approach was used to analyse 33 service user records and conduct five interviews with CLDS staff. Results Findings showed that most service users received interventions for grief‐related distress. Four categories were constructed from the data: ‘Psychology Input’, ‘Supporting Care Providers’, ‘Multi‐Disciplinary Team (MDT) Working’, and ‘Guidance’. Interviews resulted in additional categories, including ‘Recognising the Global Impact’, ‘Being Client‐Led’, and ‘Systemic Challenges’. The most common service response strategies were ‘Guidance’ and ‘MDT Working’. Conclusions Recommendations include maintaining a systemic approach and continuing to develop written guidance for discussing death. The increased use of measures to identify grief‐related distress, further training provision and reflection opportunities for staff were also recommended.