The National Bereavement Service joins the EAPA community

The National Bereavement Service joins the EAPA community

A free helpline designed to complement existing EAP offerings, the National Bereavement Service (NBS) [https://thenbs.org] has become an associate member of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA) UK.

A not-for-profit organisation, the NBS offers impartial practical guidance and signposting on both statutory requirements and support services: who to contact, how to arrange a funeral, through to probate and estate management. It also provides bereavement benefit packages for employers and charities based around legal services, funeral planning and dedicated support and counselling helplines.

The newly-created NBS support and counselling service, provided in partnership with St Giles Hospice, has been set up in response to requests from corporate clients for immediate access to a source of professional advice on bereavement. 

The NBS also has a campaigning role. In January 2021, NBS was one of the organisations who signed the letter to the Government and Secretary of State by Sue Ryder to introduce two weeks statutory paid bereavement leave, to provide security for those who are grieving the loss of a close relative or partner.

“Bereaved employees are highly unlikely to be able to perform well at work if they are forced to return too quickly,” says Jean Watkins, Director of the NBS. “What has not been known until now, is the financial cost of grief to the economy and to employers.   

“We wanted to be part of the EAPA UK community because we believe that our service can add an additional dimension of support not traditionally offered as part of HR, Wellbeing and EAP assistance. NBS can add invaluable assistance and a first point of call to employees affected by a recent bereavement of a loved one, or anyone affected by a death.”