This book argues that dying and bereavement are issues for all social care practitioners, illustrating the wide variety of ways in which they are involved. Examples are taken from mainstream as well as specialist settings. Early chapters focus upon the relevance of theoretical understandings and the perspectives of dying and bereaved people themselves. There is detailed consideration of practitioners' accounts of their responses to people who are grieving. Conclusions relate to issues of training and support, and implications for practice.

CAROLINE CURRER is Senior Lecturer at Anglia Polytechnic University where she is centrally involved with a range of teaching programmes leading to qualifications in social work and social care. Her practice experience is in psychiatric social work and she has an academic background in the sociology of health and illness. In a voluntary capacity she is a supervisor with a local branch of Cruse Bereavement Care.