Making Families Count was formed in 2015 through the support of NHS England South, to improve the support to families following traumatic and complex bereavements in NHS care.

We have formed a Not-For-Profit Community Interest Company to take the work forward across the UK.

We are a unique team bringing together families who have lived experience of bereavement following the deaths of loved ones from mental health homicide, suicide, fatal domestic abuse; also, deaths or serious harm of people with learning disabilities and physical disabilities in acute hospital and community settings. We work in partnership with NHS senior professionals experienced in working on serious incident investigations. One of our Directors is a previous NHS CEO and Clinical Reviewer, bringing professional expertise and understanding of the staff perspective from within the NHS to our work. Another Director is currently a Nursing Director for a major social care provider in the UK.

Members of our training team also lead, or have played a key role, in developing several high-profile charitable organisations, including Hundred Families – founded to support families affected by mental health homicide, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse), PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide), Oxfordshire Family Support Network – a charity supporting families who have relatives with a learning disability.

Our collaboration in Making Families Count ensures we have a powerful and uniquely informed voice, bringing a wide range of skills in working with other families and in sharing and reflecting on their experiences with professionals.