Bereavement team’s compassion is recognised with national award

East Kent Hospital’s Small Steps Team has been awarded the Bereavement Team of the Year Special Recognition at the Mariposa Awards 2025.

The team, who provide support both at the point of baby loss and in subsequent pregnancies, were nominated for the prestigious award by several families they had supported, making the national recognition even more impactful for the midwives involved.

The annual Mariposa Awards recognise both medical professionals and others who support people who have experienced baby loss. Winners of the prestigious awards in previous years have included NHS staff, fundraisers and volunteers. This year’s winners were announced at the Mariposa Ball on Saturday, March 15, at London’s Landmark Hotel.

The Small Steps Team work across both maternity units in East Kent, providing support at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital and the William Harvey Hospital, as well as in the community.

The team supports families in a variety of ways throughout and following baby loss. The team’s specially trained midwives can support with funeral arrangements, registering a baby’s passing and follow-up appointments with GPs and consultants. They also provide mental health support and can signpost to various external support agencies. The Small Steps Team are also there to support families in subsequent pregnancies, sometimes meeting women weekly from early in pregnancy until their baby is born, attending labours in some instances and offering antenatal and postnatal care in the community, offering vital continuity in what can be an anxious time.

The team is made up of lead midwife Leanne Davidson, Stacey Parker, bereavement lead midwife at WHH, Emma Barritt, bereavement midwife at QEQM, and Rebecca Berger, admin support.

Leanne said: ‘We don’t do what we do for an award; we do what we do for the love of the job, to support families through a loss and subsequent pregnancies. We want to try and make a difficult time a little bit easier. But the fact that the nominations come from families, and it was through speaking and working with families that this pathway was set up, just makes this recognition even more special.’