Our Principles
Find a Doula exists to help people find thoughtful, trustworthy and compassionate end of life support.
Our mission is to make it easier for individuals and families to connect with end of life doulas, organisations and practitioners who offer calm, respectful and person-centred support during some of life’s most vulnerable moments.
We believe that end of life doula work should be represented with care, integrity and credibility. The people seeking support through this platform may be facing uncertainty, grief, illness, family change or difficult decisions. They deserve to feel confident that the people and organisations they contact are presenting themselves honestly and responsibly.
Our commitment
Find a Doula is built around trust, transparency and respect for the people using the platform.
We are committed to:
- helping individuals and families find non-clinical end of life support more easily
- promoting the role of end of life doulas in a clear, responsible and respectful way
- supporting the credibility of doulas, practitioners and organisations working in this field
- encouraging honest, accurate and professional profiles
- making clear that end of life doula support is non-clinical and does not replace medical, nursing, legal or emergency services
Integrity and credibility
End of life work sits alongside people at deeply personal and tender times. For that reason, we believe that anyone listed on Find a Doula should do so with honesty, care and integrity.
Members are expected to present their training, experience, services and professional background clearly and accurately. Profiles should not exaggerate qualifications, imply clinical authority where this does not exist, or make misleading claims about the support offered.
Where appropriate, we may ask members to provide further information about their profile, training or experience so that the platform remains trustworthy and suitable for those seeking support.
Compassionate, non-clinical support
End of life doulas and related practitioners can offer emotional, practical, spiritual and family-centred support. This may include companionship, planning, advocacy, legacy work, bereavement support, signposting, and helping people feel less alone.
Find a Doula does not provide medical advice, clinical care, counselling, legal advice or emergency support. Members must work within the limits of their training, experience, insurance and professional competence, and should signpost to appropriate services where specialist support is needed.
Respect for individuals and families
People looking for end of life support may be doing so at a time of vulnerability, uncertainty or distress. We expect all members to communicate with warmth, patience and professionalism.
Members should be clear about what they offer, how they work, their fees where relevant, their availability, and any limits to their role. Personal information shared by individuals and families should be treated with care and confidentiality.
Working with the wider end of life community
Find a Doula aims to support, not replace, the existing end of life doula community, training organisations, charities, hospices, practitioners and support networks already doing valuable work in this space.
We are open to collaboration with organisations and individuals who share our commitment to integrity, compassion, credibility and responsible public understanding of the end of life doula role.
Our promise
We will continue to develop Find a Doula with care, listening to those with experience in the field and keeping the needs of individuals and families at the centre of the platform.
Our aim is simple: to help people find the right support, from the right person or organisation, at the right time.
