Family Liaison Officer

The Family Liaison Officer is the first and main point of contact for all enquiries from members of the public, schools, and other professional services relating to bereavement support for children and their families. Responsible for, and the main point of contact for all beneficiaries, the Family Liaison Officer assesses all registration requests and support requirements for bereaved children and their families. This includes organising all beneficiary activities from facilitated groups to the booking of short breaks at the Rainbow Retreat. Harry’s Rainbow are committed to the Safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Key Activities

• Always maintain the objectives and reputation of the charity ensuring they are promoted where possible
• To Safeguard and promote the wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults in the care of Harry’s Rainbow
• Respond to enquiries from or for potential beneficiaries within agreed timescales
• Manage the registration process from enquiry to booking and holding introductory beneficiary meetings
• Research, organise and arrange new, varied and creative beneficiary activities and trips, through to completion, evaluation and feedback
• Work closely with the Rainbow Group craft facilitator, Volunteer team and external suppliers to ensure the timely planning and execution of Rainbow group sessions and activities within them
• Communicate with volunteers and staff to ensure the Rainbow groups and other facilitated activities are adequately staffed
• Organise and facilitate temporary services implemented as a result of Covid-19
• Ensure that memory boxes, resources, books, registration packs, memory boxes are available and replenished
• Research relevant resources and materials that may support beneficiaries
• Signposting beneficiaries, schools and other external services to resources and information, ensuring they’re readily available and provided for updating to records and website
• Communicate with families regularly to understand and identify any additional support needs and implement as appropriate, e.g. Mentoring, Counselling,
• Liaise with and visit schools of beneficiaries where permission has been sought to provide a Schools Pack and budget for books
• Maintain relationships with other organisations and charities
• Maintain relationships with grant or activity organisations where our beneficiaries will be directly supported
• Maintain relationships with suppliers of services, ie: Arthur Ellis
• Maintain accurate and up to date records for beneficiaries, schools and other organisations, ensuring all GDPR regulations are followed
• Liaise with the Safeguarding Lead to ensure relevant Training, DBS, security checks and references are carried out for all Rainbow Group Volunteers
• Manage the administration and bookings of the Rainbow Retreat, and ensure the caravan is well maintained
• Provide relevant bereavement related information and campaigns to the CEO for the purposes of updating the website, literature and social media platforms with
• Undertake all mandatory and relevant training as required by the trust

Person specification

• Knowledge and understanding of the charity sector
• A strong understanding of Safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• Outstanding relationship building skills
• Ability to show empathy
• Able to demonstrate high standards of integrity and professionalism, leading by example
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Keen to develop further skills
• Excellent interpersonal and supportive skills.
• Highly motivated, able to use initiative independently and prioritise own workload
• Strong Team Player
• Positive attitude, energy and drive with ability to work under pressure
• An understanding and high regard for health & safety policies and procedures and the ability to enforce clear strong boundaries, to ensure a safe environment is provided for children, volunteers and staff during activities.
• Flexibility in working at a range of venues/locations 
• Able to collate, interpret and present information 
• Experience of telephone support and information provision
• Experience of liaison and networking with schools
• Knowledge of education, social services and primary care services is desirable
• Flexible to work evenings and weekends as required

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum level 4 qualification in health, educational, social care, counselling or a similar
• Experience within one or more of the following fields in a relevant capacity: mental health, social care, education, counselling
• Experience of working with children, young people, adults and families
• Knowledge of Safeguarding Children and Adults
• IT Competent including a knowledge of a CRM system and Microsoft Office 365
• Bereavement experience or training
• Event organisation

Additional information

To be a Family Liaison Officer you:

• Must pass an enhanced DBS check - This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
• Current Full Driving Licence
• Salary F/T equivalent £20-25k
• 25 Hours per week, some weekend work
• 23 month fixed term contract