Session 3: Including families in the mortality review process 1 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Session 3: Including families in the mortality review process

1

Sian Lewis Williams QPM National Family Liaison Advisor

Security Marking

Recommendation 26 ‘That the SIO and FLO be made aware of good practice and their positive duty shall be satisfactory management of family liaison, together with the provision to the victims family of all possible information about the crime and its investigation.’

FLO deployment criteria

• An unexplained or violent death, particularly in respect
• f Homicide road death;
• And Mass disaster
• Also other cases that do not involve a fatality where

family liaison might enhance the effectiveness of the police response

FLO’S – who do they work for

• SIO
• SIM
• Coroner
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• They will be managed and

supported

Working with Families – what can they expect

• THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE FLO IS THAT OF AN

INVESTIGATOR.

• To provide information to and facilitate care and support

for the family, who are themselves victims, in a sensitive and compassionate manner in accordance with the needs

• f the investigation
• Day to day management of the partnership with the

family in the investigation and close liaison with the SIO to ensure families are treated appropriately, professionally and with respect to their needs.

Working with Families – What can they expect

• Providing the family with as full and up to date

information as possible about the incident and its investigation.

• Obtaining a full family background and other and other

relevant details required by the SIO/SIM and coroner.

• To gather evidence and information from the family in a

manner which contributes to the investigation and preserves its integrity.

• To secure the confidence and trust of the family thereby

enhancing their contribution to the investigation

Working with the families

• The FLO will record all contact with the Family in the FLO

Log provided. These contacts must record an overview of the information disclosed to the family and any queries that the family raise.

• To obtain a ‘Victim Impact Statement’ from relevant

family members identified in consultation with the family and the SIO.

• To assist in the identification of their loved ones.
• To make the family aware of the identity of local and

neighbourhood policing teams and help and support that can be offered

Working with families

• Navigate the criminal justice process – statements –

victims code of practice

• Court visits
• Coronial process
• Other processes
• Referral to other support agencies and consent
• Media
• Social media

Honest discussions

• Human Tissue and Coronial process
• Fact V Speculation
• Realistic expectations about what is going to happen
• Property – return
• Family dynamics – being honest
• Good working relationships/Common Goal (look after

families in a sensitive compassionate manner)

Family Liaison and Record Keeping

• FLO log books
• Major Incident Room
• SIO updates and briefings
• Disclosable documents
• Statements/Special Measure requests/Human Tissue

forms/return of property forms – how this effects families and the honest conversation around these issues.

Working with families

• Any questions

Contact Details

Sian Lewis Williams QPM National Family Liaison Advisor Major Crime Investigative Support National Investigative Capabilities Specialist Investigations | Investigations Command Tel: Mobile: +44 (0)7990 081007 Major Crime Investigative Support: 0345 000 5463 Email: sian.lewis-williams@nca.pnn.police.uk Sian.lewis-williams@nca.x.gsi.gov.uk www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk

Sian Lewis Williams QPM

National Family Liaison Advisor

Security Marking

Support for staff

• Health and wellbeing is paramount
• Healthy and well supported staff = better quality

investigations and ultimately quality family liaison

• Supported through the investigation – role of co-odinators

and SIO’S (recognising the stress that FLO’S face when dealing with trauma)

• De-briefed daily
• De-briefed at the conclusion of the investigation
• Exit of FLO from investigation formally and informing

families of the conclusion of the deployment

• Open relationship with their co-ordinators
• Record of deployment – deployment database

Support for staff

• Recorded referrals to Occupational health – locally

different – mandatory referrals for some forces

• Record of any associated risks and overcoming challenges
• Accepting feedback and managing feedback
• Regular CPD events
• Engagement with local supervisors to ensure workload is

manageable

• What do you do with staff that fail or refuse to engage

with regular referrals to Occupational health or other associated support networks

• KNOW YOUR STAFF

Support for staff

• Any Questions