Family Liaison Officer - Part Time

Line Manager: Service Delivery Manager

The Length of Appointment:  Fixed Term, in line with funding.

About Sunflowers Suicide Support

Sunflowers Suicide Support was established in memory of Pete Morris, who tragically died by suicide in 2016. Founded and managed by Pete’s family, Sunflowers is a growing charity that supports individuals and families affected by suicide. The organisation delivers intervention training, raises awareness through campaigns, and aligns with national suicide prevention strategies to make a meaningful impact.

Role Purpose

The Family Liaison Officer will provide direct, trauma-informed postvention support to children and young people (C&YP) and their family who have been affected by suicide. The role includes conducting needs and risk assessments, offering psychoeducation and emotional support, liaising with external services, and supporting families in navigating the practical and emotional impact of suicide loss.

This role is child and young person-focused and will involve case management, safeguarding responsibilities, and supporting the facilitation of drop-in and peer support spaces for young people.

The Family Liaison Officer will contribute to the delivery of Sunflowers’ Seeds of Hope service, maintaining strong connections with schools and youth services to help improve access to support.

Key Responsibilities

Supporting the Development of the Liaison Service

Working alongside the Service Delivery Manager to support the development of the
Sunflowers Suicide Liaison Service offering support to adults and families including
young people and children.

Direct Support for Children and Young People

• Provide compassionate, trauma-informed support to C&YP affected by suicide, tailored to developmental needs.
• Respond to referrals within 72 hours via telephone or email and offer a face-to-face assessment within 7 working days where reasonably practicable.
• Conduct person-centred needs and risk assessments.
• Deliver psychoeducation, emotional support, and signposting tailored to young people's needs.
• Monitor for trauma symptoms, including secondary trauma, and adjust support plans as needed.

Risk Assessment and Crisis Intervention

Assess suicide risk and provide immediate referral and signposting intervention to contacts from people in crisis.

Provide psychological support which would include psychoeducation (information giving).

Case Management and Support Planning

• Develop and maintain clear support plans for C&YP with regular review points.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records using Sunflowers’ clinical governance systems.
• Use recognised tools (e.g., WEMWBS, Outcome Star) to monitor wellbeing and outcomes.
• Provide ongoing monitoring and review of cases through face-to-face, telephone, and email support.

Referral Management and Initial Assessment

• Respond to new referrals, assigned by team leader, within 72 hours via telephone or email, followed by a face-to-face meeting within 7 working days where reasonably practicable in order to:
• Complete a person-focused needs assessment
• Assess risks and monitor for symptoms of trauma
• Organise ongoing monitoring through regular contact by face-to-face visits, telephone and email support
• Organise and signpost to provision of needs-assessed support
• Advocate on behalf of the referral where necessary
• Liaise with police, mental health trust and coroner to best support and inform referral

Liaison and External Relationships

• Work in partnership with schools, GPs, CAMHS, IAPT services, and other statutory and voluntary organisations to ensure joined-up support for families and C&YP.
• Liaise with Police, Coroner’s Office, and NHS Trusts to coordinate holistic support.
• Advocate on behalf of children and families where appropriate.

          Support attendance at inquests and statutory meetings (e.g., Child Death Overview Panel) as                needed.
          Network with other external organisations to promote the Sunflowers Liaison Service.

Support Sessions and Peer Spaces

• Facilitate or support the delivery of drop-in spaces and peer support groups for C&YP.
• Create a safe, welcoming environment where young people feel heard and supported.

Safeguarding and Compliance

• Ensure all interactions meet Sunflowers’ safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Identify and report any safeguarding concerns promptly in line with protocol.
• Ensure confidential client data is recorded securely and accurately in line with the organisation’s clinical governance and confidentiality policy.
• Participate in training and professional development to remain up to date with safeguarding and trauma-informed practices.

Self-Care and Supervision

• Maintain strong emotional resilience and self-care practices.
• Attend regular line management and clinical supervision sessions.
• Engage with reflective practice to support emotional wellbeing in a challenging field.

Other Duties

Represent Sunflowers at external events, networking meetings, and training sessions as required.

Support service promotion within schools and youth services.

Carry out additional reasonable duties as required by the Service Delivery Manager or Operations Manager, including occasional evening or weekend work.

The Family Liaison Officer must ensure that if personally bereaved or affected by suicide they are adjusted to their own loss or experience and have good emotional resilience and are ready and able to support others.

This job description sets out the main duties of the post and does not define in detail all duties/responsibilities of the post and will be reviewed regularly. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.

Sunflowers Suicide Support is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of service users, children and young people, and expects all staff, and volunteers, to share the same commitment. This position is subject to a DBS check.

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