Unit Title
GB13
Support families following a death in custody
Summary
This unit is about providing appropriate support to the families of individuals who die
whilst in custody. It includes informing the family, providing immediate support and
relevant information.
There are three elements:
1
Prepare to inform the family regarding a death in custody
2
Inform the family regarding a death in custody
3
Provide ongoing support to the family
Target Group
This unit applies to experienced staff who are likely to have undertaken relevant
training in the practices and procedures necessary to support families following a
death in custody. Such staff include, for example, Family Liaison Officers within Her
Majesty’s Prison Service and relevant staff within such as Young Offender
Institutions, Secure Training Centres and Local Authority Secure Children’s Homes.
Skills for Justice
National Occupational Standards for Youth Justice/Resettlement of Offenders
Final version approved January 2008
Page 1
Element
1
Prepare to inform the family regarding a death in custody
Performance Criteria
To meet the standard, you
1
identify correctly the personal details of the deceased person, including
details of their family
2
identify all relevant details regarding the circumstances of the death,
including what happened, when and where the death occurred, whether it
was witnessed, and whether a note or message was left
3
identify correctly those to be notified, including next-of-kin and any
appropriate other person(s) whom the deceased person had requested
4
establish whether there is any history of recent behaviour, including selfharm, relevant to the death
5
establish the nature of the deceased person’s offence and sentence
6
identify whether the death is likely to attract media interest, and deal
correctly with this in line with agreed media strategy and protocols
7
establish whether an interpreter is required to accompany you when
announcing the death, arranging this correctly where necessary
8
determine information relevant to assessing the risks that may be faced
when announcing the death in custody
9
assess the risk(s) likely to be encountered, basing these upon a realistic
assessment of all available information and make the appropriate
arrangements towards addressing such risks
Skills for Justice
National Occupational Standards for Youth Justice/Resettlement of Offenders
Final version approved January 2008
Page 2
Element
2
Inform the family regarding a death in custody
Performance Criteria
To meet the standard, you
1
make contact with the next-of-kin, and any other person(s) who had been
reasonably nominated by the deceased person, as soon as possible and in a
suitable manner, in line with agreed protocols
2
ensure that you are addressing the appropriate person(s), identifying yourself
and any accompanying colleagues to a family member, before announcing the
purpose of your visit, dealing correctly with circumstances where that
person(s) is not available, where necessary
3
invite the person(s) to sit down
4
use sensitivity in announcing the death, whilst ensuring that you deal with it
directly, using words that cannot be misinterpreted
5
provide an accurate, factual account of what occurred
6
explain your own role and the nature of the support and information that you
can provide
7
determine whether the person(s) would
family/friend(s), and contact these if requested
8
communicate in a manner, and at a level and pace, appropriate to the
individual
9
check for understanding, encouraging questions and answer these fully and
accurately, whilst ensuring that nothing is promised that cannot be delivered
10
make an accurate record of all key points, and explain clearly the purpose of
taking any notes
11
explain clearly what will happen next, including the nature of any investigation
12
provide your relevant contact details and agree future contact arrangements
13
provide accurate details of relevant bereavement agencies
14
ensure that your actions are defensible, being
circumstances and the information available
like
the
support
their
justified given the
Skills for Justice
National Occupational Standards for Youth Justice/Resettlement of Offenders
Final version approved January 2008
of
Page 3
Element
3
Provide ongoing support to the family
Performance Criteria
To meet the standard, you
1
provide relevant information and practical support to the family, within your
levels of authority and in line with agreed protocols
2
maintain appropriate contact with the family, extending this to beyond the
inquest where you judge this to be necessary
3
ensure that the family is offered the opportunity of an appropriate memorial
service, to include relevant other prisoners and custodial staff where agreed
4
arrange appropriate transport for the deceased person’s family to allow access
to the place where the death occurred, and to the service, where this is
required, and in line with your organisation’s procedures
5
hand over the deceased individual’s personal possessions and any monies to
the appropriate person in a suitable manner, and when authorised to do so
6
record all items handed over and obtain a signed receipt confirming their
having been received
7
review regularly your assessment of the risks associated with the family in
their dealing with the death, including any risks to you and your colleagues,
and take the necessary actions correctly to deal with your assessments
8
liaise with and assist investigating teams, in line with agreed national and local
protocols
9
ensure that all relevant persons are notified promptly and appropriately of the
verdict of the inquest
10
make relevant information available promptly to those who need it, whilst
ensuring that information is shared only with those entitled to receive it
11
maintain a record of all documents handed over, identifying the recipients
12
disengage from the family in line with an agreed strategy and with relevant
protocols
Skills for Justice
National Occupational Standards for Youth Justice/Resettlement of Offenders
Final version approved January 2008
Page 4
Unit
GB13
Support families following a death in custody
Knowledge and Understanding
To meet the standard, you need to know and understand
1
The responsibilities and role of a Prison Service Family Liaison Officer (FLO), or
equivalent
2
Relevant protocols identifying the procedures to be followed, and the support to
be offered to the bereaved family, following a death in custody
3
The immediate action to be taken by an establishment following a death in
custody
4
The reporting requirements of an establishment following a death in custody
5
The support to be offered to relevant staff and prisoners following a death in
custody
6
The responsibilities of an establishment in relation to investigation and inquest
7
Procedures for informing the family of a death in custody
8
Issues in respect of ethnicity, culture, and life-style diversity that should be
considered when working with the family
9
Typical reactions to the death which families, staff and other prisoners may
experience, the reasons for these, and strategies for addressing such reactions
10
Typical types of dilemmas that may be faced by those involved in supporting
families following a death in custody, and strategies for dealing with these
11
The immediate issues to be addressed on first contact with the bereaved family
12
The skills required of those supporting bereaved families following a death in
custody
13
The information to be gathered regarding a deceased individual before speaking
to their family, including the circumstances of their death, and the nature of the
family/persons to be notified, and relevant sources of such information
14
The information required in making an effective assessment of the risks likely to
be encountered when informing the family of a death in custody, including their
environment, whether there is a history of violence in the family, whether there
are any victims of the deceased individual’s crimes likely to be present and
whether there is any media interest
15
How to undertake an effective risk assessment, and strategies for addressing
the risks that may be encountered when informing families of a death in custody
16
Procedures to follow where the appropriate person(s) is not available when you
arrive to announce the death
17
The information to be provided to the family, and techniques for providing this
with sensitivity
18
Issues and behaviours associated with grieving and bereavement, and their
affect upon the family, relevant staff and other prisoners
Skills for Justice
National Occupational Standards for Youth Justice/Resettlement of Offenders
Final version approved January 2008
Page 5
19
The bereavement agencies and associated support that are available to a family
following a death in custody
1
Skills for Justice
National Occupational Standards for Youth Justice/Resettlement of Offenders
Final version approved January 2008
Page 6
Unit
GB13
Support families following a death in custody
Knowledge and Understanding (continued)
20
The issues that should be considered in relation to the return of property/money
21
The importance of custodial staff being alert to the possibility of suicide and selfinjury attempts amongst other prisoners following a death in custody
22
The importance and purpose of debriefings of staff following a death in custody
23
The importance of agreeing a strategy for exit from the liaison role with the
family and how to do this
24
The role of the prison and probation ombudsman
25
Members of the Prison/Prison Service or other agencies who can offer you help
and support
26
The levels of your own authority and to whom to refer should these levels be
exceeded
Skills for Justice
National Occupational Standards for Youth Justice/Resettlement of Offenders
Final version approved January 2008
Page 7