Provision of Actors for Family Liaison Officer Training

The Authority is preparing to launch a tender for the provision of actors to support the delivery of Family Liaison Officer training in His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Through this notice the Authority is looking to engage with the current market regarding this future requirement.

Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) are responsible for maintaining communication with a prisoner’s next of kin, including making initial contact and handling sensitive discussions. They play a key role in supporting families during difficult and emotional circumstances. In order to undertake this role, all FLOs complete a four-day training programme delivered by Prison Learning Design and Delivery (PLD&D) within HMPPS, which equips them with the skills to support family members through grief and bereavement following a prisoner’s death, as well as during situations involving terminal illness diagnoses.

This requirement is for an external organisation to provide two actors across two days for each training course to play the part of the next of kin which will bring a sense of realism to the scenarios in order for the FLOs to prepare for real life situations. The actors would be required to attend the course in-person on days 3 and 4 of the training, with all sessions taking place at the Prison Service College, Newbold Revel.

On the day of the assessment, actors will receive a scenario brief outlining the role of the next of kin they will portray with profiling on characteristics such as religion and background. There will not be a specific script, and instead actors are expected to respond and adapt to the interaction as it develops. Following the exercise, actors will provide feedback on the conversation with the FLO from the perspective of the next of kin.

The current expectation is that one course will be delivered per month, with additional courses commissioned on an ad hoc basis if required. We intend to provide at least one month’s notice for each course.