Family Liaison Officer
Hello, my name is Nisha Chikhlia; I am the Family Liaison Officer here at Whitchurch.
My role is to provide pastoral support to parents/carers; help with any issues that you may have in relation to supporting your children, both at home and in school. I work to encourage parental involvement within school, signpost to agencies (where appropriate) and support children in school. I have access to a number of agencies who may be able to provide assistance to you and your family. I work in close partnership with our SENDCO supporting children with additional needs.
Should you have a personal concern or school related issues concerning your children, then I am here to offer support, however if you have any concerns or complaints regarding teaching and learning please address these issues with your child’s class teacher or a member of the leadership team.
I liaise with all school staff where necessary and appropriate, always in the best interests of the children and their families. I work impartially and confidentially in a non-judgemental manner, providing an understanding ‘listening ear’ if you ever need advice or support.
My role and involvement with parents/carers
As Family Liaison Officer I aim to support parents/carers of children at Whitchurch. My role is varied, and I have been involved with a diverse range of interventions with families. My primary role is to focus on early intervention and preventative activities with the view of empowering parents to support their children, ensuring they are able to achieve their full potential.
I am a key contact for parents and families who are experiencing difficulties. These include issues around domestic abuse, housing, parental separation, school attendance, health, social services, police, counselling etc. I work in close partnership with professional agencies to ensure the best outcomes for the children and families.
I work in close partnership with the school's pastoral team and Harrow Early Support who provide early intervention for the families when a need has been identified.
I am also the key contact with Stanmore College and can signpost additional training courses, which are often free to our parents.
Harrow Early Support
Harrow Early Support delivers services and activities for Harrow families and young people. It supports children, young people and families to improve their outcomes, reaching their goals and aspirations. Early Support does this through positive engagements to promote empowerment; finding out more about rights and powers, exploring needs and helping to identify the things that would bring about positive change.
Early Support Hubs are community based sites which incorporate children’s centres. These hubs are the point of contact for early support. They provide information, advice and guidance, and access to evidence-based provision delivered by the council’s staff and partner agencies.
Child Protection
I attend Child In Need (CIN) and Child Protection (CP) meetings alongside other colleagues to represent the school and identify actions to contribute to any support plans. I act in the best interests of the child and support the family with meeting the requirements of the plan.
Need a chat?
Many Parents and Carers, regardless of background, feel that there are times in their lives when they need advice and support. Parents are best placed to make choices for their children but all parents benefit from access to high quality information and advice to help them make the best possible decisions.
I am available for informal chats in the playground, appointments, phone contact and (if needed) home visits - please feel free to come up and say hello.
One of my intentions as FLO is to improve relations between home and school. I attend every Parents' Evening and the vast majority of parent workshops so I can get a strong sense of the experience of parents. These are also good opportunities to catch me for a chat. It is my aim to build strong relationships with you so that every child at Whitchurch is happy, thriving and fulfilling their potential.
Useful Links
https://www.harrow.gov.uk/childrens-social-care/early-support-hubs
https://www.citizensadviceharrow.org.uk
Contact Information
I aim to be on the playground before and after school, should you need to speak to me.
Out of office hours you can contact the school office and leave a message. Alternatively you can email me at nchikhlia@whitchurchprimary.harrow.sch.uk and I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.
Any query, large or small, I am here to help!