Visiting Officers and Effects Officers
"Every deceased person's family is assigned a 'Visiting Officer' - it used to be called the 'Effects Officer'. This person provides the liaison between the service and the family and is there to help with all the many issues which arise."
My recollection is that when I was an OC P2 in the 80s, I found that both should be appointed and so on the few occasions necessary and where I got (typically) squadron co-operation for both, I could have an experienced officer for VO and a more junior dealing with the effects. There was no need for the EO to meet the family but would deal with all the small, but important items, feeding to the VO for family contact. I never understood why so many places combined the jobs. I have a vague memory that in one case I used a holding officer as EO and it was done very well but of course that person would have been unsuitable to meet the family.
Prepared to be told that 30 year old memory is totally flawed, though.