Division / Department - Criminal Justice
Grade - Grade E
Status - Full Time and Part Time Available
Contract Type - Permanent
Salary Grade Range - £27,545 - £31,285
Working Hours - 18.0 Hours per Week
Shift Allowance - No
Politically Restricted - No
Location - Guildford
The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.
The Role & Key Responsibilities
In 2019 'Victim Support' for Surrey was brought in house to Surrey Police and the Witness Care Unit became the Victim & Witness Care Unit.
The Role
You will be required to act as a single point of contact for victims, providing practical advice, support, and assistance throughout the cope and recovery phases of their experience. This includes maintaining contact throughout the victim's journey and ensuring compliance with the minimum requirements of The Victims Code of Practice.
Key Responsibilities
* Conduct appropriate and dynamic risk assessments throughout the lifespan of all support cases and escalate any issues of concern or risk matters to the Victim Liaison Team.
* Carry a caseload and provide direct support to victims affected by crime, recording progress and monitoring outcomes achieved.
* Establish and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders to achieve the highest standard of service and support for victims.
* Liaise with and respond to queries from other support agencies involved in supporting victims of crime.
* Support victims through the criminal justice system, including attending court and liaising with witness service.
* Prioritise your own workload and manage time effectively to meet the needs of victims and partner agencies.
* Deliver training to key stakeholders or peers to raise awareness of the service.
* Research local support agencies to develop new links/referral pathways to meet the needs of victims.
* Maintain awareness of support services available to victims and witnesses.
* Contribute to the implementation of initiatives within the Victim and Witness Care Unit.
* Proactively suggest ideas to improve the experience of victims and witnesses.
* Handle and share sensitive information in accordance with policy.
Skills & Experience
Essential skills and experience required for the caseworker role:
* Demonstrable experience in dealing with people in a customer-focused environment or supportive network for at least 12 months.
* Experience of supporting and encouraging customers to take personal action, particularly with vulnerable victims/witnesses.
* Excellent case management and administrative skills with the ability to assimilate knowledge of relevant practices and procedures.
* Well-developed interpersonal and verbal communication skills for liaising with internal colleagues and partner agencies.
* Self-responsibility for decision making and awareness of risks, with the ability to know when to escalate them.
* Attention to detail and ability to work to strict timescales as stipulated by the Victims Code.
* Ability to cope with pressure, work unsupervised, and manage time effectively.
* Experience of working within a team and sharing knowledge.
* Good working knowledge of computers and ability to produce clear, concise, and accurate records.
* Willingness to maintain professional knowledge and expertise as procedures and technology advance.
Additional Requirements:
* Vetting for security clearance.
* Training in the use of secure communications systems.
* Access to own transport and insurance for business use may be required.
Why Work With Us?
Policing is an exciting 24/7 business and we support a balance between life and work. We encourage flexible working, including job shares and part-time options. Our benefits include career progression, a contributory pension scheme, generous annual leave, and various health and wellbeing resources.
We value diversity and are committed to being an anti-racist police service. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities.
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