Vacancy Information
Division / Department - Public Protection
Grade - Grade G
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Fixed Term Contract
Salary Grade Range - £30,486 - £36,026
Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week
Shift Allowance -
Politically Restricted -
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
Sexual Offence Liaison Officers (SOLO’s)
The SOLO’s are based within the Sexual Offences Investigation Team (SOIT) at HQ.
SOIT is a specialist investigation unit entrusted by the public to care for our survivors and undertake effective investigations of Rape and Serious Sexual Offence (RASSO) cases. Where supported by the evidence we will successfully prosecute these most serious and complex of cases in order to seek justice and protect the public.
In recognition of this most important duty Surrey Police employs sexual offences liaison officers [SOLO’s] whose role is to deliver the highest standard of victim care and to achieve the best possible evidence from them.
SOLO’s support survivors/victims from the initial report, through to the conclusion of the investigation. Once assigned to a case the SOLO will be the victim’s single point of contact in an investigation. You will be responsible for providing them with the highest quality of victim care. You will be trained to secure best evidence from the victim. You will work closely with partner agencies to ensure the right support is provided to the them.
As part of the SOIT team you will will work collaboratively with investigator colleagues to conduct victim interviews, implement safeguarding measures, share knowledge and best practice, becoming experts in your field.
Working within a busy Sexual Offences Investigations Team, you will be deployed alongside other SOLO’s and investigating officers to support victims of serious sexual assault, and to obtain high quality evidence from them. As part of your role you will be trained to respond to both recent and non-recent reports of rape, and to provide victims with expert support and care from the time of reporting through to the conclusion of the investigation.
Although you will be part of a wider team you will work autonomously. You will establish positive connections with victims who will have experienced violence, abuse and/or trauma by building rapport through empathy. Because of your excellent interpersonal skills and training, you will be best placed to act as the single point of contact between the victim and the investigation, ensuring that the voice of the victim is represented at every stage of the investigative process. This will involve relaying important information clearly, sensitively and tactfully, enabling you to gain the trust and confidence of victims to ensure they feel informed and supported over the course of the investigation.
The role balances investigation and advocacy: You will play a fundamental part in investigations into the most serious sexual assaults; with specific responsibility for securing the best evidence from victims. You will assess and explore all methods of evidence gathering ensuring the most appropriate options are chosen. You will work at all times to reconcile and balance the needs of a victim against the requirements of an investigation. You will demonstrate problem solving skills to overcome issues which could cause delay. You will remain impartial and assist investigators with objective case assessments.
Key Responsibilities
As a SOLO your main responsibilities will be:
• To ensure that victims receive the highest standard of care and support throughout an investigation regardless of their intention or ability to support prosecution. To increase the confidence and trust of victims by being the single point of contact for them.
• To explain the criminal justice process to the victim and keep them informed about the progress of the investigation. To ensure information is given to the victim positively and carefully to prevent any loss of confidence in the police investigation or the criminal justice process.
• To appropriately and thoroughly explain cases decisions particularly when a decision is made to discontinue the case.
• To work in partnership with staff from the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), the Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs) and victim care agencies to ensure a first class multi-agency approach to supporting victims’ needs throughout an investigation.
• To ensure that the best possible evidence is obtained from victims, including written and video recorded evidence, the seizure of exhibits and samples, and the use of Early Evidence Kits where appropriate. To suggest other reasonable lines of enquiry and to assist investigators in an objective assessment of the evidence you have obtained.
• To support the victim with a practical, honest and problem solving approach to overcome any issues which may delay the progress of the investigation.
• You are an integral part of the investigation team, supporting investigations and representing the views of the victim.
• To ensure that the victim receives information about support agencies, and that any referrals are made to other agencies in accordance with the victim’s wishes.
• To co-ordinate pre-trial support and assess emerging support needs relating to pending court hearings, in conjunction with Witness Care Units and ISVAs.
• To ensure accurate records are kept of all interactions with victims and to ensure compliance with the victim code [VICON] and disclosure obligations under CPIA.
• To undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of the work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser graded post.
Skills & Experience
This is not an easy role and - although the work will be amongst the most rewarding in policing - it will also be emotionally demanding. Because of this it won’t be for everyone which is why we are specifically looking for resilient individuals who are able to persevere in the face of adversity.
In order to be successful it is essential that you are able to demonstrate the following:
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to deliver sensitive messages clearly and tactfully whilst building trust and rapport through the use of empathy. An ability to ask insightful and at times difficult questions as we undertake an effective investigation.
• Confidence and an ability to work without direct supervision whilst under pressure; prioritising work and dealing with competing or conflicting demands and interests in an organised and methodical manner
• Excellent crisis management skills with the ability to handle situations of heightened stress and/or emotional turmoil
• Strong problem solving skills with the ability to analyse information in order to make quick operational decisions
In addition to the above you will also be required to have:-
• Experience of working or engaging with survivors of violence, abuse or trauma
• The ability and willingness to obtain Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP) - Level One accreditation
• Experience of successfully managing, completing and prioritising your own workload or tasks
• The ability and willingness to undertake witness interviewing accreditation
• The ability and willingness to undertake the continued professional development training CPD.
• A UK manual driving licence
We are looking for public spirited individuals who want to pursue a challenging but rewarding career in one of the most demanding arenas of policing.
Further Information
The post holder must be willing to undertake shift work between 0700 and 2200hrs on a rota system covering all days of the week.
The post holder will be required on occasion to work mandatory, unplanned overtime.
The role will involve deployments across the county of Surrey. Part-time and flexible working applications will be considered.
For further information, to discuss the role or to arrange a visit please contact
Stephanie Evans or Louise Andrews SOLO Supervisors
Steph.Evans@surrey.pnn.police.uk
Louise.Andrews@surrey.pnn.police.uk
This vacancy will be based at Headquarters, Guildford.
Additional Information
Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding noreply@surreysussexpolice.as.recruitmail.com to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.
This post is being advertised in parallel with Force redeployment processes. Any redeployees who are identified will be given preference. This may result in the post being withdrawn at any point during the recruitment process.
Please note that not all jobs are available for internal candidates across both Forces, the current agreed recruitment principles are;
- vacancies in collaborated units are available to all officers and staff across both Forces
- vacancies in non-collaborated units are only available to officers and staff within the Force with the vacancy unless it is advertised externally.
If the vacancy is advertised externally and an officer or member of staff from the other Force is success it will result in a transfer of employment
Surrey Police and Sussex Police Special Constables, Volunteers and Agency Staff (excluding self-employed workers) covered under the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are eligible to apply for internal advertised posts.
Diversity Statement
We are only as good as our people. It's really important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach and skills that diversity brings; all of which help us deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.
We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.
We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious beliefs, we would love to hear from you.