Vacancy Information
Division / Department - Criminal Justice
Grade - Grade 8
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Salary Grade Range - £24,552 - £26,232
Working Hours - 37.0 Hours per Week
Shift Allowance -
Politically Restricted - No
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
To provide a telephone statement taking and investigative service on behalf of Sussex Police in full compliance with the requirements of the Victims’ Code and the Witness charter, whilst ensuring all points to prove are covered.
There are two full time positions to be filled.
Flexible remote working will be available (following a probation period).
Key Responsibilities
1 To telephone victims and witnesses of a diverse range of crime and obtain their statements, ensuring that they meet the required evidential standards and comply with Crown Prosecution guidelines. Providing an excellent service at all times and building a rapport with the victim/witness to allow for as much information and evidence to be collated.
2 Carrying out an early needs assessment of each victim and witness to determine whether a telephone statement is appropriate and whether additional support may be required, such as an interpreter or appropriate adult whilst signposting the victim or witness to the relevant internal and external assistance / multi agencies for additional support.
3 To identify and initiate new lines of enquiry, new victims/witnesses, forensic and evidential opportunities using investigative and analytical skills during the course of the statement and explore this with the witness, acting as a point of contact for receiving additional documentation on behalf of the OIC, whilst ensuring relevant exhibit labels are also completed and signed by the victim/witness.
4 To manage a large caseload unsupervised, ensuring all deadlines are adhered to.
5 To negotiate and persuade victims and witnesses from diverse backgrounds (and who may be hostile to the process) to engage with the investigation in order to increase successful outcomes at court, and satisfaction with the criminal justice process.
6 To update Niche and other police computer systems in relation to ongoing investigations.
7 To maintain quality customer service and satisfaction during the Statement Taking process, dealing with any concerns or dissatisfactions appropriately.
Skills & Experience
- Experience in customer service and/or working with service users and going above and beyond to ensure a high quality service is provided at all times.
- Experience and ability to work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
- Excellent written, listening and oral communication skills.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage your own workload and adhere to strict timescales.
- Ability to work with distressed and vulnerable individuals with the emotional resilience to deal with cases that may have upsetting content.
- Proven ability to problem solve, work autonomously and make difficult decisions.
- Proven experience of working in a security conscious environment with confidential material. Understanding of handling personal data and sensitive information.
Desirable:
- Experience in Statement Taking in an Investigative environment.
- Experience of assisting victims and witnesses of crime and signposting to relevant agencies/colleagues as appropriate.
Further Information
Please contact the Telephone Statement Investigation Unit Team Leader - Chloe Etheridge (chloe.etheridge@sussex.police.uk) for further information on the job role.
We recognise that our people are balancing demanding careers with commitments and interests outside of work. We welcome applications and discussion with candidates who want to work full-time or part-time/flexible hours. Flexible remote working will be available (following a probation period).
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.