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 -
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
The role of a Witness Care Officer is an integral part of the Criminal Justice Process. It involves:-
Being the single point of contact for victims and witnesses primarily on the Telephone, giving regular updates in line with the Victim Code and Witness Charter.
Negotiating and persuading victims and witnesses to remain engaged in the Criminal Justice process in order to achieve successful outcomes at court (measured by National targets of effective trials).
Collating non availability dates for Police and Civilian witnesses in readiness for Magistrates and Crown Court trials to be fixed.
Warning Civilian and Police witnesses for Magistrates and Crown Court trials, whether attending Court Venues or giving evidence via video-link including VEJ (Video Enabled Justice).
Being proactive in resolving any issues that arise to secure attendance at Court. Dealing with electronic correspondence from the Crown Prosecution Service, prioritising in line with Sussex Police standards.
Carrying out Needs Assessments for each victim and witness in Not Guilty cases.
Using several IT systems such as Outlook, Niche, WMS, PNC, Libra and Exhibit.
Agile working is available when training has been completed and the required standard has been met.
Key Responsibilities
Witness Care Officers are responsible for promoting and supporting Victim and Witness Care in full compliance with the minimum requirements of the Victims Code of Practice and The Witness Charter.
You will offer support and assistance to those victims and witnesses called to give evidence at Court.
You will provide victims and witnesses with a single point of contact by their preferred means.
You will be able to carry out Needs Assessments on the telephone to determine vulnerability to then assist in Court attendance.
You will be expected to identify Special Measures which need to be put in place. You will be required to signpost victims and witnesses to our partner agencies such as the Witness Service, Probation Service, IDVAs and ISVAs (Independent Domestic Violence Advocates & Independent Sexual Violence Advocates.
You will be able to explain the Victim Personal Statement process and take statements where required.
You will be expected to deliver excellent Customer Service and maintain clear and concise contact logs and referrals.
Skills & Experience
Joining our busy team, you'll require first class organisational, problem solving and negotiating skills.
You will need to offer an enhanced service to those witnesses who are vulnerable and in the greatest need; therefore it is essential that you have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to identify those who have concerns or worries.
You must have the ability to deal with distressed individuals who may have been the victims of serious sexual and violent crime along with numerous other upsetting offences.
Previous experience of dealing with people in a customer focussed environment or supportive network is essential.
You will be dealing with a large number of cases at any one time so the ability to work under pressure is vital, as is the ability to continually prioritise your own work and that of any absent colleagues, whilst working to strict timescales.
You must have the ability to integrate into an established team and work under your own initiative, often with limited supervision.
Further Information
For further information or an informal discussion about this role, please contact Steven Croucher (steven.croucher@sussex.pnn.police.uk) or Karen Sumbler (karen.sumbler@sussex.pnn.police.uk), CJU Managers
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.