Independent Victim Advocate

---

Job description

Victim Support is looking for multiple Independent Victim Advocates in the Greater Manchester area, with full time roles and limited part time roles available. Roles are currently working from home as a temporary measure and location is to be confirmed.Opportunities are in our specialist Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence and Stalking team, Complex and CYP team and our Triage team. Job descriptions are attached and candidates can indicate a preference at application or interview. If indicating a preference please do so at the start of your supporting statement, so that your application can be reviewed against the relevant criteria.Due to the number of roles available we will be assessing and interviewing candidates as applications are submitted therefore we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date.Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.Independent Victim Advocates (IVA) play a vital role in delivering a structured support service to victims of crime across Greater Manchester to assist them cope and recover. You will be responsible for establishing contact with victims to assess the impact of crime and providing appropriate information and support. You will provide structured support and interventions to Victims of crime, including in specialist crime types by your team predominantly over the telephone as well as video.The Triage team are our front door, and respond to adult self-referrals or other requests for help to the service and our busy public helpline as well as assessing a range of offences and offering appropriate support. You should have strong professional curiosity, and an appetite for a busy role as well as being comfortable with IT systems.The Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence, and Stalking team is dedicated to making an immediate difference to Victims of these offences and responds to adults and some young people where they meet the cross-government definition of Domestic Abuse. Our focus is on connecting Victims to services in their local community and meeting immediate safety needs where possible over the phone. You should have a strong ability to identify risk and conducting specialist assessments.The Complex Crime and Children and Young People team offers support to serious violence or higher impact crimes and the range of crimes affecting Children and Young People, including sexual violence offences. The team is expected to focus on recovery from trauma and safety. The team will be required to maintain a strong knowledge of referral or signposting resources that may assist victims of these varied crimes and offer short to medium term support with direct interventions.The main purpose of both roles is to provide personal and structured support to victims of crime, which include victims of serious crime, persistently targeted victims, vulnerable and intimidated victims as per the MOJ Victims Code of Practice; to develop and enhance relationships with key statutory and non-statutory partner agencies, especially within the hub setting working together in support of enhanced entitlement victims of crime and to manage the work of volunteers in providing appropriate support to victims of crime.To be successful in this role, you will have understanding and knowledge of the requirement for confidentiality and safe working practice and maintenance of files in accordance with the Data Protection Act and other legal requirements. You will have experience of delivering a service and working directly with clients or service users in a statutory, voluntary or community work setting. You will also have knowledge of the criminal justice system and the impact of crime including witnesses giving evidence.You will have an excellent telephone manner with the ability to engage and develop rapport as well as the ability to needs assess, risk assess and empathise with the victim. You will be able to work without direct supervision, prioritising work and dealing with competing or conflicting demands/ needs and interests in an organised and methodical manner. You will be able to gather, analyse and use information and evidence from different sources, solve and resolve problems.Victim Support offers competitive rewards and benefits including pension and life assurance, 25 days annual leave (pro-rata), voluntary benefits such as season ticket loans and the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing world-class services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.Applications should be explicit enough to provide good evidence against the shortlisting criteria, which are outlined in the person specification under essential and tested area. In order to apply, please create a profile in our website (jobs section), complete and submit an online application form.If the vacancy has not specified the essential criteria for shortlisting, please use this section to express how your experience and skills are relevant for the role.If you have the drive to make a difference within an organisation which makes a difference we look forward to hearing from you.Victim Support is committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks will be required. Victim Support is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe having a diverse workforce at all levels allows us to represent the communities we serve and connect better with people affected by crime. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all communities and monitor the diversity of applicants to analyse if we are representative of the communities we serve in terms of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, age and socio-economic status. As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we would particularly welcome applicants from BAME communities.