Early Intervention Officer

We are looking for resilient and dedicated people to join our Avon & Somerset team as Early Interventions Officers, working within the VS team as part of the Avon & Somerset Victim Service partnership.

The service provides support across the whole geography of Avon & Somerset. This role involves making initial contact with victims of crime and Anti-Social Behaviour and providing initial support in a dynamic and ever-changing environment.

We have a number of posts available and welcome applications for both full and part time hours. These are hybrid roles which will involve a minimum of working one day per week in the Bristol VS office; a confidential home working space is also essential. Travel for team meetings, training etc. will be required on occasion.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you

What we offer

At Victim Support, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.

Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression

About the Role:

You will provide high quality support to all victims and witnesses of crime and Anti-Social Behaviour, leading on completing initial impact and risk assessments that are comprehensive and holistic. You will also provide cover for the local VS Helpline.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the first point of contact for service users referred in to the service, completing comprehensive impact and risks assessments using agreed processes and a tailoring the response to each individual's needs.
• Manage a caseload of service users who require more immediate and short term interventions, referring on those with more long term needs either internally or externally.
• Develop support plans where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case management records and contribute to monitoring information for the service and provide accurate and timely performance information for internal and external use.
• Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns including both child protection and vulnerable adult issues.
• Ensure that everyone is aware of their rights under the Victim's Code of Practice and the Witness Charter
• Comply and keep up to date with all relevant legislation, policies and procedures, including data protection legislation, confidentiality.
• Work as part of a team to ensure that all outcomes and Key Performance Measures are met relevant to the local contract.

Ideally you will have:

• Experience of delivering a service and working directly with service users in a statutory, voluntary or community work setting
• Experience of working in an outcomes focused service
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and the impact of crime
• Knowledge and understanding of Domestic Abuse processes and services
• Experience of engaging with vulnerable victims of crime who may have complex needs

You will need:

• To demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to undertake impact and risks assessments and identify appropriate support
• Experience of safeguarding issues and legislation relating to both child protection and vulnerable adults
• The ability to manage a demanding workload and to meet a range of conflicting deadlines
• The ability to identify, develop and maintain partnerships with all relevant external organisations
• Excellent telephone and IT skills required to use a database and undertake all administrative and reporting requirements
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team but also to work independently in a variety of locations without direct supervision.

About Us:

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.

Victim Support are 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 may be required.

Victim Support strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.

As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. VS is also a Disability Confident Employer and we provide a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.

If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of our selection process, we'll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We look forward to hearing from you.

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.

If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.