PS/020/BPCC - SO1 Victim Care Coordinator - Signpost Hub - OPCC - Fixed term

The Victim Care Coordinator will act as the SPOC for the victim, be their advocate and take personal responsibility to meet their needs by providing emotional and practical support to enable them to cope and recover from their experience. To provide end to end co-ordinated support to victims of Domestic Abuse from the initial report to police or self-referral through any criminal justice process or for victims who are not pursuing the criminal justice process.

Key Responsibilities;

- Champion and advocate for victim care with provision to provide specialist assessment and intervention in domestic violence issues and be a domestic violence specialist.

- Support colleagues and partner agencies, through awareness raising and institutional advocacy, in order to provide the best possible service for victims of domestic abuse.

- Identify and assess the risks and needs of domestic abuse victims using an evidence-based risk identification checklist.

- Focus on and prioritise cases of Domestic Abuse and provide a pro-active, short to medium term crisis intervention service through individual safety planning and personal support.

- Provide support to low and medium victims of Domestic Abuse to access Civil and Criminal Remedies.

- Support victims to apply for Compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 or to apply for Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

- Support the empowerment of the victim and assist them in recognising the features and dynamics of domestic abuse present in their situation, and help them regain control of their lives.

- Provide advocacy, emotional and practical support and information to victims including in relation to legal options, housing, health and finance.

- Working directly with all key agency partners to address the safety of high risk victims and ensuring that their safety plans are coordinated particularly through the MARAC and VARAC.

- Develop and deliver victim recovery plans, utilising, where appropriate, a case management system.

- Work with OICs and specialist teams to ensure that victims are kept up to date on the progress of their investigation through the criminal justice system, meeting any timescales and obligations set out in the Code of Practice for Victims 2015 and local policy.

- Maintain accurate records ensuring timely updates to case management system.

- Manage a complex and varied caseload / portfolio of cases that will more often than not be at different stages within the process / recovery timeline.

- Identify and refer any potential special measure cases to the CPS lawyer/caseworker to enable an application at court to be authorised. Liaise with external agencies, such as Witness Service, ensuring they have appropriate information on victim attendance at court.

- Liaise and negotiate with court listings and CPS to ensure that the needs of victim are taken into account whenever possible when trials are arranged.

- Ensure that the victim is updated on the case’s progress throughout the criminal justice process in a timely manner.

For further information please contact Simon Powell Simon.Powell2@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk

Internal applicants within Bedfordshire Police, Cambridgeshire Constabulary or Hertfordshire Constabulary (BCH), should upload their CV or a completed ‘Staff internal role summary’ form (if you do not have a current CV), which can be found in the vacancy documents below. We strongly recommend that where possible, a CV is provided to ensure that your full experience and employment history is demonstrated. Please note you will be required to provide a statement no more than 500 words against the minimum entry requirements as stipulated in the role profile.

External applicants should ensure that their current CV is uploaded and provide a statement no more than 500 words against the minimum entry requirements as stipulated in the role profile. To ensure the recruitment process is fair and equal, please do not include personal details on your CV other than your name.

If you are successful at shortlisting, you will be required to provide evidence against the competency and values framework (CVF) and entry requirements as stipulated in the role profile.

All applications must be made through our online recruitment portal by clicking the ‘Apply’ button below.

This vacancy is open to Bedfordshire employees however, if you are on a Bedfordshire Police, Cambridgeshire Constabulary or Hertfordshire Constabulary contract you will need to resign from your home force and join the Office of the Police Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire

All internal applicants must have successfully completed their probationary period in order to apply for this role.

This force is a Disability Confident employer. Should you require any reasonable adjustments for your application process, please contact the HR Service Centre on 01438 75(7777) or the manager contact for this role directly. We also offer the guaranteed interview scheme; this means that all candidates with a disability covered by the Equality Act 2010, who meet the minimum entry requirements for the role, will be invited to attend an interview.

This vacancy is live to those at risk of redundancy throughout the recruitment process. Any redeployee that wishes to apply should apply through the redeployment portal and provide a statement no more than 500 words against the minimum entry requirements as stipulated in the role profile. Redeployees will take priority over other applicants at any point during the recruitment process up until a start date is agreed. Redeployees should notify the HR Service Centre at BCHCareers@herts.pnn.police.uk and their HR advisor of their application. All applicants will be notified if this occurs.