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Victim Witness Care Officer - Hybrid Working
| Posting date: | 20 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £29,109 to £31,296 per year, pro rata |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 29 May 2025 |
| Location: | Bridewell Police Station Bristol BS1 2AA |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 1 day per week |
| Company: | Avon and Somerset Police |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Do you want a role where you can make a real difference in people’s lives by advocating for their needs?
As a Victim Witness Care Officer (VWCO), you will be the first point of contact for victims and witnesses, offering support, guidance, and reassurance during some of their most difficult moments. You will take statements, provide essential information, and act as a crucial link between internal police departments and external support organisations.
This role requires strong communication skills, as you will be speaking with multiple people daily. You must also ensure all paperwork is completed and submitted within a 24-hour timeframe, in line with legal requirements.
Many of the individuals you support may be distressed, emotional, or fearful. Your ability to show empathy, remain calm under pressure, and offer reassurance will be key. The job can be demanding, requiring you to work to tight deadlines and adapt to changing priorities, but it is also incredibly rewarding.
As part of our team, you’ll have the opportunity to share your knowledge and experience to help improve our processes and ensure we follow best practices in everything we do.
Main Responsibilities:
Reviewing police information to support decision-making
Contacting victims of crime to offer help and guidance
Liaising with organisations that protect children and vulnerable adults
Supporting witnesses and helping them understand their role in the Criminal Justice process
Keeping victims and witnesses informed as their case progresses
At Avon & Somerset Police, we are committed to serving, protecting, and respecting everyone in our community. Our values—caring, courage, inclusion, and continuous learning—guide everything we do.
This is a challenging yet deeply fulfilling role. Are you ready to make a difference?
Does this sound like you?
To get an inside look at the role, check out our ‘Day in the Life of a VWCO’ document attached
What we can offer you:
A package of financial, lifestyle and health benefits to support whatever stage of life you're in. Including:
Flexible working
Continuous professional development
Local Government Pension Scheme
Employee Assistance scheme offering help through counselling services, legal advice, fitness advice, personal coaching and health assessment
Staff discount scheme for savings on shopping, days out, sporting events, holidays
Blended working approach with the option to work from your home address for a proportion of the week
Additional Information
You will have the opportunity to work from home for a proportion of your working week.
No qualifications needed – training and mentoring will be provided.
You will be required to travel to alternative locations on a regular basis to undertake this role, therefore you will ideally hold a full current driving licence or be able to travel around the force area using alternative transport. Travel expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with force policy.
You will be working on a shift basis which includes evenings and weekends, please see attached shift pattern for further details.
Successful candidates will not be eligible to apply for other internal opportunities for a minimum of 24 months from their start date in this role.
To be eligible to apply for this role you must have a 3 year 'checkable history' in the UK - ideally this means that you would have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years.
About us
Diversity is a strength and individuality is an asset.
We recognise the benefit different life experience and perspectives can bring.
We are on a journey to become the most inclusive police force in the country.
Find out more about our benefits and culture
Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.
Blended Working/ Hybrid Working
Avon and Somerset Police encourage flexible working where operationally possible.
This role has been identified as a blended role.
The successful candidate for this role will have the opportunity to work from home whilst also at a secondary work location, which will be a police premises. The successful applicant will have the option to discuss working arrangements with their line manager. All applicants must reside within the UK.
As a Victim Witness Care Officer (VWCO), you will be the first point of contact for victims and witnesses, offering support, guidance, and reassurance during some of their most difficult moments. You will take statements, provide essential information, and act as a crucial link between internal police departments and external support organisations.
This role requires strong communication skills, as you will be speaking with multiple people daily. You must also ensure all paperwork is completed and submitted within a 24-hour timeframe, in line with legal requirements.
Many of the individuals you support may be distressed, emotional, or fearful. Your ability to show empathy, remain calm under pressure, and offer reassurance will be key. The job can be demanding, requiring you to work to tight deadlines and adapt to changing priorities, but it is also incredibly rewarding.
As part of our team, you’ll have the opportunity to share your knowledge and experience to help improve our processes and ensure we follow best practices in everything we do.
Main Responsibilities:
Reviewing police information to support decision-making
Contacting victims of crime to offer help and guidance
Liaising with organisations that protect children and vulnerable adults
Supporting witnesses and helping them understand their role in the Criminal Justice process
Keeping victims and witnesses informed as their case progresses
At Avon & Somerset Police, we are committed to serving, protecting, and respecting everyone in our community. Our values—caring, courage, inclusion, and continuous learning—guide everything we do.
This is a challenging yet deeply fulfilling role. Are you ready to make a difference?
Does this sound like you?
To get an inside look at the role, check out our ‘Day in the Life of a VWCO’ document attached
What we can offer you:
A package of financial, lifestyle and health benefits to support whatever stage of life you're in. Including:
Flexible working
Continuous professional development
Local Government Pension Scheme
Employee Assistance scheme offering help through counselling services, legal advice, fitness advice, personal coaching and health assessment
Staff discount scheme for savings on shopping, days out, sporting events, holidays
Blended working approach with the option to work from your home address for a proportion of the week
Additional Information
You will have the opportunity to work from home for a proportion of your working week.
No qualifications needed – training and mentoring will be provided.
You will be required to travel to alternative locations on a regular basis to undertake this role, therefore you will ideally hold a full current driving licence or be able to travel around the force area using alternative transport. Travel expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with force policy.
You will be working on a shift basis which includes evenings and weekends, please see attached shift pattern for further details.
Successful candidates will not be eligible to apply for other internal opportunities for a minimum of 24 months from their start date in this role.
To be eligible to apply for this role you must have a 3 year 'checkable history' in the UK - ideally this means that you would have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years.
About us
Diversity is a strength and individuality is an asset.
We recognise the benefit different life experience and perspectives can bring.
We are on a journey to become the most inclusive police force in the country.
Find out more about our benefits and culture
Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.
Blended Working/ Hybrid Working
Avon and Somerset Police encourage flexible working where operationally possible.
This role has been identified as a blended role.
The successful candidate for this role will have the opportunity to work from home whilst also at a secondary work location, which will be a police premises. The successful applicant will have the option to discuss working arrangements with their line manager. All applicants must reside within the UK.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.