Application Pack Team Leader North Wales

Application Pack – Team Leader – North Wales

Application Pack

Team Leader

North Wales Victim Help Centre

Closing date: 27th March 2015

Background

Victim Support – Who are we?

Our services for victims are free and confidential. We give information, practical help and emotional support to anyone who has experienced crime, and to their families and friends.

We provide this service to well over a million people every year, whether or not the crime has been reported, working in partnership with criminal justice and other voluntary agencies.

We have a network of local offices across England and Wales that run and co-ordinate our local services. Both employees and trained volunteers are involved in giving support – with volunteers outnumbering staff by over four to one, operating within 4 ‘localities’.

Our national telephone service, the Victim Supportline, gives support and information, as well as referring callers to our local teams and to other agencies. It deals with around 12,000 calls a year.

Our purpose is to help people find the strength to move on after crime. We give emotional and practical support that is a source of strength and comfort. We make people feel better and use the local understanding of our volunteers and staff to help victim and witnesses take control, so we can all live in a safer more caring society.

Everything Victim Support does will always be based on empathy and an understanding of victim’s and witnesses’ needs, so people are mentally and physically better off after we have helped them. We want to be a force for good in society.

Our vision is to be the world’s best charity for victims and witnesses, with volunteering at the heart of what we do.

It’s a big task; millions of people are affected by crime each year and we need to make sure we meet their needs, whilst supporting positive changes in the criminal justice system. It’s not something we can do alone, so we will work with others where this helps victims and witnesses.

As well as providing services, we are a national voice for victims and witnesses. We campaign for greater awareness of the effects of crime and to increase their rights.

We have also pioneered services for victims and witnesses across the country, for example enhanced and more responsive front-line services, new specifications for helping young victims of crime, and enhanced guidelines for domestic violence. In 2010 we set up the world’s first dedicated support service for people bereaved through homicide.

Our Chief Executive is Mark Castle, who joined the organisation in 2014. He reports to a 12-strong, independent Board of Trustees. Our President is HRH the Princess Royal.

Find out more about us and our work on our website at

Working with the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner

The provision of services for victims in North Wales spans across a variety of agencies and contracts, including police provision of some, nationally provided services and a variety of organisations in the voluntary and community sector locally.

The move from the national grant arrangement with Victim Support to local funding through Police and Crime Commissioners has enabled the implementation of the new Victim Service to begin in July 2015. The proposed model ensures robust service delivery, through a single point of contact, enabling assessment of risk incorporating a co-ordinated referral mechanism with pathways to partner agencies and evaluation to inform continuous improvement and a multiagency platform to champion the needs of victims.

This new model for support services to victims is the first of its kind in the North Wales area, and will challenge all policing and justice agencies to change their approach towards providing a better service to victims.

TEAM LEADER VACANCY

POST:Team Leader

HOURS: 37.5 hours per week – covering Monday to Saturday. Current opening times will be set at 8am to 8pm

TENURE:Permanent

BASE:North Wales Police Divisional Headquarters – St. Asaph Business Park

SALARY:FTE £22,500 per annum + 3 % pay award on successful completion of 6 month probationary period

Victim Support, in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales is seeking a Victim Care Officer Team Leader to work in the newly created Victims Help Centre based at North Wales Police Divisional headquarters, St. Asaph.

You will lead a Victim Care Team to provide effective services to people affected by crime, and ensure effective operation of the service. You will also be responsible for service needs assessment, risk assessment, and effective use of the case management system by the team. You will ensure that performance is monitored and address any areas that this may identify as requiring action. You will also be responsible for the provision of all new services (via your team) and this will include (but is not limited to) CADDA Dash risk assessment and CICA applications.
You must have experience of developing and delivering a service in a statutory, voluntary, community or private social care setting, and of overseeing direct work with service users. The ability to recruit, manage, coach and develop others is also required. Some evening and weekend working will be necessary.

The newly formed service is fully funded by the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and may be extended beyond March 2016.

The successful applicant must evidence the following essential experience, specialist skills and knowledge as per the role profile:

Knowledge and/or experience of multi-functional, multi-agency work.
Experience of dealing with a wide range of people from a cross section of the community, in varying circumstances.
Proven ability to plan and prioritise your own workload.
Excellent communication skills & demonstrable ability to provide advice and guidance, particularly over the telephone.
Level 4 Welsh Language skills are essential for this post. The ability to communicate fluently through the medium of welsh would be desirable. Please refer to the NWP Welsh Language Skills Policy for details of your eligibility criteria and learning commitments throughout probation.

The successful applicant must have a proven ability to work diligently, with limited supervision, and to deliver to tight time-scales with the ability to prioritise effectively against conflicting requirements of customers. Skills in MS Office, especially in Word and Excel with the ability to interrogate databases to an advanced level to identify trends, key points and principal issues is essential for this role.

The successful post-holder will be confirmed in post following successful police vetting (NPPV Level 3) approval.

The successful applicant will be required to undertake role specific training starting in May 2015.

To apply for an application form, please contact Ayshea Watkins Locality HR Dept, Victim Support, Winton House, Stoke Road, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2RW or via telephone 01782 843908 .

The closing date for applications is: 27th March 2015

Interviews for this post will be held on: 9th-10th April 2015

Diversity Matters And We Value It

Job description

Job title:Team Leader

Department:North Wales Victim Help Centre

Reporting to:Centre Manager

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Purpose of the job

Lead the team to provide effective services to people affected by crime from all sections of the community and ensure effective operation of the team
Responsible for service needs assessment and risk assessment processes, the quality of services delivered and commissioned by the team and for monitoring the services received from the team by victims and their families
Ensure effective management of the daily operations of the Victim Help Centre

Main duties

Provide leadership to your team
Allocate and monitor the progress and quality of work in your area of responsibility
Ensure effective use of the case management process by the team and that each case handled by the team is progressed to satisfactory completion
Monitor support provided to victims and their families by the team and ensure it complies with service standards
Conduct risk assessment in the workplace with particular reference to safe practice in relation to the allocation of volunteers and victim safety
Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements and victim support’s policies and procedures
Make assessments and decisions on complex services or practice issues
Maintain performance information and use outcomes to identify effective practice
Produce progress reports as required and make sure that accurate information is communicated to senior management, relevant departments and agencies
Ensure services are improved or changes made where necessary, to deliver an efficient and effective service to victims and their families
Manage complaints made about the service to satisfactory conclusion
Create and maintain a robust employee rota system to ensure the smooth running of the Victim Help Centre
Carry out effective line management and manage overall performance of the team
Provide advice and guidance to victim care officers during shifts
Develop the employee team and address their individual development/performance needs, set individual and team objectives and undertake annual appraisals
Assist in the recruitment and selection process of employees
Liaise with North Wales Police to ensure correct information is updated on Force systems.

Generic responsibilities

Develop productive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders
Develop a culture and systems that promote equality and value diversity
Promote a health and safety culture within the workplace
Ensure and encourage a learning and development environment for self and colleagues
Manage personal resources and own professional development
All information must be maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act
Support Regional Fundraising efforts
Undertake other activities as required

Travel

Regular travel will be required
Occasional overnight stay may be necessary

Unsocial Hours

Able to work flexibly including evenings and weekends

This job description serves to illustrate the type and scope of the duties currently required for the above post and to provide an indication of the required level of responsibility. It is not a comprehensive or exclusive list and duties may be varied from time to time, they will not however change the general character of the job or the level of responsibility entailed.

Person specification

Job Title:Victim Help Centre Team Leader

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Knowledge and Experience

Essential

Previous experience of working within a statutory, voluntary, community, private social care or customer service environment dealing with members of the public, successfully managing conflict, difficult and sensitive situations. Demonstrable ability to influence people, whilst remaining professional and impartial. (s)
Overseeing direct work with service users (s)
Experience of recruiting, managing and developing people (s)
Appreciation of the importance of confidentiality and safe working practice. (s)
Ability to demonstrate level of awareness of equality and diversity issues appropriate to this role. (s)

Desirable

Interfacing withVoluntary and statutory agencies including issues facing the voluntary sector and an understanding of relevant professional roles
Understanding the impact of crime
Understanding the criminal justice system
Enforcing the importance of confidentiality and safe working practice

Skills and abilities

Essential

Think and plan operationally (s)
Value, support and manage others (s)
Able to work flexibly, including some evenings and weekends (s)
Experience of diverse team working, demonstrated by an understanding how own objectives fit into team objectives. Builds effective working relationships with a flexible attitude to team roles. (s)
Level 4Welsh Language skills are essential for this post. The ability to communicate fluently through the medium of welsh would be desirable.(s)

Desirable

Communicate effectively, verbally and in written form, including telephone skills
Influence others
Promote Victim Support’s interests and values
Lead and manage change
Manage projects
Gather, analyse and use information and evidence from different sources
Demonstrates sound problem solving skills and ability to make appropriate judgments and decisions, offering practical ideas and innovative solutions but, knowing when to refer upwards for a decision
Knowledge of Force and Partner Agency IT systems

(s) = Shortlisting Criteria (10)

Why work for Victim Support? Benefits and Rewards

Victim Support recognises that our people are our greatest assess and we are committed to recognising employees for the work that they do. In return you will receive:

25 days annual leave (plus one additional days leave for each completed year of service up to a maximum of 30 days) plus bank holidays
Enhanced Sick pay scheme
Enhanced Maternity/ paternity/ adoption pay scheme
Death in service benefit
Pension scheme – Victim Support will contribute 5% into the Aegon pension scheme providing you meet the criteria and make the necessary employee contributions
Child Care Voucher Scheme
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme
Travel Season Ticket Loan Scheme
Access to BupaHealthline
Discounted gym and health club membership scheme
Study Assistance for professional development
Voluntary benefits platform ‘You Choose’ which gives employees access to retail discounts (including shopping, holiday, breakdown cover, insurance discounts) and many other great offers. Updated regularly.
Victim Support is an equal opportunities employer

How to apply

Please request and application pack and complete and return to:

Ayshea Watkins Locality HR Administrator, Victim Support, Winton House, Stoke Road, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 2RW

Or email:

The closing date to receive applications is 27th March 2015

Interviews for this position are scheduled to be held on 9th/10th April 2015

Equal opportunities statement

Victim Support is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to ensure that no victim, witness, employee, volunteer, trustee, or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of ethnicity, religion/faith, age, gender/gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation or disability, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown as justifiable.

Selection criteria and procedures are regularly reviewed to make sure that individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Employees will be given equal opportunity and, where appropriate, special training, to enable them to progress within the organisation.

Victim Support’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee are committed to a programme of action to make this policy effective and will bring it to the attention of all employees.

Diversity statement

Victim Support takes pride in being a diverse organisation, enriched by the participation of all individuals and communities. We recognise that prejudice and discrimination continue to result in unfair treatment for many people. We are committed to addressing this by:

ensuring the effectiveness of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy

being clear and open about our values and promoting them
listening, learning and taking action to bring about change.

Our diversity statement is “Diversity matters and we value it”

Guidance notes for applicants

Completing the application form/ expressing an interest

We are only able to consider the information that you provide us with, so it is vital that you tell us everything that makes you the ideal candidate for this position. It is not sufficient to say that you have the relevant experience, skills or ability you need to provide specific examples. A good tip is to refer to the job description and think how your experience will support these requirements and back them up with relevant examples of work that you have done.

Shortlisting

There are usually at least two people on the selection panel and they will consider your application form objectively. They will assess whether you have addressed the shortlisting criteria detailed in the person specification and whether you have provided sufficient evidence.

The selection panel will shortlist the candidates who have best demonstrated that they meet the requirements. Please remember that the selection panel cannot make assumptions about what is written within your application, so be explicit about how you meet the criteria.

Disability

Disability is defined under the Equality Act 2010 as ‘someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’. Disability also includes non-visible disabilities such as dyslexia and diabetes.

Victim Support will endeavour to ensure people with disabilities who meet the standard for shortlisting criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

If successful in the post, and you declare a disability, we will ask you to complete a ‘reasonable adjustment’ form in order that any required adjustments can be addressed.

Please note: Since the application process is via CV, applicants are requested to state clearly within the cover letter whether they require adjustments to attend interview.

Interview

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, we will invite you to attend an interview, which will last around 60 minutes. There will usually be at least two people on the panel and they will ask you a set of structured questions based on the competencies outlined in the job description so it would be useful to make yourself familiar with this prior to the interview.

In order to test applicants Welsh language skills part of the interview may be conducted in Welsh.

Other selection methods

Depending upon the post, we may use other selection methods in addition to the interview. These are often very specific to the post and are likely to involve completing a task which would be carried out in the role, such as a written exercise. We may also ask you to make a presentation to the panel. If you have difficulties carrying out an assessment due to a disability, please contact us so we can find an appropriate way to assess your suitability for the role.