Job Description Witness Care Officer

Job Description – Witness Care Officer

Job Title: /

Witness Care Officer

/ Reports To: / Witness Care Manager
Department /Division: / Chester Area / Date Completed: /

March 2017

Role Purpose
To reduce ineffective trials, improve public confidence in the Criminal Justice System, increase victim and witness satisfaction and bring more offences to justice by providing an enhanced level of information to victims and witnesses, acting as a single point of contact for them, conducting a needs based assessment for those required to attend Court and dealing with enquiries and correspondence from victims and witnesses in a professional and courteous manner.
Area of Skill Category / Accountabilities
Community and Customer Focus
Effective Communication
Problem Solving
Planning and Organising
Respect for Race and Diversity / Conduct a Needs Assessment of victims and witnesses, in order to identify and manage their needs, and provide a tailored response, ensuring their attendance at Court and therefore reducing the number of ineffective trials.
Provide victims and witnesses with a single point of contact including obtaining information combined unitson case progress.
Respond to general enquires from victims and witnesses regarding the progress of their case as part of the high quality service tailored to meet individual needs.
Develop and maintain a support/contact directory.
Effectively manage paperwork relating to victims and witnesses, including opening and distributing incoming post into the Unit, and ensure outgoing post (e.g. letters to victims and witnesses) is dealt with according to procedures as part of the Minimum Requirements.
Working with others/Teamwork
Effective Communication / Liaise with lawyers, Caseworkers, Case Progression Officers, Police Officers, and Police staff regarding victim and witness issues and difficulties to ensure effective case progression.
Liaise with external groups and agencies, in particular the Witness Service, to ensure that witness needs are met.
Attend court when necessary to liaise with all relevant bodies and agencies to ensure that the relevant persons are in attendance and are supported and guided where appropriate.
Planning and Organising / Jointly with police administrative colleagues, ensure that witnesses are warned for trial by consulting the List of Witness to Attend Court (LWACs).
Keep victims and witnesses informed of case progress.
Alert management to any potential victim and witness problems that cannot be resolved.
Develop and maintain spreadsheets to ensure efficient management of caseload and post handling.
Ensure that Victim Personal Statements are properly processed throughout a trial.
Effective CommunicationRespect for Race and Diversity / Record and update files accurately on to the database.
Maintain communication with victims and witnesses throughout the life of the case, by preferred means of contact by telephone, standard written letters, email, etc to improve the confidence and satisfaction they feel in the Criminal Justice System.
Deal with telephone enquiries relating to victim and witness care issues from CJS agencies and witnesses.
Deal with correspondence relating to victim and witness care issues from other CJS agencies.
Produce appropriate witness care correspondence and basic letters, following a standard format.
Finalise cases, including notification of result to victim and witness and arranging for return of property.
Supervisory Responsibility
Nil
Financial Authority
Nil
Decision Making Authority
Deciding on the prioritisation of own work within agreed timescales and targets
Deciding on the best way to carry out Victim and Witness needs assessments
Deciding the content of communications for Victims and Witnesses
Deciding on the effectiveness of own, and teams, working systems and proposing changes to management as appropriate
Key Contacts
Internal:
Police officers
Staff in Criminal Justice Department
Police Witness Care Manager
Police Witness Care Officers / External:
Prosecution victims and witnesses
Magistrates and Crown Court staff
Defence Counsel or Solicitors, as required
Witness/Victim Support
Various Voluntary Organisations
Caseworkers
Prosecutors
Case Progression Officers
Charging Centre Managers

QUALIFICATIONS

Desirable but not essential - English and Maths GCSE 9-4.
The successful candidate must be willing to undertake the appropriate job related training.

Witness Care is an essential aspect of the prosecution process and often central to getting a conviction in court. Witness Care officers work to support the victims and witnesses of crime, providing a single point of contact, needs assessment, information and support. The Police Service and the Crown Prosecution Service plays a pivotal role in the justice system. The Police Service and the CPS exists to ensure that wrongdoers are brought to justice, victims of crime are supported and that people feel safer in their communities and the witness care teams are central to these aims.

COMPTENCY FRAMEWORK - WITNESS CARE OFFICER

Community and Customer focus
Provides a high level of service to customers. Maintain contact with customers, work out what the need and responds to them. Is aware of issues of diversity, understands and is sensitive to cultural and racial differences
Effective communication
Speaks clearly and concisely and does not use jargon. Writes in plain English and uses correct grammar. Listens carefully to understand
Personal responsibility
Takes personal responsibility for own actions and for resolving issues or problems that arise. Is focused on achieving results to required standards and developing skills and knowledge.
Planning and organising
Plans and carries out activities in an orderly and well structured way. Prioritises task, uses time in the best possible way, and works within appropriate policies and procedures
Problem solving
Gathers enough relevant information to understand specific issues and events. Uses information to identify problems and draw conclusions. Makes good decisions
Respect for race and diversity
Understands other people’s views and takes them into account. Is tactful and diplomatic when dealing with people, treating them with dignity and respect at all times. Understands and is sensitive to social, cultural and racial differences
Team working
Works effectively as a multi agency team member and helps build relationships within it. Actively helps and supports others to achieve team goals.

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