Independent Victim Advocate

We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Independent Victim Advocate to join our team supporting victims of crime in the West Midlands.

Do you want to make a difference every day empowering those you support to move on from the crime?

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…

This role is a part time, hybrid role.

• 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.

As an Independent Victim Advocate you will provide structured, tailored support plans based on holistic assessments for individuals affected by crime. You will make initial contact with victims to explain our service and offer ongoing support via telephone, emails or text, tailoring the support to the victims preferences i.e. home/office visits or weekly calls. Your responsibilities will include developing, delivering, and monitoring safety and support plans, completing risk assessments and providing resources, interventions, and information to service users.

• Manage a caseload of self‑referral & referred service users, providing information & advocacy to help them navigate the criminal justice process.
• Conduct risk & needs assessments, ensuring each victim receives tailored support & information.
• Identify barriers to accessing services & work with multi‑agency partners to provide ongoing support.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships and promote effective communication between staff and other stakeholders.
• Keep accurate & confidential case records.
• With further training you will support children and victims of domestic/sexual abuse.

Ideally, you will have an understanding of the impact of crime on victims & experience in delivering services within a statutory, voluntary, or multi‑agency setting. Experience in managing a caseload and of completing risk & needs assessments would be beneficial.

• Strong written & verbal communication skills.
• Competent IT skills, able to use generic systems.
• Good organisational & time management skills, able to manage competing needs and priorities.
• To work effectively both as part of a team & independently.
• To develop & maintain partnerships with internal & external organisations.
• The ability to maintain professional boundaries & confidentiality.
• May need to travel to meet service users and attend meetings.

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

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.

At Victim Support, we’re proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We’re committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.