Location of Role: Ashford
Advert Closing Date: 02/03/2026
Starting Salary: £27,492.00 (pro-rata for part-time vacancies)
Part/Full Time: Full Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Working Pattern: Mon-Fri
Weekend/Evening Working: No
The Victim & Witness Care Unit are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the team on a 12 month fixed term contract. The role will offer flexibility in terms of place of work, including the potential to work from home for those who would like to. If home working is agreed for the successful candidate, there will be a requirement to regularly attend the Victim and Witness Care Unit, based at Compass House, Ashford on average one to two days a week, as agreed with the line manager. This includes attending the office every day for the first three weeks to accommodate the training.
This is a chance to make a difference to the experience of a victim or witness as they go through the Criminal Justice process by providing a first-class service in accordance with the Home Office Statutory requirements.
Main Responsibilities:
1. Manage your own caseload in a home-based working environment and the requirements for victims and witnesses to attend court. Completing a detailed Needs Assessment and ensuring all information is recorded accurately.
2. Ensuring appropriate support is offered and applied for, including travel, accommodation, Special Measures and Restorative Justice Referrals.
3. Deal with queries and issues from victims and witnesses ensuring Victims Code compliance is adhered to.
4. Manage extra caseloads for colleagues due to absence.
5. Deal with queries and issues from other agencies such as CPS, Courts, Police Officers and other victim/witness support partners. Providing advice and guidance as appropriate and in accordance with Force Policy surrounding Data Protection.
6. Work in accordance with the Witness Care Unit process timelines, CPS target dates and other Service Level Agreement timeframes. Maintaining regular contact with and passing on when relevant, witness information to the appropriate agencies.
7. Maintain a working knowledge of current policies surrounding victim and witness care, engaging with all training required as directed by the Witness Care Unit.
In this role you will manage your own workload daily, maintaining a proactive approach to the work and react accordingly to urgent requests that may arise. You should possess strong communication skills, both written and verbal. These will need to be flexibly applied to handle a variety of situations including dealing with all types of witnesses from all walks of life, who may present as angry, abusive, vulnerable and reluctant and can be very frustrated with the Criminal Justice System.
The Victim and Witness Care Unit uses Athena (an online Police Database) to gain relevant information surrounding a case. Sound IT skills are desirable but not essential as these will be developed during the initial training period.
The nature of crime work is often distressing and sensitive as we deal with rape, child abuse, and other sexual offences as well as murder and offences against the person. The work within the Witness Care Unit demands resilience, dedication, and commitment.
In-house training will be given along with a buddy to provide support during your initial months; therefore, flexibility is required as to the frequency of office attendance during this period, with a requirement to attend the office daily for the first three weeks.
The Victim and Witness Care Unit is a center of excellence; we are looking for a team member who embodies this ethos and applies a positive approach to their daily working commitments.
Within your application, please ensure you provide evidence of the essential criteria - knowledge of the Criminal Justice System, Strong verbal and communication skills and ability to prioritise workloads.
Kent Police offer incremental increases within this salary band, therefore the salary for this position will rise to a maximum of £31,731.00.
All of our posts require a level of vetting and security clearance. During the recruitment process you will be sent vetting information forms to complete.
Kent Police and Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status.
If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain. If you’re from the UK you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This doesn’t apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.
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