Page Content
Job profiles
Victim care officer
Hours
37-40 per week
Starting salary
£15,000 + per year
WorkDesc
The work
As a victim care officer (VCO), you would help people come to terms with the aftermath of crime.
Each victim is unique and your challenge would be to create a tailored solution that meets the different needs and feelings of the people using the service. Some VCO posts target specific groups, for example victims of serious sexual assault, domestic abuse or anti-social behaviour.
Some clients will not have spoken of their feelings before and a range of emotions can come to the surface, such as distress, confusion, guilt, or anger (which may initially be directed at you).
You may visit clients at home or support them over the telephone. Your role would typically involve:
- listening carefully and with sensitivity to what the client has to say
- reassuring them that the events were not their fault and their reactions are normal
- assessing their needs, both practical and emotional and then arranging or directly giving that support
- providing an objective viewpoint, possibly including information on legal processes
- making sure that victims have access to other relevant services and agencies
- ensuring appropriate confidentiality.
The practical support you give could include obtaining a personal attack alarm for someone who feels unsafe or arranging for a Police Community Support Officer to visit.
In some jobs, you would also be involved in training and supervising volunteers.
HoursDesc
Hours
Full-time hours are usually between 37 and 40 a week. This may include evenings and weekends in order to provide an accessible service to clients.
Part-time and job share opportunities are commonly available.
Some time will be spent travelling between offices or clients.
IncomeDesc
Income
- Starting salaries for full-time victim care officers can be from around £15,000 to £20,000 a year
- With experience this can rise to between £22,000 and £24,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
The most common way to get into working with victims of crime is to start as a volunteer. You would receive extensive training, which would help you develop the communication and listening skills you need, as well as the knowledge and understanding necessary to support victims.
To volunteer with Victim Support, the largest independent charity in this field, you need to be aged at least 18 and of good character, with the ability to listen, be non-judgemental and empathetic. The ability to communicate in a second community-based language would be useful.
To find relevant volunteer work, you could visit do-it.org or check the Victim Support website for details on how to get involved with them.
You may need around one to two years' experience as a volunteer before you would be considered at the level needed to apply for paid work as a VCO.
Many employers will not ask for formal qualifications as your experience would be the most important thing, but you should have a reasonable standard of English. Other subjects that may be helpful include psychology, counselling, policing, criminal justice and law, but this is not essential if you have enough practical experience, knowledge and understanding of supporting victims.
Another way into this type of work could be with experience in a related area, for example, working with vulnerable adults in a social services or community setting.
As a volunteer or paid worker, your organisation will make Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks before you can start work.
The main focus for employers will be on your proven abilities in:
- working directly with service users in a statutory, voluntary, community or private sector setting
- providing a client/customer focussed service
- dealing sensitively with challenging and emotionally-charged situations.
It would also be an advantage to have knowledge and understanding of relevant agencies and resources, and the criminal justice system.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
As a VCO you will receive training from your employer, which will often combine on-the-job training from experienced officers with subject specific sessions (for example on domestic violence) run by specialist external agencies.
Depending on the focus of your post, you may have the chance to work towards NVQs such as:
- Community Justice: Work with Victims, Survivors and Witnesses, levels 3 and 4
- Witness Care, Level 3.
You will also be encouraged to continue training throughout your career in order to learn more about specialist issues and keep up to date with any changes in the law.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
- excellent communication skills (including telephone skills)
- the ability to relate to people from all walks of life
- the ability to work effectively with clients, colleagues and external agencies in complex and demanding situations
- a non-judgemental and empathetic manner
- the ability to control your own emotions
- strong customer service focus
- the ability to give support and guidance
- problem solving skills, energy and creativity to find solutions for clients
- a motivated and organised approach, with the ability to work to tight deadlines
- a good understanding of issues surrounding confidentiality
- IT skills, with the ability to use a computerised case management system.
MoreInformationDesc
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
One of the main employers of VCOs is Victim Support, the independent charity for victims and witnesses of crime in England and Wales. They have become the oldest and largest victims' organisation in the world. Every year, they contact between 1.5 and 1.75 million people after a crime to offer help.
You may also find opportunities working within, for example, a Victim Care Centre attached to the police.
With experience, you could become a senior victim care officer, unit or area manager with responsibilities for a number of centres, staff and hundreds of volunteers. You could move into witness care, with a greater focus on the legal and judicial system and making sure witnesses attend court.
As a VCO you would also gain valuable insight into the work of the police, court administrators and case workers, and probation services.
Jobs may be advertised in Jobcentre Plus offices, the local and national press (such as The Guardian), and on Directgov (Jobseekers page). You should check with your local police force for vacancies and on the jobs page of the Victim Support website.
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework 
there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
Community justice is part of the justice sector, which is represented by Skills for Justice Sector Skills Council. It includes: police and law enforcement; prosecution service; courts and tribunals; forensic science; custodial care; plus fire and rescue services. The sector works to create and maintain a safe, just and stable society. Its purpose is to reduce crime and re-offending, promote confidence in the criminal justice system, protect people and contribute to the reduction and fear of crime, and support the administration of justice. The sector employs around 600,000 employees in the UK across a range of organisations operating with different remits.
The community justice sector can be divided into the following five main areas of activity or career pathways:
- Working with offending behaviour – agencies that work with offending behaviour to protect the public, operate and enforce court orders and prison licences and rehabilitate offenders to lead law abiding and constructive lives.
- Working with victims, survivors and witnesses – mainly third sector organisations that provide support to the victims, survivors and witnesses of crime in general (such as Victim Support), as well as organisations that specialise in a particular area of crime, such as domestic violence or rape (for example Rape Crisis UK).
- Community safety – individuals and organisations that aim to reduce offending behaviour and the harms experienced by individuals and communities because of crime and disorder. They also seek to improve people’s quality of life through efforts to change the wider physical and social environment. To achieve this, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CRDPs) have been established in England, and Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) have been established in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Substance misuse – community-based substance misuse organisations (whether statutory or third sector) work to improve availability, capability and effectiveness of advice, support and treatment for drug misuse. Drug action teams (DATs) (150 in England) and Substance Misuse Action Teams (SMATs) (22 in Wales) are responsible for ensuring that the national drugs strategy is delivered at a local level.
Youth justice – work with young people at risk to help them progress towards employment, further training or education opportunities. In England and Wales, the Youth Justice system comprises Youth Offending Teams (YOTs).
Key facts:
- There are 73,000 people working in community justice, of which:
- 33,025 work with offending behaviour
- 11,500 work with victims, survivors and witnesses
- an estimated 3,350 work in community safety
- approximately 5,000 work in substance misuse organisations
- 10,000 staff (and as many volunteers) work in youth justice (figure for England and Wales only)
- 70% of the workforce is employed in the public sector.
- High numbers of volunteers are required to work with victims, survivors and witnesses, and with the Youth Offending Teams.
- Women across the justice sector as a whole tend to be concentrated in support roles.
Jobs in the industry range from:
- Working with Offending Behaviour – Probation Services Officer, Trainee Probation Officer, Probation Officer, Supervisor, Psychologist, Senior Practitioner, Treatment Manager, Operational Support Staff, Project Workers
- Working with Victims, Survivors and Witnesses – Managers, Victim Care Officers, Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, Senior practitioners, Counsellor/Therapist, Helpline workers, Volunteers
- Community Safety – Community Safety Managers, Community Safety Officers, Neighbourhood Wardens/Community Wardens, Community Safety Team Leader
- Substance Misuse – DAT/SMAT Co-ordinator, Project worker, Substance Misuse Worker, Practice nurse, Administrative worker
- Youth Justice – Youth Workers, YOT Manager, Senior Practitioner, Practitioner, Administrative Assistants, Volunteers
National and regional data
In the East Midlands, there are 9 Drug Actions Teams, 5 Probation establishments and 8 Youth Offending Teams.
In the East of England, there are 10 Drug Actions Teams, 6 Probation establishments and 10 Youth Offending Teams.
In London, there are 33 Drug Actions Teams, 1 Probation establishment and 32 Youth Offending Teams.
In the North East, there are 12 Drug Actions Teams, 4 Probation establishments and 11 Youth Offending Teams.
In the North West, there are 22 Drug Actions Teams, 5 Probation establishments and 15 Youth Offending Teams.
In the South East, there are 19 Drug Actions Teams, 5 Probation establishments and 15 Youth Offending Teams.
In the South West, there are 15 Drug Actions Teams, 5 Probation establishments and 14 Youth Offending Teams.
In the West Midlands, there are 14 Drug Actions Teams, 4 Probation establishments and 12 Youth Offending Teams.
In Yorkshire and Humberside, there are 15 Drug Actions Teams, 3 Probation establishments and 15 Youth Offending Teams.
In Northern Ireland, the community justice workforce comprises:
- 1,019 people working in offending behaviour
- approximately 80 people working in community safety
- 423 people delivering youth justice services
- an unknown number working with victims, survivors and witnesses, and in substance misuse
Some key skill shortages in the Northern Ireland workforce include: risk assessment and management; challenges of working in partnership and in competition; working with high risk offenders; team leading in youth justice; multi-agency working with reference to young people; and competitive bidding.
In Scotland, the community justice workforce comprises:
- 2,677 people working in offending behaviour
- approximately 78 people working in community safety
- 822 people delivering youth justice services
- an unknown number working with victims, survivors and witnesses, and in substance misuse
Some key skill shortages in the Scottish workforce include: keeping up with policy and legislative change; partnership working skills; financial management, such as securing funding; and ICT skills.
In Wales, the community justice workforce comprises:
- 1,450 people working in offending behaviour
- approximately 66 people working in community safety
- 423 people
- an unknown number working with victims, survivors and witnesses, in substance misuse and delivering youth justice services
Some key skill shortages in the Northern Ireland workforce include: risk assessment and management; challenges of working in partnership and in competition; working with high risk offenders; team leading in youth justice; multi-agency working with reference to young people; and competitive bidding.
Career paths
Further sources
View full Job market information
News
