Witness Care Team Leader in Newcastle

Victim Support is seeking a committed and detail-focused Team Leader to help coordinate and maintain excellent support for witnesses within the busy Court environment at Stoke Crown Court and North Staffordshire Justice Centre. You will play a vital role in supporting the Deputy Team Leader, volunteers, and wider service ensuring witnesses receive timely, compassionate, and effective support throughout their justice journey. This role is permanent working 37.5 hours per week covering Stoke Crown Court and North Staffordshire Justice Centre.

Are you an organised, proactive individual with a passion for supporting victims and witnesses as they navigate the justice system? Do you enjoy working collaboratively, ensuring high-quality service delivery, and supporting others to perform at their best? If you thrive in fast-paced environments, have strong communication and data-handling skills, and are motivated by service excellence, we would love to hear from you.

What We Offer

• Flexible Working Options - including hybrid working where applicable
• Generous Annual Leave - 28 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell leave
• Birthday Leave - an extra day off to celebrate your birthday
• Pension Plan - 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced Allowances - enhanced sick, maternity and paternity pay
• Exclusive Discounts - high street, holidays, gyms, entertainment, and more
• Financial Wellbeing Support - access to salary deducted finance and guidance
• Wellbeing Resources - employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
• EDI Networks - opportunities to engage in colleague groups promoting equity and inclusion
• Sustainable Travel Schemes - Cycle to Work and season ticket loans
• Career Development - comprehensive training and ongoing development opportunities

About the Role

As the Team Leader - Witness Service (Court-Based), you will support the delivery of a high quality, safe, and consistent service for all witnesses attending court. You will:

• Lead the delivery of the Witness Service within the court, ensuring a high-quality, safe, and consistent service for all witnesses.
• Line-manage Deputy Team Leaders and volunteers, supporting recruitment, training, development, performance, and wellbeing.
• Oversee daily case allocations, ensuring witnesses receive timely assessments, tailored support, and appropriate referrals.
• Ensure accurate and compliant data entry, audits, reporting, and monitoring of KPIs and quality standards.
• Manage rotas, resource planning, and service coverage across the court cluster.
• Promote excellent communication across teams, facilitating team meetings and sharing learning.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with local stakeholders, including statutory and voluntary partners.
• Foster an inclusive, trauma-informed, person-centred approach that recognises diverse needs and vulnerabilities.
• Provide leadership that champions continuous improvement and maintains the dignity, safety, and wellbeing of witnesses.

This role requires strong attention to detail, confidence using digital systems, and the ability to manage competing demands while supporting a high-performing team.

You will have:

• A strong understanding of the criminal justice system and the impact of crime on victims and witnesses.
• Experience delivering services in demanding environments with a focus on customer experience and service excellence.
• Experience providing guidance, support, or crisis management to staff or service users.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and advisory skills, both written and verbal.
• The ability to work without direct supervision, manage competing demands, and maintain organised and methodical working practices.
• Experience gathering, analysing, and reporting information from multiple sources.
• Sound IT skills, including the use of Microsoft Office and case management systems.
• Commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusive practice.

Additional Information

The role may involve exposure to emotionally demanding situations and requires resilience. Travel across the Court cluster may be required. Occasional evening or weekend work may be necessary. An Enhanced DBS check will be required.

About the Witness Service

The Witness Service provides free, independent support to any witness giving evidence in criminal courts in England and Wales - both for the prosecution and the defence. Our trained staff and volunteers help people understand what to expect before, during and after a trial, and offer practical and emotional support every step of the way, so witnesses can give their best evidence. The Witness Service also supports bereaved family members, friends and family who are accompanying witnesses in court.

This is an exceptional opportunity to help us ensure a smooth transition and shape a high-quality, high-impact and trauma-informed service - so every witness feels informed, supported and more confident in court.

About Us: 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 are proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We are 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.

How to apply: To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.