At a Glance
- Tasks: Support witnesses in court, ensuring they receive compassionate and effective assistance throughout their journey.
- Company: Victim Support, a charity dedicated to helping those affected by crime.
- Benefits: Generous annual leave, birthday leave, pension plan, and exclusive discounts.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equity and inclusion, with opportunities for career development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and experience in challenging environments are essential.
The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.
Victim Support is seeking a committed and detail-focused Deputy Team Leader to help coordinate and maintain excellent support for witnesses within busy Court environments in the Durham area. You will play a vital role in supporting the Team Leader, volunteers, and wider service ensuring witnesses receive timely, compassionate, and effective support throughout their justice journey. This role is full-time working 22.05 hours per week covering Durham Crown Court, Newton Aycliffe and Peterlee Magistrates Courts.
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’d love to hear from you.
What We Offer
- 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 Deputy Team Leader – Witness Service (Court-Based), you will support the delivery of a high quality, safe, and consistent service for all witnesses attending court. Support daily case allocations to ensure witnesses receive timely needs and risk assessments, support, and referrals. Conduct case management system audits, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and high-quality reporting. Collate and analyse performance data, contributing to KPI monitoring and quality assurance. Support rota planning to maintain appropriate resource coverage across the court cluster. Assist with volunteer accreditation, training, performance tracking, and continuous improvement. Input, update, and report on witness information, ensuring comprehensive assessments and referrals. Promote effective communication within the team, coordinating meetings and sharing learning. Build and maintain relationships with statutory, voluntary, and community partners. Deputise for the Team Leader when required, ensuring service standards and targets are met. Contribute to a trauma-informed, person-centred approach that prioritises dignity, safety, and inclusion.
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
- An understanding of the criminal justice system and the impact of crime on victims and witnesses.
- Experience working in challenging environments with a focus on customer experience and service excellence.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and advisory skills—both written and verbal.
- The ability to prioritise work with minimal supervision and manage conflicting demands.
- Experience processing, analysing, and reporting information from multiple sources.
- Competence in using IT systems including Microsoft Office and case management systems.
- A commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, equality, diversity, and inclusion.
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’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.
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.
Deputy Team Leader - Witness Service in North East employer: Victim Support
Join our dedicated team in Avon & Somerset, where we prioritise resilience and compassion in supporting victims of adolescent and child to parent violence. As an employer, we offer a supportive work culture that fosters personal and professional growth, alongside comprehensive training and development opportunities. With a focus on meaningful impact, you will find a rewarding environment that values your contributions and encourages collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Team Leader - Witness Service in North East
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Victim Support.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Victim Support!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Victim Support, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Victim Support or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Team Leader - Witness Service in North East
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Victim Support:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Victim Support! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Victim Support
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
