Initial Support Agent

Victim Support; Ashford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Annual Leave

Birthday Leave

Pension Plan

Enhanced Allowances

Exclusive Discounts

Financial Wellbeing

Wellbeing Support

Inclusive Networks

Sustainable Travel

Career Development

Job summary

Victim Support is hiring two Initial Support Agents to join the Victim Care Unit in Ashford. You will handle telephone conversations with callers from diverse backgrounds, providing empathy and practical help.

Training is provided before working directly with clients, plus ongoing support to meet needs and aid coping and recovery. Roles are permanent, with shifts Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm or 12pm–8pm, in a supportive, independent charity environment offering training and opportunities for career

Qualifications

• No previous experience required as robust training is provided.
• Ability to communicate calmly and compassionately with diverse callers.
• Willingness to work shifts and support people affected by trauma.

Responsibilities

• Talk to people on the telephone from varied backgrounds to provide empathy and support.
• Offer quick, practical responses to meet immediate needs and guide recovery.
• Deliver high-quality triage and early intervention support within a dedicated team.
• Participate in rota-based shifts and uphold safeguarding and data practices.

Skills

Empathy

Telephone communication

Active listening

Crisis support basics

Job description

We are looking for two motivated & empathetic individuals to join the team at Victim Support based at Compass House, Ashford as Initial Support Agents (known internally as Triage & Early Intervention Officers). This position is offered on a permanent basis.

Are you looking for a new challenge that will be rewarding and make a real difference to people's lives? Do you enjoy talking to people, providing empathy & support, and helping to find solutions to problems?

If this sound like you, then we'd love to hear from you...

What we offer:

This position is offered on a permanent basis.

• 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.

About the role:

You will be talking to people on the telephone from a variety of different backgrounds, all with different experiences. No two days are the same & you will need to use your communication skills and resilient nature to help those dealing with trauma and the effects of crime, who may have gone through a life-changing experience. Previous experience is not required as you will receive robust training prior to working directly with clients. You will also receive ongoing support to ensure that you can provide victims with quick responses to meet their needs and help them cope and recover.

These roles are based in our Victim Care Unit in Ashford. You will be working shifts Monday to Friday between 8am and 4pm or 12pm and 8pm. Shifts are designated on a rota basis and scheduled well in advance so you can plan ahead. You will be working within a supportive team that is part of a large independent charity which offers the opportunity to develop skills to enhance your ongoing personal development.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

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.