Offender Release Victim Champion

Victim Support; Lower Blandford St Mary; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Hybrid Working

Annual Leave 28+ Days

Birthday Leave

Pension Plan 5%

Enhanced Sick Pay

Exclusive Discounts

Financial Wellbeing Hub

Wellbeing Support

EDI Networks

Cycle to Work

Career Progression

Job summary

Victim Support in Dorset is recruiting an Offender Release Victim Champion to support victim-survivors affected by changes to prison release arrangements. The role focuses on providing trauma-informed advocacy, information, emotional support and practical assistance to help them understand their rights and access services.

You will conduct holistic risk assessments, develop safety plans, coordinate interventions, and work with local victim services to strengthen protective measures and ensure

Qualifications

• Trauma-informed, person-centred, and solution-focused approach.
• Ability to conduct holistic needs and risk assessments.
• Develop safety and support plans and coordinate interventions.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advocacy, information, emotional support, and practical assistance to victim-survivors affected by changes to prison release arrangements.
• Manage a caseload of victim-survivors affected by the Offender Release Scheme and related changes.
• Ensure timely, accurate information and support to access the Victim Contact Scheme and other services.
• Collaborate with local victim services and criminal justice partners to strengthen protection and access to services.
• Identify safeguarding and protective measures, including potential civil or other orders, where risks escalate.

Job description

We're recruiting an Offender Release Victim Champion to join our team in Dorset. The overall aim of the role is to ensure that victim-survivors affected by changes to prison release arrangements feel safe, informed, empowered and supported, while strengthening local partnership responses and enhancing access to victims' rights and support services. Roles are fixed term, currently to October 2028, with the potential for extension based on local funding arrangements.

As an Offender Release Victim Champion you will support victims and survivors affected by the implementation of the Offender Release Scheme and changes to prison release arrangements. The role will ensure victim-survivors feel informed, reassured and supported whilst enabling them to make informed decisions about their safety and recovery. This includes helping individuals understand what these changes mean for them, the safeguards that remain in place and how they can access information and support through the Victim Contact Scheme and wider criminal justice partners. As Victims' Champion you will work provide specialist advocacy, information, emotional support, and practical assistance to victim-survivors affected by changes to prison release arrangements under the Early Release Scheme. You will manage a caseload of victim-survivors whose sense of safety, wellbeing, or confidence may be impacted by changes to offender release arrangements. You will ensure individuals receive timely, accurate, trauma-informed information and support, enabling them to understand the criminal justice process, exercise their rights, and make informed decisions about their safety and wellbeing. The role requires a highly trauma-informed, person-centred, and solution-focused approach. You will conduct holistic needs and risk assessments, develop comprehensive safety and support plans, coordinate practical interventions, and identify opportunities to strengthen protective measures, including target hardening, personal safety planning, civil and protective orders, and safeguarding interventions. You will work collaboratively with local victim services to complement existing provision and ensure victim-survivors can access appropriate specialist support. This may include assistance with housing issues, family court processes, school liaison, domestic abuse safety planning, emotional support, security improvements, and advocacy where risks have escalated following changes in release arrangements.

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.

At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• 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.