Opportunities with Citizens Advice Witness Service

About

About the Witness Service. Our trained volunteers provide practical information about the process, as well as emotional support to help witnesses feel more confident when giving evidence.
Purpose of the Court Volunteer role:
To support witnesses (and their friends and families) through the experience of attending court and giving evidence.
Main duties and responsibilities include:
Giving witnesses and their supporters confidential support, guidance and information to make their experience of a criminal court more comfortable.
Help witnesses cope with the emotional effects of giving evidence.
Explaining court procedures, legal terminology and decisions.
Showing witnesses and others around the courtroom before a trial so they are familiar and at ease in the environment.
Listening to the concerns witnesses have, empathising with them, and advocating where appropriate.
Helping witnesses prepare themselves for a range of possible trial outcomes.
Going into the courtroom with a witness when it’s allowed.
Ensuring that witnesses continue to get our assistance after court if they need it.
Working as part of a team with other Witness Service volunteers and staff as well as liaising with court personnel.

Skills, qualities and experience required:
Be friendly, caring, supportive and empathetic towards others
Be non-judgemental and impartial in supporting all people
Good communication skills; both written and verbal, as well as being a good listener
Be able to work effectively as part of a team and build positive working relationships with a diverse range of people
Be reliable, committed and flexible
Resilience and willingness to adapt to change
Having respect for the diversity of all people, this includes witnesses, fellow volunteers and staff.
An understanding and commitment to the principles of confidentiality and information sharing as and when appropriate
An understanding and commitment to work within the service’s values, procedures and policies, including confidentiality, data protection and ensuring equal access is offered to all witnesses and and their supporters
Have at least basic IT skills and be willing to use internal IT systems and communication methods.
Desirable:
The ability to handle challenging situations and use your initiative, experience and training to solve problems and make appropriate decisions.
The role will require an Enhanced level DBS clearance
Commitment:
Be able to volunteer during normal court hours (approximately 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday), we require a commitment of at least two days per month for at least 12 months (after accreditation). We welcome suggestions from applicants for flexible arrangements for example half days may be available in Magistrates Court.
Attend all relevant training required for the role, including three days of core training, accreditation and refresher courses.
Attend volunteer meetings and regular one-to-one support sessions

Opportunities
Contribute to service’s aims of supporting witnesses within a dynamic team.
Training, accreditation and continued development and support in the role.
Gain valuable experience and development of interpersonal skills.
To have a positive impact in your community and on people’s lives, the witnesses and their supporters.
You will receive payment of agreed expenses.

Purpose of the Outreach role:
To meet witnesses away from the court environment, either at their home or other agreed safe place. To assess their needs and provide support to help reduce their anxiety and enable them to give their best evidence.

Main duties and responsibilities include:
To make an initial visit and carefully assess the needs of witnesses in relation to attending court. Together with the witness and where appropriate their carer/ support worker/ parent/ guardian, develop a tailored plan of preparation and support.
Make further visits, according to their needs, to help prepare the witnesses and manage their expectation about the process of the trial, the verdict and the sentence.
Invite the witness to have a pre-trial visit and explain how this may help, liaise this visit with the court based staff.
Assist the court based Witness Service volunteer in providing support on the day, accompanying the witness into the courtroom when permitted and as appropriate.
Ensuring that witnesses continue to receive our assistance after court if they need it, for example: offering a debrief session after the trial, support at the sentencing hearing and with follow up contact in one/two weeks to see how they are.

Skills, qualities and experience required:
Be friendly, caring, supportive and empathetic towards others
Be non-judgemental and impartial in supporting all people, with the confidence to support vulnerable people and people with specific needs
Good communication skills; both written and verbal, as well as being a good listener
Be able to work effectively on your own and as part of a team, building positive working relationships with a diverse range of people
Be reliable, committed, flexible and have the ability to travel
Having respect for the diversity of all people, this includes witnesses, fellow volunteers and staff
Must be resilient and adaptable, with the ability to handle challenging situations
Good problem solving skills with the ability to use your initiative, experience, training to make appropriate decisions.
An understanding and commitment to work within the service’s values, procedures and policies, including confidentiality, data protection and ensuring equal access is offered to all witnesses and and their supporters
Have at least basic IT skills and be willing to use internal IT systems and communication methods
Desirable: Have experience of at least one of the following:
working with/supporting children and young people
working with/supporting people with learning disabilities
working with/supporting people with mental health issues
The role will require an Enhanced level DBS clearance
Commitment
The commitment of an outreach volunteer is varied depending on the requirements of the witness being supported. The role requires a great deal of flexibility, volunteers should do their best to commit to supporting at least one witness with outreach per month. This will include:
Telephone contact, to maintain contact both before and after the trial.
Out of court visits at a time and place that suits the witness, which may be in the evenings until 6.30pm and on Saturday mornings until 11.30am.
Providing a pre-trial visit as required
Attending court on the day(s) of trial when the witness is giving evidence.
Possible follow up support visits and attending the court again for sentencing if required.
Attend all relevant training and refresher courses that the role requires, (including 3 days core training), 2 days of outreach training, accreditation and refresher courses.
Attend volunteer meetings and regular one-to-one support sessions.

Opportunities:
Contribute to service’s aims of supporting witnesses within a dynamic team.
Training, accreditation and continued development and support in the role.
Gain valuable experience and development of interpersonal skills.
To have a positive impact in your community and on people’s lives, the witnesses and their supporters.
To make a real difference to individuals experience through offering an enhanced and tailored service based on their needs.
You will receive payment of agreed expenses.

Visit their website

Website Feedback Please complete our short survey