Victim/witness Services Worker

Help people navigate the most difficult times of their lives

Bring your empathetic communication skills and understanding of complex case management, needs assessment, emotional support and client advocacy to a dedicated team as we support victims and witnesses of crimes while they participate in the criminal court process.

Note: This position requires occasional travel to the Victim/Witness Assistance Program office in Pembroke, located at 297 Pembroke Street East.

What can I expect to do in this role?

As a team member of the 4-person Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) office in Perth, every day will be a little different depending on the needs of your clients and your case files. You can expect the typical day to include activities like:

• Informing clients about their case, victims' rights, and what they need to know about and can expect during the criminal court process
• Navigating the court process alongside your client to educate and help them understand their role in the criminal justice system
• Providing emotional support and crisis intervention to vulnerable clients through a trauma-informed and victim-centered lens, including assessing risks and needs
• Maintaining relationships with criminal justice partners and community agencies to advocate on behalf of your clients and refer clients for services like counselling and safety planning
• Documenting throughout the case management process to create timely and accurate case notes
• Participating in projects to review and improve services, committees to collaborate and build relationships, and public education activities to promote the program

Read about the Victim/Witness Assistance Program and how the program helps victims and witnesses of crime.

How do I qualify?

Technical Knowledge

• You have the ability to support marginalized and vulnerable clients who are victims or witnesses of crimes, including but not limited to intimate partner violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and homicide
• You have crisis response and intervention skills to help clients in need
• You can interpret and apply relevant legislation and policies about victims of crime and court proceedings to support clients in their understanding of legal court processes

Judgement and Problem Solving Skills

• You can identify risks to clients, develop case plans, make appropriate referrals and communicate to justice partners
• You can address complex client needs based on information provided
• You can recommend new services or service improvements and foster co-operation when implementing changes
• You can collaborate with your team members and manager on complicated and contentious issues

Communication, Interpersonal and Teamwork Skills

• You can support clients from diverse communities and be sensitive to their needs
• You can network with community agencies and work together with criminal justice partners
• You can write reports and case file summaries
• You can help develop and deliver training programs and public education sessions
• You can contribute to an inclusive environment for your team members and clients

Case Management, Organizational and Planning Skills

• You can manage a large caseload of files with little supervision
• You can prioritize work in an environment with challenging and urgent deadlines

Computer Skills

• You can use a variety of MS Office software for communication, reports, and presentations
• You can work with database systems to access and maintain case and client records
• You can use video conferencing systems and applications to engage with clients

** Important Pre-Assignment Application Process**

As part of the application process, please provide a written response of 250 words or less to describe the following:

As a Victim Witness Services Worker, you will provide services to victims of crime and/or marginalized/vulnerable clients to meet their special needs. Please describe the skills you would employ when interacting with diverse clientele to ensure needs were met, and how you would work effectively in an inclusive team environment, which includes colleagues, criminal justice partners and community agencies.

Please write your full name at the top of your pre-assignment response and include with your cover letter and resume and upload under ONE attachment. Applications that do not have the pre-assignment included will NOT be considered in the screening stage.

Don't meet every qualification?

If you're excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What we offer

We are a supportive and compassionate team who play a crucial role in navigating people through some of the most difficult experiences of their lives. We offer a comprehensive training program to ensure that all Victim/Witness Services Workers have the skills needed to support both their clients and themselves.

We know the work can be demanding emotionally and are committed to the wellness of our employees. This includes mental health support through a trauma-informed lens, training and resources on compassion fatigue, burnout and vicarious trauma, and continuous support from your management team.

Our local leadership teams at VWAP offices foster a supportive and inclusive environment, empowering Victim/Witness Service Workers to make meaningful impacts for our clients.

The Ontario Public Service is one of Ontario's largest employers. Employees work for 30 ministries, with offices in more than 70 cities across the province. We offer:

• a career that can grow across ministries and job functions
• flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including education and mentorship programs
• many employee networks offering support for and education about underrepresented groups

This role comes with a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• optional enrollment in a defined-benefit lifetime pension plan (guaranteed, ongoing inflation-protected income after retirement)
• optional enrollment in a group health, dental, life and disability benefits
• pay in lieu of benefits (6% of gross pay), pay in lieu of statutory holidays (5% of gross pay), and pay in lieu of vacation (4% of gross pay)
• an Employee and Family Assistance Program, which provides confidential counseling services
• Inclusive Counselling Services, which provides confidential mental health support from professionals belonging to diverse communities