- counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
- sensitivity and understanding
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to work well with others
- to enjoy working with other people
- customer service skills
- knowledge of psychology
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- the ability to understand people’s reactions
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
You’ll support clients at their home or over the phone. On a daily basis you could be:
- reassuring clients that the events were not their fault and their reactions are normal
- getting a personal attack alarm for someone who feels unsafe
- arranging for a Police Community Support Officer to visit
- providing an objective viewpoint, possibly including information on legal processes
- training and supervising volunteers
- making sure that clients have access to other relevant services and agencies
You could work in an office or at a client's home.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
With experience, you could become a senior victim care officer, unit or area manager, with responsibilities for a number of centres, staff and volunteers.
You could also move into witness care, with a greater focus on the legal and judicial system and making sure witnesses attend court.
You can get more details about this career from Victim Support.
