Victim/Witness Services Worker

Help people navigate the most difficult times of their livesBring 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.

What can I expect to do in this role?As a team member of the 13-person Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) office in Windsor, 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 as well as marginalized and vulnerable clients to meet their needs. Please describe your understanding of the following terms: victim-centered, trauma-informed and marginalized, and describe your experience with them. How would your knowledge and experience with these terms inform your interactions with diverse clientele, 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 offerWe 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

Additional Information:

Note:

• In accordance with the Ontario Public Service (OPS), Employment Screening Checks Policy (ESCP), the top candidate(s) may be required to undergo a security screening check. Refer to the above to determine the screening checks that are required for this position.
  
  Required security screening checks along with your written consent, will be sent to the Transition and Security Office (TSO), Corporate Talent Programs Branch, Talent and Leadership Division to evaluate the results. If applicable, the TSO, with your written consent, will request and obtain any additional employment screening checks that were not obtained directly by you.
  
  A record under the Criminal Code and/or other federal offence record(s) does not automatically mean you will be ineligible for the position. The employment screening check(s) will only be reviewed and evaluated by the TSO for the purpose of making a security clearance decision. The details of an individual's employment screening check(s) will be considered in specific relation to the duties and responsibilities of the position being filled. Employment screening check records will be maintained by the TSO and kept strictly confidential.
• T-AG-221496/24

How to apply:

1. You must apply online.
2. Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.
3. Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.
4. Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.
5. OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.
6. If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

Please be advised that the results of this competition may be used to form an eligibility list of qualified candidates to potentially fill future vacancies represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). In accordance with the Collective Agreement, eligibility lists are shared with OPSEU representatives. By applying to this competition, you are providing consent that your name may be shared with OPSEU representatives.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Wednesday, November 20, 2024 11:59 pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.

All Ontario Public Service external job advertisements are posted in English and French. To confirm the language requirements of a job, check the "language of position" information at the top of each job ad. For all positions, candidates will be assessed in English, the business language of the Ontario Public Service. For English/French designated bilingual positions, candidates will also be assessed through French-language proficiency testing.

Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario sont affichées en anglais et en français. Pour connaître les exigences linguistiques, vérifiez les renseignements sur la « langue du poste » figurant dans le haut de chaque offre d'emploi. Pour tous les postes, l'évaluation des candidates et candidats se fera en anglais, la langue usuelle de la fonction publique de l'Ontario. En ce qui concerne les postes désignés bilingues, la maîtrise du français des candidates et candidats sera également évaluée.

Note: The only website where you can apply on-line for positions with the Ontario Public Service is http://www.gojobs.gov.on.ca

Apply Online