Meet Lisa, Witness Care Officer

Are you looking for a varied and interesting job? Consider joining an organisation that’s putting crime and harm prevention first.

Are you looking for a varied and interesting job? Consider joining an organisation that’s putting crime and harm prevention first.

Assisting victims and witnesses of crime through the court and criminal process is a varied and interesting job which has given Lisa fulfilment in a role with genuine purpose.

“Our job is to put supportive measures in place for those going to court and to keep them updated throughout the process,” explained Lisa. “We act as a liaison between the courts and those attending, we keep them updated and are there to listen to their concerns and try to address them. We help to make a difficult situation easier, which hopefully results in witnesses and victims giving their best evidence.”

Lisa worked for the NHS for 15 years as a part-time nursing assistant, to fit around her family, before starting training as a counsellor and working in a secondary school as a sixth form advisor. She carried out this role for 13 years until her son, who is a police officer, suggested the role of a witness care officer would suit her.

“My previous work had been based upon helping people and making a difference and this job seemed to encompass my counselling and administration skills,” said Lisa. “I was also very interested in the work the police carry out and it was time for a change. With my children growing up, I wanted to work in a full-time position and have more of a career.”

Lisa applied for her current position and has been working in the Administration of Justice team for over three years now. She recalled: “The thing I like the most is when you pick up the phone to victim or witness and they are angry or nervous, in the space of a ten-minute phone call you can sometimes change their perspective and help them see the positives of attending court. When you see a good outcome, you do feel you have had a personal involvement in that and made a small difference for that person during a difficult time.

“It is a very unique job that ticks a lot of boxes for me,” Lisa adds. “The role is varied, the work is very interesting, and no two days are the same, so you will never be bored. The team are also very cohesive and supportive. There is not a day that I do not want to go to work or go home without laughing.”

Would you like to work for an organisation that’s putting crime and harm prevention first?

We are recruiting for witness care officers now!

↪️ Find out more and apply: witness care officers (Opens in a new window).