victim support officer

Enable individuals, families, groups and communities to gain more control over their lives and environment, either by themselves or with the help of others.

Assess, plan, facilitate, coordinate, and advocate for options and services on behalf of a person.

Speak for and on behalf of service users, using communicative skills and knowledge of relevant fields to assist those less advantaged.

Supporting client`s rights to control his or her life, making informed choices about the services they receive, respecting and, where appropriate, promoting the individual views and wishes of both the client and his or her caregivers.

Negotiate with government institutions, other social workers, family and caregivers, employers, landlords, or landladies to obtain the most suitable result for your client.

Support individuals or groups who have been a target of abuse, discrimination, violence or other acts which violate human rights agreements and regulations in order to protect them and provide them with necessary aid.

Intervene to provide physical, moral and psychological support to people in dangerous or difficult situations and to remove to a place of safety where appropriate.

Provide support to victims of crimes to help them cope with the situation, including with crime victimization.

Prevent social problems from developing, defining and implementing actions that can prevent social problems, striving for the enhancement of the quality of life for all citizens.

Support young victims in difficult situations such as court trial or interrogation. Monitor their mental and emotional well-being. Ensure they know they are being helped.

Practice social care and social work in a lawful, safe and effective way according to standards.

Apply social work ethical principles to guide practice and manage complex ethical issues, dilemmas and conflicts in accordance to occupational conduct, the ontology and the code of ethics of the social services occupations, engaging in ethical decision making by applying standards of national and, as applicable, international codes of ethics or statements of principles.

Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.

Work in accordance with management and organisational principles and values focusing on human rights and social justice.

Promote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive environment.

Strive to provide the appropriate services to social work clients while staying within a professional framework, understanding what the work means in relation to other professionals and taking into account the specific needs of your clients.

Communicate professionally and cooperate with members of the other professions in the health and social services sector.

Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.

Cooperate with people in other sectors in relation to social service work.

Develop a collaborative helping relationship, addressing any ruptures or strains in the relationship, fostering bonding and gaining service users` trust and cooperation through empathic listening, caring, warmth and authenticity.

Evaluate the needs of individuals in relation to their care, involve families or carers in supporting the development and implementation of support plans. Ensure review and monitoring of these plans.

Assess the social situation of service users situation balancing curiosity and respect in the dialogue, considering their families, organisations and communities and the associated risks and identifying the needs and resources, in order to meet physical, emotional and social needs.

Act according to the political, social and cultural contexts of social service users, considering the impact of certain actions on their social well being.

Take the lead in the practical handling of social work cases and activities.

Maintain a temperate mental state and effective performance under pressure or adverse circumstances.

Cope with sources of stress and cross-pressure in one's own professional life, such as occupational, managerial, institutional and personal stress, and help others do the same so as to promote the well-being of your colleagues and avoid burn-out.

Apply quality standards in social services while upholding social work values and principles.

Recognise, understand and share emotions and insights experienced by another.

Systematically apply a step-by-step problem-solving process in providing social services.

Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and alternative methods of tackling the situation.