Job Description

Title: Victim Advocate                    

Salary: $24.03 per hour

Status: Non-Exempt, Full-time, 32 hours per week with on-call requirement    

Supervisor: Coordinator of Advocacy

Function:

The Victim Advocate is a front-line advocate, first responder to a victim in need. This requires the ability to work quickly and concisely under extreme pressure. Victim Advocate p rovides casework services to clients including crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, information and referrals, emergency financial assistance, and claims filing. The Victim Advocate is available to assist clients in crisis via 24-hour hotlines and walk-ins to the Center for Victim Safety and Support office.

Our Mission:

Family Services brings people together to find the support they need, improving their lives and communities, and building a stronger safer Hudson Valley.

Our Values:

Compassion – Extending empathy and understanding to others.

Integrity – Being honest and dependable.

Hope – Believing in the strength of the human spirit and heart, to emerge and thrive when faced with a challenge.

Diversity – Promoting a vision of community comprised of wide-ranging assets.

Respect – Treating all individuals with dignity and without judgement.

Community – Recognizing and reinforcing the importance of our world as being comprised of people of differing strengths and perspectives.

Justice – Promoting social and economic equity and fairness.

Quality – Aspiring for excellence in every aspect of our work.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match up to 5%.
• Generous paid vacation, holiday, sick and personal time package (2 weeks’ vacation in first year, 13 paid holidays per year, 12 sick days per year and 4 personal days per year).
• Access to Family Services’ Compassionate Leave Program where employees can donate/receive unused time off.
• Group term life and long-term disability insurance.
• Supplemental life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment coverage (AD&D).
• Supplemental insurance through Aflac.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).
• Pet insurance.

Requirements:

• BA in Human Services field preferred and/or 3 to 5 years relevant work experience.
• Human Services, counseling, and/or advocacy experience.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide casework services to clients including crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, information and referrals, emergency financial assistance, and claims filing.
• Meet with clients both in person and via phone.
• Accompany victims of crime to hospitals, police departments, and court while providing crisis counseling, information and referrals, assistance with crime victims compensation claims, criminal justice advocacy and personal advocacy.
• Review all assigned claims regularly; ensure claims are effectively managed
• Provide information and referrals to all clients in need following the agency’s and department’s protocol
• Report any behavior or implication of behavior of child abuse to the authorities
• Evaluate and dispense emergency financial assistance to victims as needed.
• Cover incoming calls on the 24-hour Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis/Crime Victims hotlines for a designated period during business hours and after hours
• Expand service reach by researching community organizations and providing community outreach through presentations and tabling events
• Assist with fundraisers and special events (some of these may be outside agency hours of operation)
• Complete all administrative tasks as assigned on a timely basis, this includes, but is not limited to; documenting all activities, preparing weekly and monthly activity reports, maintaining up-to-date case records, and inputting into client database
• Follow protocol in completion of these reports
• Maintain statistics and prepare reports as needed, and maintain up-to-date client records
• Other duties as assigned based upon need of program

Competencies:

• Clear and effective communication, both orally and in writing.

• Ability to work effectively when under extreme pressure.
• Ability to work independently, but relate issues to manager, as appropriate.
• Possess out of the box thinking, resourcefulness, and strong advocacy skills.
• Ability to remain organized and complete administrative tasks, such as documenting activities and maintaining up-to-date records, in a timely manner.

Other Requirements:

• Complete and maintain training certification as NYS DOH Rape Crisis Counselor.
• Complete mandated reporter training; Report any behavior or implication of behavior of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
• Must be able to get to and from various work locations throughout work shift and outside of office hours for on-call purposes.  This includes Family Services, local courts, hospitals, police departments, social services, etc.
• Strong computer skills, including a working knowledge of an e-mail package and MS software programs:  Word and Excel.
• Established cell phone, willing to use for work (will be reimbursed), with effective coverage for the Dutchess County area.

Work Environment – Family Services Inc. Center for Victim Safety and Support is a 24-hour crisis center. Victim Advocates will split their time between advocating/interacting with community agencies and systems, meeting with individuals and working on a team at the Center for Victim Safety and Support, completing documentation and administrative responsibilities and participating in meetings at Family Services.

Family Services, Inc. complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected].

We are an equal opportunity employer and our goal is to be a diverse workforce representative of the community we serve. Family Services, Inc. follows federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination in hiring and employment. We do not discriminate against employees or applicants in violation of those laws.

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