Domestic Violence Counselor Victim Advocate

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is Americas Queen City opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety health and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork openness accountability productivity and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous responsive accessible and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify analyze and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conducting short-term crisis intervention and safety planning with domestic violence victims.
• Contacting victims to help them assess their needs and assisting them in taking steps to avoid future assaults.
• While conducting short-term crisis intervention with victims being alert for previously undiscovered evidence and/or possible unreported incidents.
• Educating victims about criminal justice system procedures and court proceedings and potentially educating them about relevant laws
• Conducting home visits with law enforcement.
• Making appropriate referrals to partner agencies.
• Maintaining a working knowledge of available resources in the community.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with the community human and social service agencies to which victims may be referred and with other agencies in the criminal justice system.
• Attending court when necessary.
• Documenting signs of continuing abuse or intimidation of victims and coordinating with unit detectives for appropriate police action.
• Acting as a liaison between the unit patrol officers partner agencies and the public.
• Identifying and initiating problem solving projects.
• Promptly responding to all forms of victim communication.
• Participating as an active member of the unit while making positive suggestions for changes in operations or procedures to improve the quality of services provided to victims.
• Engaging in domestic violence awareness events and facilitating training on domestic violence topics both internally and externally.
• Review completed cases by examining case records and reports. This will identify areas where the assigned unit can improve its services to victims and their family members.
• Provide feedback and suggestions to other team members regarding case methodologies and procedures related to victim services.
• Keep up with current trends and practices applicable to the area of assignment through continuing education (seminars classes meetings) and reading of applicable journals.
• Perform all other duties assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associates degree in Psychology Sociology Human Services Criminal Justice or related field
• Three (3) years of relevant experience
• Have & maintain valid North Carolina or South Carolina Drivers License

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Psychology Sociology Human Services Criminal Justice or related field OR
• Masters degree in Psychology Sociology Human Services Criminal Justice or related field

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of intimate partner violence and related issues and a commitment to ending the cycle of violence.
• Considerable knowledge of the criminal justice system to include Civil District and Superior Court functions
• Considerable knowledge of state and federal domestic violence laws and victims rights in respect to the laws
• Considerable knowledge of available community counseling resources and programs.
• Considerable knowledge of crisis intervention methods.
• Knowledge of the dynamics of intimate partner violence.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with victims attorneys law enforcement personnel other agencies co-workers and the public.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both individually and as part of a team.
• Superior organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Effective public speaking skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative relationships with diverse individuals organizations and government agencies
• Commitment to contributing toward a positive work culture
• Must be computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to work flexible hours and a rotating on-call schedule.

ADA and Other Requirements:

Positions in this class typically require grasping talking hearing seeing and repetitive motions.

Physical Requirements:

• Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting standing climbing or walking for extended periods of time
• Light to moderate lifting and carrying; some crouching stooping squatting crawling reaching pushing and pulling when performing tasks
• Ability to see hear and communicate information effectively

Sensory Requirements:

• Concentrated and attentive use of one or more senses (visual audio and other sensory modalities) for proofreading data entry tabulating data.
• Ability to operate in an environment with frequent interruptions from people and or noises which in return could result in some level of stress fatigue or strain.
• Comprehend written information in work-related documents.
• Ability to hear understand and distinguish speech.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in an indoor office environment with moderate exposure to atmospheric conditions moderate exposure to environmental conditions and frequent exposure to computer screens files and phone.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The Citys Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes but is not limited to: reference checks social security verification education verification criminal conviction record check and if applicable a credit history check sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidates written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process candidates may be asked to take a skills test and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race religion color sex national origin marital status age disability sexual orientation political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress appearance or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street Suite 200 Charlotte NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST) excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process please email .

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request auxiliary aids written materials in alternate formats language access and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Clickhereto learn more about the City of Charlottes benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.