Victim Advocate

Title: Victim Advocate

Salary: $24.73 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 provides 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.

Qualifications:

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

Position Responsibilities:

• Complete intakes with victims seeking services as outlined by policy and procedure todetermineeligibility for services andidentifyvictim needs.

• Review consent and confidentiality with victims on a regular basis.

• Provide eligible and needed servicesto victimsincluding but not limited to crisis counseling safety planning advocacyaccompanimentinformationand referrals and Office of Victim Services claims filing.

• Meet withvictims in person and over the phone to provide ongoing services support and needs assessments.

• Accompany victims of crime as needed while providing crisis counseling information and referralsassistancewith crime victims compensation claims criminal justiceadvocacyand personal advocacy.

• Establish andmaintainliaisons within the District Attorneys Office Law Enforcement hospitals attorneys social services and other community agencies and stakeholders.

• Accompanyvictimsto hospitals police departments Title IX hearings court and other community agencies or locations during regular and irregular hours which may be on short notice.

• Review all assigned Office of Victim Services claims regularly and ensure claims are effectively managed.

• Provide information and referrals to allvictimsin need by following the agencys protocol.

• Evaluate and dispense emergency financialassistanceto victims as needed and approved by supervisors.

• 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 through the on-call rotation.

• Provide community outreach through presentations and tabling events.

• Assistwith fundraisers andspecial events(some of these may be outside agency hours of operation).

• Build and maintain effective and trusting relationships withprofessionalsin the Criminal JusticeSystemincluding but not limited to officers attorneys Child Protective Services workers etc.

• Complete all administrativetasks asassigned ona timelybasis including but not limited to documenting all activities preparing weekly and monthly activity reportsmaintainingup-to-date case records and inputting into the client database.

• Maintain statistics updated client records and prepare reports as needed.

• Complete andmaintaintraining certification as NYS DOH Rape Crisis Counselor.

• Complete NYS Mandated Reporter training; report any behavior orimplication of behaviorof child abuse to theappropriate authorities.

• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Requirements:

• Must have a cellphone willing to use for work (will be reimbursed) with effective coverage for the Dutchess County area.

• Must be able to get to and from various work locations throughout the day andduring oncall hours.

• Must be reachable outside of office hours as needed and have the ability to work irregular hours on short notice.

Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to work effectively when under extreme pressure.
• Ability to work independently but relayissues to manager as appropriate.
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully as part of a large teamand possess out of theboxthinking 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.
• Possess empathy and compassion.
• Clear and effective communication; both orally and in writing.

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 Programwhere 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.

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.

#INDCP

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

Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We follow federal state and local laws prohibiting discrimination in hiring and employment.

Must be authorized to work in the United States without work sponsorship.