Victim Advocate

Title: Victim Advocate

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

Supervisor: Coordinator of Advocacy

Salary: $24.73 per hour

Location: Poughkeepsie, NY

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.

Job Responsibilities:

• Complete intakes with victims seeking services as outlined by policy and procedure to determine eligibility for services and identify victim needs.

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

• Provide eligible and needed services to victims including but not limited to crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, accompaniment, information and referrals, and Office of Victim Services claims filing.

• Meet with victims 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 referrals, assistance with crime victims compensation claims, criminal justice advocacy and personal advocacy.

• Establish and maintain liaisons within the District Attorney’s Office, Law Enforcement, hospitals, attorneys, social services, and other community agencies and stakeholders.

• Accompany victims to 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 all victims in need by following the agency’s protocol.

• Evaluate and dispense emergency financial assistance to 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.

• Assist with fundraisers and special events (some of these may be outside agency hours of operation).

• Build and maintain effective and trusting relationships with professionals in the Criminal Justice System including but not limited to officers, attorneys, Child Protective Services workers, etc.

• Complete all administrative tasks as assigned on a timely basis, including but not limited to documenting all activities, preparing weekly and monthly activity reports, maintaining up-to-date case records, and inputting into the client database.

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

• Complete and maintain training certification as NYS DOH Rape Crisis Counselor.

• Complete NYS Mandated Reporter training; report any behavior or implication of behavior of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.

• Other duties as assigned.

Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to work effectively when under extreme pressure.
• Ability to work independently, but relay issues to manager, as appropriate.
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully as part of a large team and 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.
• Possess empathy and compassion.
• Clear and effective communication; both orally and in writing.

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 and during on call hours.

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

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.

Our Mission:

To support people, strengthen families, and nurture safer, healthier communities.

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

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 hr@familyservicesny.org.

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.