Direct Service Advocate

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

Provides trauma-informed rape crisis advocacy to sexual violence survivors and co-survivors. Provides specialized services to survivors of sexual violence in conjunction with the Akron Police Department’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Program.

Job Description

Education, Experience and Qualifications :

• Degree in women’s studies, social work, criminal justice, psychology or related field strongly preferred
• Victim advocacy training and / or experience preferred
• Maintain valid Ohio driver’s license and ability to meet agency requirements for driving insurability
• Must be able to meet agency requirements for criminal background check (Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Federal Bureau of Investigations)

Essential Job Duties :

• Represent the mission and philosophy of Rape Crisis Center at all times
• Maintain confidentiality and proper documentation of client information learned through one’s employment at Rape Crisis Center
• Provide survivors with support (in person or via phone) using NOVA’s model of crisis intervention
• Empower survivors to make informed decisions by providing options to meet their individual needs
• Empower survivors to create and continue self-initiated goals during the creation of a plan of action (case plan)
• Provide support through the judicial process within the Summit County Judicial System
• Offer to attend criminal / civil hearings or meetings with survivors to provide advocacy and support
• Educate survivors on their rights and the application of applying or waiving their rights as a victim of crime
• Provide assistance with protection order paperwork, victim compensation paperwork, or VINE enrollment when necessary
• Provide information and referrals when necessary
• Provide on call hotline and on scene support to peers during designated shifts throughout the month
• Offer survivors the ability to evaluate services
• Liaison with first responders, emergency, or hospital personnel when warranted
• Assist in training & onboarding staff / volunteers / interns
• Engage in professional development through required trainings
• Hold volunteers and interns accountable for adhering to policies & procedures
• Engage in all required staff meetings
• Attend required supervision meetings
• Attend monthly ASAKI Team Meetings and Case Reviews
• Maintain all licenses and certifications held
• Maintain and advance in NACP when applicable
• Adhere to MOU’s with partnering agencies
• Maintain a working knowledge of any and all available resources that would benefit clients
• Adhere to Service Excellence standards at all times
• Represent the agency and / or survivors engaged in collaborative projects / meetings upon request
• Complies with agency and program policies and procedures, federal and state requirements, and educational / certification / registry requirements
• Job duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time

Essential Skills :

• Ability to remain calm, empathetic, non-judgmental and compassionate in crisis situations
• Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, particularly with diverse population

Supervisory Responsibilities : No supervisory responsibilities for this position.

Physical demands and work environment : The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands : While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects;

reach with hands and arms; step up and down; stoop, kneel, crouch; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and / or move up to 10 pounds.

Work environment : The employee may be exposed to possible danger from perpetrators and / or clients.

Typical Hours of Work

12 am - 8 am Saturday and Sunday

Additional Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Computer skills including, but not limited to, Microsoft Word and Excel.
Benefits :
• 401(k)
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching

Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center (H&H) is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

H&H prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, ancestry, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state or local laws.

Additionally, reasonable accommodations will be made (where appropriate) for religious practices or employees with disabilities.

Employees who may require a reasonable accommodation should contact an agency Director or the CEO. This policy applies to all employment practices within H&H, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship.

H&H makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit and program needs at the time.

12 am - 8am Saturday / Sunday