Counselor / Advocate - Part time - weekends - various hours

Job Summary : Provides hotline, individual, crisis and support counseling.

Job Responsibilities :

Maintain strict confidentiality of all client identification and information. May disclose confidential information only with valid, informed consent from a client or party legally authorized to consent on behalf of client.

Duties required but not limited to the following :

• 1.Provides crisis counseling which includes in-person crisis intervention, emotional support, guidance, and counseling. Such counseling may occur at the scene of a crime;
• immediately after a crime; at the first contact between a counselor and victim in an emergency room, at a police station, at a district attorney’s office;

or during in-person contact for the duration of the crisis experience.

2.Provides follow-up counseling which includes in-person and telephone individual emotional support, empathetic listening, and guidance for other than crisis reaction after the victimization that is designed to meet the needs of crime victims.

3.Provides group treatment / support groups which include the coordination and provision of supportive group activities. This category includes self-help, peer, social support, drop-in groups, and community crisis intervention in a group setting designed specifically for crime victims.

4..Provides information and referrals which includes in-person contact with victims to identify services offered and support available by sub-grant projects and other community agencies.

Provides telephone contact / Information and referrals to victims.

REQUIRED TRAINING

• Attend a minimum of 15 hours of training annually.
• Assist with training other individuals in the Social Service Systems.

TEAMWORK

Document program participant information in the database system daily.

Assist with accomplishing agency-wide annual goals and objectives.

• Assure that emergency shelter and bridge transitional housing units are clean, organized and well maintained and in compliance with standards.
• Work collaboratively with social service agencies, hospitals, clinics, and other community resources to assist with external coordination of services for victim / survivors.
• All duties assigned by COO and / or CEO.

Skills and Qualifications

• Able to work under pressure and adhere to deadlines.
• Strong commitment to the mission and goals of DVCCC, professional work goals and personal development.
• Through knowledge and understanding of issues confronted by victims of abuse.
• Able to work with victims and their children. Able to work with a diverse population.
• Knowledge of civil, criminal, and family court systems, and community agency support services available to victims of domestic violence.
• Ability to speak to program participants and various audiences.
• Ability to strategize issues related to domestic violence.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, and a variety of internal and external colleagues.

Physical Requirements :

• Much of the work performed is sedentary in nature yet may require the employee to exert themselves with minimal force and / or be able lift or move light objects associated with the job responsibilities.
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee will need to work in a small open-plan office with other employees and have effective communication skills.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Other Requirements

• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Products.
• Adhere to all agency policies and procedures (attendance, work hours, paperwork, etc)
• Childcare, criminal and FBI clearances as required by the state and DVCCC.

Environment and Conditions

The incumbent’s typical place of work is an office environment and thus will not be substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions

Disclaimer

The information provided in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job.

It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and working conditions required of employees assigned to this job.

Management has sole discretion to add or modify duties of the job and to designate other functions as essential at any time.

This job description is not an employment agreement or contract.

Minimum Training and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Services or related field
• Three years related experience
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Various - Weekend hours