Advocate

BCFS Health & Human Services • Wharton, TX

1d

About The Position

It's a great feeling to work for a company that does so much good for others around the world! Candidates for this position must reside in one of the following counties: Victoria, Calhoun, Goliad, Wharton, Jackson, Refugio, or Matagorda. Academic Req: Required - Bachelor’s degree in the following areas: social work, psychology, criminal justice, sociology, or related field of study Work experience: Required – Personal or professional experience with victims of human trafficking, victims of child abuse and neglect, or youth experiencing homelessness and/or addiction. Required 2-3 years case management and/or crisis intervention experience. Summary: The Advocate provides trauma-informed, relational advocacy and case management services to survivors, ensuring high-quality support in both crisis and long-term situations. Responsibilities include immediate crisis response, safety planning, case documentation, and coordination of ongoing services in alignment with program, state, and federal standards. This role requires flexibility for after-hours and weekend crisis coverage. The Advocate demonstrates Common Thread’s core values of compassion, integrity, resilience, and relational care. Employees must have a reliable personal vehicle and be able to consistently meet a 90-minute crisis response timeframe. Mileage is reimbursed in accordance with organizational policy. Travel is primarily regional; however, occasional overnight travel, including air travel, may be required based on program needs. Participation in an on-call rotation is required. Candidates must be available to respond to emergencies at any time, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. This role is highly mobile and requires exercising sound independent judgment and manage responsibilities with minimal supervision. Employees will use their personal vehicle as a primary mobile workspace and must be prepared to travel directly to response locations as needed.

Requirements

• Candidates for this position must reside in one of the following counties: Victoria, Calhoun, Goliad, Wharton, Jackson, Refugio, or Matagorda.
• Required - Bachelor’s degree in the following areas: social work, psychology, criminal justice, sociology, or related field of study
• Required – Personal or professional experience with victims of human trafficking, victims of child abuse and neglect, or youth experiencing homelessness and/or addiction.
• Required 2-3 years case management and/or crisis intervention experience.
• Employees must have a reliable personal vehicle and be able to consistently meet a 90-minute crisis response timeframe.
• Maintain current licenses and certificates required for the position including but not limited to: ☐First Aid ☐CPR ☐Emergency Behaviour Intervention ☐ Office of the Attorney General Sexual Abuse Program ☐Other:
• Demonstrate mastery of comprehensive safety, resiliency, and mental health assessment.
• Pass a pre-employment drug screen and random drug screens and always maintain emotional control and professional composure.
• Provide proof of work eligibility status upon request.
• Pass a pre-employment and biennial criminal background checks.
• Demonstrate the ability to: a. Respond sensitively and competently to the service population’s cultural and socio-economic characteristics. b. Communicate effectively in writing and verbally in English. Spanish communication is an asset. c. Continuously demonstrate the 12 essential characteristics of an effective advocate. d. Work in a fast-paced environment and maintain emotional control and professional composure at all times. e. Maintain computer literacy required to meet the responsibilities of the position. f. Work effectively and without intensive supervision both independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team. g. Adapt immediately to changes in the field.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of all Human Trafficking Interdiction policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Spanish communication is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Meet all federal and state regulatory guidelines and standards that are applicable to this position.
• Maintain a case load in accordance with agency policies and procedures and licensing and contract standards.
• Participate in workshops, seminars, education programs and other activities that promote professional growth and development.
• Maintain a minimum number of daily or weekly contacts with children and families.
• Continually assess ongoing changes in behavior, circumstances or conditions that may affect child safety. Assessment must be child-focused, trauma-informed, and meet program quality expectations.
• Provide family preservation interventions, including comprehensive safety planning and clinically informed stabilization planning.
• Provide feedback and support to crisis line staff to ensure an appropriate response to crisis calls, families’ needs are addressed through best possible supports, and follow ups are conducted as needed.
• Ensure immediate responsiveness for all referrals and crises for assigned caseload.
• Engage and involve children and their caregivers in the casework process.
• Document progress that children and their family/caregivers make toward risk reduction, achievement of service goals and positive case outcomes.
• Meet all documentation expectations within the program-required timelines.
• Comply with immediate reporting and response requirements for safety-related case issues in the field.
• Compile, prepare, submit and maintain accurate records, files, forms, statistics and additional information in accordance with agency policies, licensing and/or contract requirements.
• Transport clients, when needed, according to program protocol.
• Dispatch within the required time frame to assigned locations, which may include hospitals, police stations, DFPS offices, shelters, community-based settings, or incident locations.
• Continuously evaluate, develop, and strengthen the quality of rapport with assigned clients.
• Unfailingly commit to acting in the child’s best interest, including supporting the child’s relationships with community members and stakeholders.
• Participate in community meetings and actively communicate with stakeholders as required to ensure services are in place.
• Participate in weekly case staffing with regional team.
• Work evenings, weekends and holidays as needed or requested by position supervisor, including on-call assigned shifts.
• Implement BCFS HHS and program safety protocols including evacuating with children and other staff in case of an emergency.
• Maintain confidentiality in all areas of the service population and program operations.
• Maintain BCFS HHS professional and ethical standards of conduct outlined in BCFS HHS employee handbook including demonstrating respect for agency staff, the service population, and community members and always complying with required dress code.
• Independently coordinate referrals, service planning and documentation of services for assigned caseload.
• Provide comprehensive, trauma-informed service and safety planning, including immediate risk reduction and short-term therapeutic interventions.
• Act as a liaison with stakeholders, including legal providers, child protection, law enforcement, federal partners and others, and ensure both program and local protocol are followed.
• Accept crisis calls and provide support to families in crisis.
• Participate in weekly face to face or phone supervision with the supervisor.
• Travel approximately 75 percent of time throughout the region, including overnight stays.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments, develop treatment plans, and make independent decisions in the field regarding the safety and well-being of assigned children and families.
• Complete in-home family preservation services as assigned.
• Participate in community meetings and directly advocating with stakeholders for child services.
• Meet all deadlines required by program supervisor and federal partners.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level