Community Advocate & Group Facilitator

SafePlace•Olympia, WA

About The Position

The Community Advocate & Group Facilitator will utilize agency curriculum to implement survivor support groups. They provide individual advocacy to drop-in clients and group members at the SafePlace business office and may be assigned advocacy duties at community partner sites. The partner with their manager and the Prevention Specialist to implement outreach events and awareness activities, and education sessions, and may support prevention work as needed. This position advocates for sexual and domestic violence for survivors, performs crisis intervention and ongoing advocacy in person and over the phone, provides clients with referrals and other information, and assess survivors’ current situations and develops safety plans. Stipend phone coverage is expected for this position outside of regularly scheduled shifts, which includes covering crisis line calls one to two nights per week as needed. The position may work with agency volunteers or interns and will perform general administrative duties.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in human services related fields, plus one year’s experience working/volunteering in a social service field and/or with vulnerable populations or people in crisis, or relevant and equivalent combination of education and experience.
Complete the SafePlace Advocate Core Training (ACT) within the required initial timeframe.
Experience with support group facilitation and/or curriculum development, public speaking and presentation, or other similar experience.
Experience providing services in a culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and client-centered manner.
Experience with basic computer skills using the Office 365 suite; ability to use the internet safely and effectively.
Experience with effective communication, both verbally and in
Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts and set
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and effectively solve problems.
Ability to track multiple activities and be effectively organized.
Ability to handle detailed work accurately and to handle multiple tasks
Ability to work
Ability to handle stress
Ability to react calmly and quickly to emergency
Ability to maintain a positive attitude in a crisis intervention work
Have a car, current automobile liability insurance and telephone or have access to transportation to respond to offsite locations within 20-30
Ability to implement and maintain standards of safety and confidentiality
Agreement with the SafePlace mission, values, and philosophy

Nice To Haves

Bilingual/bicultural (Spanish or Asian languages).
CPR/First Aid training

Responsibilities

Provide emotional support and advocacy services to sexual and domestic violence clients during drop-in hours, by appointment, and during off-site advocacy staffing of partner agencies.
Provide clients with crisis intervention, advocacy, safety planning, emotional support, and other requested
Maintain current and thorough working knowledge of community resources to make quality referrals to clients.
Provide in-person sexual assault advocacy to clients through drop-in, appointment, and hospital response.
Provide appropriate documentation of client
Keep accurate and contract-compliant client records according to agency policy.
Ensure weekly data entry is complete, accurate, and timely.
Maintain appropriate documentation of shift
Ensure activities are tracked via Outlook and program calendars and proactively follow up with any relevant activity partners to ensure timely and consistent implementation.
Participate in on-the-job training and ensure that annually required continuing education hours are met.
Attend community meetings and/or tabling/outreach events, as
Engage community partners in supporting the work of the agency and needed services for survivors.
Track, research, and properly document outreach activities performed within Thurston
Work with Program Manager to identify potential opportunities and changes to current programming and curriculum when needed or requested.
Participate in agency and team meetings which may include case
Perform duties as described in a culturally responsive manner according to agency policy, ensuring compliance with ethical practice.
Follow all agency policies and procedures including conduct, communication, services, accurate record and time keeping, and stewardship of agency resources.
Work with Program Manager to Plan, organize, and facilitate support group sessions.
Plan activities, discussion topics, and/or schedule guests each week on relevant domestic violence, sexual assault, and children and parenting topics, and/or on community resources and include feedback from participants when planning.
Get supervisor and/or director approval of curriculum or outreach and awareness activities prior to implementation.
Screen potential participants for group participation, including information on confidentiality and mandated reporting and schedule
Attend meetings community partners and workgroups as
Regularly distribute client feedback surveys for group participants and outreach or educational sessions.