Counselor Advocate - Day Shift

Domestic Violence Service Center•Wilkes-Barre, PA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a full-time non-exempt position. 35 hours/week, including weekends and holidays for events, on-call rotation and weekend coverage rotation. Flexibility required. The Counselor Advocate delivers Emergency Shelter and Hotline services primarily for Carbon and Luzerne Counties, providing crisis intervention, intake, supportive options counseling, safety planning, information and referral, advocacy with other community resources, referral to emergency shelter and transportation arrangements. They facilitate regular house meetings and support groups, ensure clients abide by house rules, and perform regular living area checks. The role involves scheduling and conducting interviews, reviewing program requirements, conducting in-person intake interviews, and orienting new residents. The Advocate assures client safety and well-being, helps residents set and achieve personal goals, and provides domestic violence related services to victims in the Bridge Housing Program. They also ensure compliance with fire and health code regulations. For those assigned to or volunteering for the post-residential program, duties include home visits, case management, advocacy, and support group services for women at risk of revictimization or homelessness. Additional duties involve intervention on behalf of clients, assistance with victim compensation claims, and systems advocacy. The role requires accepting police referrals, completing follow-up with clients, promoting a harmonious environment, performing daily housekeeping checks, organizing donations, and preparing rooms for clients. They facilitate community support groups, ensure facility safety and efficiency, perform basic maintenance, and advise on policies and procedures. Accurate documentation of client activities and daily logs is essential, along with maintaining a list of referrals. The Advocate works cooperatively with staff, volunteers, and interns, and performs other duties as requested by supervisors.

Requirements

A minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent; with experience working with domestic violence, social services or social work is required.
The ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times is an essential requirement.
The ability to use basic practical problem-solving skills, good reasoning and judgment to confront varying situations is essential.
An ability to manage in-house crisis situations; to provide crisis intervention; and to interact professionally but assertively with others is essential.
Effective communication, organizational and interaction skills are essential.
Must be able to follow direction and be able to work as a cooperative member of a team.
Proficiency with MS Office required – MS Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Working knowledge of office equipment, like printers and fax machines
Ability to learn and use other industry specific software
A PA Child Abuse History Clearance
PA Criminal Background Check
FBI Criminal Background Check
Successful completion of pre-employment drug screen
A valid PA Driver’s license, access to a motor vehicle, successful MVR check, and adequate auto insurance
Successfully complete mandatory Domestic Violence Counselor/Advocate training in a timely manner.
Attend in-service training programs as scheduled.

Nice To Haves

A demonstrated understanding of and commitment to client self-determination is preferred.
Familiarity with feminist philosophy and issues; of problems faced by victims of domestic violence; and of problems faced by disadvantaged and homeless women, is preferred.
A willingness to work toward the goals of the agency according to DVSC philosophy and policy; and to accept further education/training to develop skills appropriate to the position.

Responsibilities

Deliver Emergency Shelter and Hotline services primarily for Carbon and Luzerne Counties (may speak with individuals in other counties as well), i.e., crisis intervention, intake, supportive options counseling, safety planning, information and referral, advocacy with other community resources, referral to emergency shelter and transportation arrangements, if needed.
Facilitate regular house meetings and support groups for all residential guests.
Ensure that clients are abiding by house rules and perform regular living area checks.
Schedule and conduct interviews to gather necessary information and review program requirements and guidelines with clients; checks references prior to intake acceptance.
Conduct in-person intake interviews with new residents and eases their adjustment to communal living by orienting them to the building and to house rules and residents’ guidelines.
Assure the safety and well-being of clients in accordance with DVSC guidelines.
Help residents to set and achieve personal goals by providing information and referral to available resources and services. Assist clients in achieving their established goals.
Provide domestic violence related services to victims who reside in the Bridge Housing Program.
Ensure compliance with fire and health code regulations.
Provide intervention as needed with individuals, other agencies, and systems on behalf of clients.
Provide assistance in filing victim compensation claims.
Assist with “systems advocacy” efforts as requested.
Provide crisis intervention, intake, supportive options counseling, safety planning, information and referral, advocacy with other community resources, follow up services, referral to emergency shelter and transportation arrangements, if needed, in person (Shelter/BH, court, and hospital) or on Hotline as necessary.
Accept daily police referrals; completes follow-up with police-referred clients.
Continually work towards promoting a harmonious and cooperative environment among residents.
Perform daily housekeeping checks to ensure completion of residents’ chores.
Ensure that “in-kind” donations are organized and stored in an orderly manner. Ensure the availability of adequate consumable supplies for resident needs.
Assist in preparing rooms for arriving or departing clients. Clean out rooms, laundry services, housekeeping tasks, etc.
Facilitate community support groups as necessary or requested.
Ensure a safe, secure and efficient facility. Perform basic preventative maintenance and housekeeping to remove any safety concerns.
Advise and recommend policies and procedures based on working knowledge of the program to improve quality of services.
Assist supervisors in the planning, scheduling, and implementation of activities designed to promote client self-sufficiency and independence.
Participate in case conferences with supervisors and other staff as scheduled.
Accurately document all client, client contact activities and daily logs on appropriate forms and client-based software and according to DVSC policy and procedure. Update on a regular basis; and maintains a list of referrals for clients and victims of domestic violence.
Work cooperatively with other staff, volunteers and interns; assisting and guiding duties, program requirements and housing guidelines while on duty.
Perform other reasonably requested duties as per the Program Supervisor or the Executive Director.