Counselor Advocate

The Salvation Army Eastern Territory•City of Elmira, NY

About The Position

Seeking: compassionate individuals looking to help make a difference! If you are passionate about making a difference in someone’s life and want to work for an organization that appreciates and recognizes their employee’s success, we encourage you to apply today! Seeking a Full Time Counselor Advocate on our Elmira Corps Safehouse Team SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF POSITION:Providing immediate emergency direct services for victims of domestic violence and using a holistic approach to healing; supporting each survivor’s unique journey from victimization to hope for a future free from domestic violence. To provide direct services to survivors of human trafficking. The position will also include community education/awareness activities, outreach, and community engagement with law enforcement, faith-based community partners, public child welfare departments, and community-based agencies.

Requirements

Must have a valid driver’s license that meets The Salvation Army insurance requirements.
Experience with trauma informed care and knowledge of domestic violence issues
Must have computer/typing skills in order to complete statistics, maintain case files, and correspond via email communication.
Must have good communication skills – both verbal and written.
Must have an understanding of program needs and goals.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree Preferred

Responsibilities

Develop and oversee direct services, initial screening and intake process of minor victims of domestic violence to ensure all coordinated referrals needed are made with community partners for identified and ongoing service needs
Assure there is a 24/7 response to hotline calls by being on-call for resident assistants
Identify and provide ongoing community training to ensure best practice models are implemented throughout the community and across systems
Provide ongoing trauma informed direct services to a caseload of domestic violence residents and non-residents
Identify survivor leaders to provide ongoing feedback and support for those affected by domestic violence
Responsible for the timely submission of all required reports
Provide comprehensive victim services, which will include:o Assisting victims with setting and accomplishing short- and long-term goalso Counseling - individual and group o Follow up contact through in-person contacts, telephone contacts or written communications
Counseling – individualized and/or group counseling to victims addressing the needs identified by the victims, assist in seeking services on their own behalf, informing the victims of options available to ensure their safety and the safety of their minor children, informing the victims of the nature of family violence and its effects on children, informing the informing the victims of the legal, financial and housing options available to them; assist the victim to improve their problem solving skills
Personal advocacy services, providing liaison services or active intervention with community services and programs as appropriate: medical care; social services; employment, housing and submitting public assistance applications.
Criminal justice support and accompaniment, including assisting victims in the application of petitions for Family and Criminal Court. Providing liaison services or active intervention on behalf of victims such as: assistance in accessing legal remedies and protections and law enforcement personnel.
Crisis Hotline counseling available 24 hours a day to residential and non-residential clients
Provide information and referrals – to community services and programs which meet the individual needs of victims of domestic violence
Community education/outreach activities by providing activities to the community regarding the need for and benefits of domestic violence service, the dynamics of domestic violence and the prevention of domestic violence by making presentations, distributing written materials and using the media.
Providing children’s service by offering and providing appropriate counseling to the children of victims of domestic violence and assisting victim’s domestic violence in arranging child care for their children when such care is necessary to enable the victims to seek services or to participate in activities which would alleviate the victim’s needs.
Providing support groups which allow peer support to interested victims of domestic violence to discuss their experiences with family violence.
Providing transportation to victims of domestic violence to secure legal, medical, housing, employment or public assistance services.
To obtain translation services to interpret any oral or written information for non-English speaking victims of domestic violence.
Providing perpetrators and alleged perpetrators of domestic violence, upon request, with information and referral to community services and programs which meet the individual needs of such perpetrators
Maintaining and making accessible a list of community services and programs needed by victims of domestic violence or household members
Assist with the filing of NYS Office of Victim Service compensation claims including making victims aware of the availability of the program.
Maintain case records including intakes and billings.
Transport and accompany clients to appointments.
Fulfill the mandated NYS requirements by reporting suspected child abuse
Neglect and then providing pertinent information to the Director.
Fill in staff schedule as needed to maintain 24-hour coverage of the Safehouse shelter.
Accept on-call responsibilities as assigned being within a 30-minute response area.
Attend community meetings and presentations as assigned representing the program in a professional manner.
Assist as necessary to maintain the shelter in regulatory status; including food shopping and cleaning.
Maintain confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA Regulations.
Accept other duties as assigned by the Safehouse Director.
Accept any other duties as deemed necessary by the Commanding Officers

Benefits

Generous time off every year including 14 paid holidays, up to 3 personal days, vacation time, and sick time
Employer funded Pension Plan (company contributions begin after 1 year of continuous employment)
Comprehensive Health Care Coverage with low cost employee premiums, co-pays, and deductibles
Company Paid Basic Term Life Insurance for Employee
Long Term Disability Insurance
Eligibility for supplemental insurance plans including Short Term Disability, AFLAC, and Voluntary Term Life
Flexible Spending Account
Eligibility for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Tax Deferred Annuity (403B)
Christmas Bonus
Wireless discount for Verizon customers
Free parking