FT DV Advocate - Day

YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee•Nashville, TN

5h•Onsite

About The Position

The DV Advocate responds to incoming calls on the YWCA 24-hour crisis and support helpline, providing emotional support, resources, and safety planning when appropriate. The role requires compassion, empathy, and sensitivity toward callers and shelter residents. The advocate also supports residential shelter operations, safety, client services, documentation, and referrals. This is an onsite position with a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., paying $18.87 per hour.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least six months of related experience.
Valid driver’s license, motor vehicle insurance that complies with local laws, and a clean motor vehicle report.
Ability to react immediately and calmly to crisis situations and quickly build rapport with callers.
Ability to communicate concisely and effectively.
Compassion and understanding for people in potentially life-threatening situations, with the ability to assess serious issues.
Sensitivity to the needs of survivors of domestic violence and their children.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion.
Resourcefulness, creativity, and problem-solving ability.
Excellent oral and verbal communication skills, including analyzing problems and presenting solutions to staff and clients.
Strong follow-through and attention to detail.
Respect for and sensitivity to cultural differences.
Strong belief in the YWCA and ability to convey its importance.
Ability to communicate with peers, the general public, clients, and vendors; tolerate varying noise levels; move throughout the building; and sit or remain stationary for extended periods.
May need to talk or hear, sit, stand, walk, reach, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and taste or smell.
Ability to move 25 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Counseling or a related mental health field.

Responsibilities

Respond to incoming calls on the 24-hour crisis and support helpline, providing emotional support, resources, and safety planning when appropriate.
Assess callers’ needs for emergency shelter, determine eligibility for intake, and develop transportation plans to shelter.
Provide supportive interactions and information about domestic violence to shelter residents.
Maintain accurate, confidential daily client records documenting behaviors, incidents, interactions, and progress.
Conduct intake, orientation, exit interviews, and safety planning with shelter residents in an appropriate and timely manner.
Monitor building condition and cleanliness, report malfunctions, conduct weekly room inspections, and file appropriate work orders.
Identify barriers to clients’ success and make appropriate referrals.
Monitor resident activity and manage conflicts through appropriate intervention.
Monitor and secure the physical environment to maximize resident safety, responding appropriately to security threats.
Learn and appropriately implement agency and program policies and procedures, and interpret them for residents and volunteers.
Manage and maintain rotating holiday residential coverage.
Provide support to visitors and volunteers.
Conduct client meetings as needed to share information and build community.
Attend program staff meetings, in-service training, YW All Staff, and other meetings as requested.
Perform other duties as assigned.