DV Advocate - $19+ - 16 Hours

Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA • Washington, PA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

DVSSP is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging. This role will have the option of Friday 12am-8am and Sunday 4pm-12am or Saturday and Sunday 8am-4pm. The DV Advocate role involves using an educative, supportive, trauma-informed model when providing direct service. Direct services include telephone hotline counseling, safety planning, information and referrals, individual advocacy, individual counseling, transportation, support groups, and victim compensation assistance. The role also involves scheduling and completion of service plans, providing intakes and transportation, arranging hotline coverage, reporting child abuse as mandated by law, supervising and training volunteers, establishing cooperative working relationships with community resources, maintaining electronic counseling records, preparing reports, counseling clients in legal options, supporting clients in the justice system, accompanying clients to hearings and law enforcement agencies, assisting with Protection From Abuse petitions, developing relationships with legal/law enforcement systems, participating in community outreach and systems advocacy for the Lethality Assessment Program, participating in advocacy activities on behalf of domestic violence victims, maintaining daily computer data collection and paperwork, making prudent use of resources, maintaining confidentiality, assuring security and safety measures, keeping up to date with prevailing laws and local procedures, completing trainings, and participating in fundraising activities. The position requires regular and reliable attendance and the ability to work shifts that support a 24/7 operation.

Requirements

• Translatable work experience
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Ability to provide on-going supervision, training, and professional development
• Collaborate with peers and other departments within the agency
• Working knowledge of community resources
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Proficient computer, Internet, and email skills
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint processed in accordance with Public Law 92-522 and the Child Protective Services Law (Title 23, Pa C.S. Chapter 63), Federal Criminal History Background Check.
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance.
• PA State Police Report of Criminal History Clearance.
• Reference Check
• Possess current PA driver’s license, insurance, and reliable vehicle

Nice To Haves

• Advanced Degree or equivalent work experience

Responsibilities

• Use an educative, supportive, trauma-informed model when providing direct service.
• Provide direct service including telephone hotline counseling, safety planning, information and referrals, individual advocacy, individual counseling, transportation, support groups, and victim compensation assistance.
• Schedule and complete service plans and service plan updates; assist clients with their service plan work.
• Provide intakes and transportation as needed, arrange hotline coverage as warranted.
• Offer education and information about other community options while providing hotline counseling, particularly if DVSSP has no available beds.
• Report child abuse as mandated by law, reinforcing to volunteers that they are mandated reporters and required to report child abuse as directed by the requisite process in place.
• Supervise and train worksite volunteers as directed.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with other community resources.
• Maintain detailed and timely electronic counseling records.
• Prepare and submit all statistics and reports as instructed.
• Counsel clients in legal options and expectations; support and assist clients in all aspects of the criminal and civil justice systems, accompanying them to hearings as requested.
• Accompany clients to law enforcement agencies and advocate on their behalf as requested.
• Assist clients in filing Protection From Abuse petitions, accompanying them to Southwestern PA Legal Services and advocating for them at hearings.
• Develop/maintain good working relationships with and assist in trainings to legal/law enforcement systems.
• Participate in community outreach and systems advocacy for Lethality Assessment Program.
• Participate in advocacy activities on behalf of domestic violence victims on a local, state, and national level to assure increased levels of awareness of domestic violence issues by policy makers and the public.
• Maintain daily computer data collection and necessary paperwork.
• Make prudent use of resources by monitoring consumption, minimizing waste, and offering suggestions for improving agency efficiency (e.g., travel expenses, office supplies).
• Maintain facility, staff, volunteer, and client confidentiality, assure adequate security and safety measures.
• Keep up to date with prevailing laws and local procedures pertaining to domestic violence.
• Complete trainings as directed by the Director of Client Services.
• Participate and promote DVSSP fundraising activities.
• Exhibit regular and reliable attendance.
• Possess vision and initiative to set and achieve goals with a willingness to do more than is required or expected in the job.
• Demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for learning new skills and assuming new/changing roles.
• Possess confidence to make decisions and work in high pressure or crisis situations.
• Take full accountability for meeting commitments and achieving expected results.
• Accept challenges and use creative approaches to assess and solve problems.
• Communicate effectively by using available technologies. Ensure that own communication is easily understood by speaking and writing clearly using standard grammar and spelling.
• Possess comprehension of basic math skills and concepts.
• Provide a culturally competent and flexible approach when working with those from various cultures by acknowledging, accepting, and accommodating differences.
• Embrace evaluation techniques to ensure effective service delivery.
• Exhibit a primary prevention mindset as a means toward ending domestic violence.
• Support and role model the core values of trauma informed care.
• Ability to work shifts that support a 24/7 operation.

Benefits

• Flexible Scheduling
• Paid Training
• Competitive Pay
• Annual education opportunities
• Internal Advancement
• Comprehensive Benefit package including PTO, Sick Time, and Agency Vehicle use for work related travel.
• Pension
• Life Insurance
• Extended Paid Leave
• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Eligibility for the Student Loan Forgiveness Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed