LTGF Victim Services Assistant

Prince George's County Government•Various Locations Throughout Prince George's County, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This is an entry level secretarial/administrative position. The Victim Services Assistant (VSA) will assist the Victim Services Unit with daily operations. Under direction, VSA will be the primary point of contact for the Victim Services Unit (VSU) and will assist primary and secondary victims and witnesses with compensation claims, case statuses, community awareness and other related duties as required. Good judgment and discretion are essential to the security of confidential information and data. The Prince George’s County Police Department is the fourth largest law enforcement agency in Maryland, providing a full range of law enforcement services to County residents and business owners. Their mission is to work in partnership with citizens of Prince George's County towards providing a safe environment and enhancing the quality of life. Today, the Prince George's County Police Department serves over 900,000 residents and has an authorized strength of 1800 officers and 300 civilians. This position is limited term grant funded (LTGF). Positions designated as limited-term grant-funded are temporary in nature and the employment period is contingent upon the grant's continued funding availability. This position does offer limited benefits.

Requirements

High school diploma or G.E.D. certificate with coursework in typing, office practices or other related clerical subjects.
One (1) year of advanced diverse and/or technical clerical experience which must have involved working with the public for at least six (6) months.
Any equivalent combination of relevant training, education and experience may also be considered.
Possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
Be willing to work assigned shift work (days/evenings/weekends/holidays).
Meet all training and performance standards and demonstrate proficiency as required by the agency.
Wear and use agency protective apparel and equipment in the performance of their assigned duties, if applicable.
Successfully pass preemployment checks which may include reference checks, background investigations, and drug screenings, where applicable.
Be willing and able to serve as an essential employee.
The incumbent shall not disseminate confidential information, administrative or operational, unless expressly authorized.
Confidential information may not be discussed with other County employees (including individuals in the Police Department), except for work-related reasons, under terms and conditions of the Maryland Public Information Act.
Applicants who are selected for employment will be required to provide and verify authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, social work, human services, sociology or related field.
At least one-years' experience providing services to victims of crimes or working within the criminal justice system.
Two-years of administrative experience.
Bi-lingual strongly preferred (Spanish and/or other languages).
Ability to establish a professional rapport with police personnel, supervisors, the community, outside agencies and outside bereavement programs.
Excellent crisis intervention skills.
Ability to communicate difficult/sensitive information.
Knowledge of the law enforcement/criminal justice field.
Knowledge of trauma-informed victim advocacy.
Ability to work efficiently in a stressful, trauma-induced/ intense environment.
Ability to take initiative, work independently, balance multiple cases, set priorities, and work autonomously yet also as a member of a team.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills including public speaking.
Ability to effectively interact with a diverse population.
Full understanding of the dimensions of response to victimization.
Ability to facilitate referrals to appropriate services/agencies.
Ability to receive and complete time sensitive tasks.

Responsibilities

Answers incoming phone calls in response to office correspondence in order to obtain the most up to date information for victims and witnesses.
Prepares correspondence to victims, witnesses and police officers to provide case status updates and resource information.
Provides intake assessments to determine needs of victims and prepare findings for the Victim Services Coordinator.
Follows up with victims, witnesses and partnering agencies to confirm services rendered.
Assists and tracks primary and secondary victims CICB- Criminal Injuries Compensation Board application.
Maintains accurate notes in case management system.
Sends out and process all mail, including any returned mail to the Victim Services Coordinator.
Tracks any upcoming cases for Crime Victim Notification to determine if Victim Services Coordinator should notify victims of hearings.
Assists with the preparation of reports for Criminal Investigations Division (CID) commanders and grant compliance including gathering and analyzing stats.
Assists with other duties that fall within the responsibilities of this classification.