Supv, Victim Services

City of Austin•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general direction, the Supervisor, Victim Services supervises and coordinates daily personnel activities in support of the Austin Police Victim Services Counseling Program. This posting is specifically for the Sex Crimes Unit. The supervisor oversees counselors who provide crisis counseling, advocacy, justice support, safety planning, information, and referrals to victims and witnesses of crime, and ensures adequate staffing and coordination of daily assignments. The position supports employees’ clinical development through observation, assessment, and evaluation, and uses evidence-based supervisory techniques to solve problems and implement interventions. The supervisor helps determine program goals, objectives, and resource needs; participates in budget preparation and monitoring; and evaluates program effectiveness. The role also includes clinical supervision for employees pursuing LCSW or LPC licensure, incident command leadership and preparedness for critical incidents and disasters, collaboration on media interviews, and preparation for and testimony in court as a fact or expert witness. The supervisor exercises the full range of supervisory responsibilities, including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendations for dismissal. The work requires knowledge and experience in mental health, trauma, victimology, clinical supervision, operations oversight, critical incident command, police operations, vicarious trauma, and victim assistance best practices. The position is based at 4201 Ed Bluestein Blvd, Austin, Texas. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with rotating on-call shifts that include after-hours, weekends, and holidays.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a mental health-related field.
Five years of experience in clinical mental health counseling and crisis management, including at least one year in a lead or supervisory capacity.
A Licensed Social Worker, Professional Counselor, or Marriage and Family Therapist credential may substitute for two years of the required experience.
Valid Class C driver license.
Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles; counseling, theoretical frameworks, and techniques; mental health issues, trauma, and victimology; Critical Incident Command; police operations and investigative procedures; and victim assistance best practices.
Skills in oral and written communication, handling multiple tasks and prioritizing, computer and related software use, data analysis and problem solving, planning and organizing, and trauma and crisis counseling.
Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changing priorities, train others, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with City employees, external agencies, and the public.
Must pass a CJIS fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility.
Must submit a complete City of Austin employment application, resume, and cover letter; a resume and cover letter do not replace the required application.
Must comply with Austin Police Department review and approval requirements for secondary employment.

Responsibilities

Supervise and coordinate the daily activities and assignments of Victim Services Counseling Program personnel, ensuring adequate staffing.
Promote employees’ clinical skills and development of therapeutic frameworks, approaches, and modalities through observation, assessment, and evaluation; use evidence-based techniques to solve problems and implement interventions.
Determine goals, objectives, and resource requirements for Victim Services programs.
Participate in preparation and monitoring of the division budget.
Research and prepare narrative material for grant proposals, annual reports, and other requested documentation.
Provide incident command leadership and preparedness for critical incident scenes and disasters.
Assign projects, set schedules, and monitor task completion for timeliness, accuracy, and effectiveness.
Evaluate program effectiveness and develop improved methods.
Provide required individual and group clinical supervision to employees pursuing Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Professional Counselor licensure.
Conduct media interviews in collaboration with the Austin Public Information Office.
Prepare for and testify in court as a fact or expert witness.
Perform supervisory duties including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendations for dismissal.