Victims Compensation Coordinator

Center For Victims • Pittsburgh, PA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Center for Victims (CV) is announcing a position opening. Have you recently earned a degree and are looking to gain skills, work experience and professional development? Are you a seasoned professional looking to make an even bigger impact? We invite you to join us today!

POSITION: Victims Compensation Coordinator

The Victims Compensation Coordinator oversees CV’s Victims Compensation Program and is considered the “in-house” expert on financial assistance for victims of crime. The Compensation Coordinator advocates for financial assistance both on an individual case basis and on a systems level.

In this role, the Compensation Coordinator is responsible for providing local support in assisting crime victims in filing Victims Compensation claims to PCCD’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) in Harrisburg, assessing for eligibility, and providing follow-up.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Criminology, or a related field or an Associate’s degree in the same fields with three years minimum related work.
• Able to serve as a liaison between clients, VCAP and appropriate service providers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Completion of mandatory victim assistance training including domestic violence, sexual assault/rape crisis, & other crimes and basic conflict resolution training – provided by the organization.
• Ability to commit to additional training hours as required.
• Ability to secure Act 33 and 34 (Child Abuse and Criminal History) and FBI clearances.
• Ability to secure additional clearances/testing that may be required by funding regulations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Programs; computer/database skills including ability to learn state, county, and CV’s various software programs.
• Ability to work closely with others in a team environment.
• Supportive of organization’s mission along with sensitivity of cultural diversity and workplace harmony.
• Ability to adhere to CV’s confidentiality policy along with respect to sensitive, confidential client data and adherence to all Federal, State and local statutes.
• Access to a personal cell phone for safety and immediate business communications.
• A readily available and reliable means of transportation.
• Self-directed with strong problem-solving abilities and flexibility to meet the needs of the program.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in social services, VCAP or victim services a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provides basic information to callers/clients regarding the Victims Compensation Program, its eligibility requirements, expenses, and processes; providing an assessment of the caller’s / client’s financial needs.
• Responsible for regularly scheduled follow-up to clients, including phone calls, scheduling in-office visits and/or correspondence by mail, to assist the client in completing the claim form within the allotted time frame.
• Assists clients in the claims process by entering the completed claim to VCAP utilizing the DAVE system and collecting supporting documentation.
• Communicates with client/claimant throughout the process via mail, email, phone, and office visits and ensures they understand any and all communication from PCCD VCAP.
• Provides creditor intervention when needed by explaining VCAP process and advocating for the client.
• Works collaboratively with legal system advocates, District Attorney’s Office, and VCAP to ensure restitution is ordered through the court when applicable.
• Assists client/claimant through the VCAP Appeals process, informing them of the process and providing support and advocacy.
• Utilizes the VCAP Single Point of Contact to help process claims as expeditiously and as accurately as possible.
• Strengthens and maintains relationships with all systems crime victims may encounter including: legal, medical, social services, funeral directors etc. by fostering ongoing relationships and establishing new ones.
• Provides Victims Compensation informational presentations to allied professionals as requested, in order to strengthen understanding of Victims Compensation and facilitate ongoing relationships and referrals from these entities.
• Provides individual and personal advocacy on behalf of victims, witnesses and significant others throughout all relevant systems such as the medical, legal and court systems.
• Responsible for entry into data collection systems (ETO) and maintaining client files related to Victims Compensation services. This includes ongoing review for closing inactive cases.
• Participates as an active member with all trainings, in-services, and department or organization meetings.
• Participates in other direct services as assigned such as community crisis response, once required training is completed.
• Provides crisis counseling and support to victims, witnesses and significant others of violence and crime including psycho-educational information on the impacts of violence and trauma, information on justice system, Victim’s Rights/Media Rights.
• Participates in rotation of Support Staff for hotline during non-business hours.
• Provides and contributes to all assigned reports, grants and statistics as required by CV and/or the various funding sources.
• Other VOCA eligible duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employee Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
• Paid Time Off Benefits
• Shift differential offered for Second and Third Shift
• 15 Paid Holidays
• Short Term Disability and Life Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Opportunity for employee reimbursements for mileage, parking and cell phone usage (position dependent)
• Opportunity to apply for PSLF Program (Paid Student Loan Forgiveness Program) for your work with a non-profit

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree