Victim Advocate Supervisor

This is responsible, specialized work advocating for victims and survivors of violent crimes: i.e., domestic violence, sexual battery, child abuse, etc. in the City of Miami Beach; coordinating prosecution efforts; providing services to victims and families; and providing crisis intervention and referrals to counseling programs or agencies, as circumstances dictate. Work involves the performance of a variety of non-hazardous/non­ enforcement field work and office duties. An employee in this classification will work under the direction of Police Department administrators; however, considerable latitude will be afforded since the employee in this position will be the department's expert in this field. Assignments are received and work methods prescribed in the form of general outlines subject to review for compliance with departmental standards and objectives.

NOTE:
1 - On-call stipend
2 - Shifts - 6 AM - 4 PM    1 PM - 11 PM
Saturday and Sunday - 8 AM - 6 PM (on-call hours)

• Provide in-person crisis intervention, emotional support, short-term counseling, financial assistance, food vouchers, placement in shelters, and related assistance as indicated
• Interviews and counsels victims  concerning  physical well-being, emotional  stability,  and  victims'  rights available under state law
• Conduct risk assessments, and provides safety planning services
• Contact victims to extend services and provide referrals to the appropriate community resource and social service agencies, according to the victim's needs
• Assist victims in coordinating needed services such as follow-up counseling, shelter, social services referrals, and locating support groups
• Assist victims as needed, with filing for applicable victim compensation, with the writing of impact statements, property retrieval, employer communications, funeral arrangements, emergency transportation, and related immediate needs
• Provide assistance to victims who are involved in court proceedings, e.g., completion of restitution requests, orientation to procedures, transportation, and emotional support
• Network with social service providers and community leaders for the purpose of maintaining current referral resources
• Provide information and referrals to the outside community, social service, and related resources
• Prepare various weekly/monthly/quarterly /annual reports concerning activities performed, i.e., progress/status reports
• Maintain statistical data on Domestic Violence and other violent crimes within the City of Miami Beach
• Provide in-service training to law enforcement personnel in victim services, and design workshops and community forums for public education and social service agencies, to increase awareness of ways to prevent domestic violence
• Prepare, or assist in the preparation of grant proposals, reports, and recommendations for the Domestic Violence Unit
• Manage and oversee the disbursement of grant funds within the Domestic Violence Unit
• Provide required annual domestic violence recertification training
• Respond with officers to calls related to domestic violence to assist in coordinating services for victims and maintaining crime scene integrity
• Provide assistance to tourists who have been victimized and are in immediate need of assistance of various types
• Educate victims and witnesses about the judicial process
• Prepares annual evaluations for the Victim's Advocates
• Tracks and approves time-off for the Victim's Advocates and enters attendance daily on Telestaff
• Supervises the unpaid volunteer(s); volunteers are part of the grant requirement
• Distributes workload (cases) to the Victim's Advocates
• Reviews and approves the Supplemental Reports prepared by the Victim s Advocates
• Conducts monthly reviews of Victim's Advocates case progress
• Will search the CID case bucket for potential victims not previously identified that are eligible for services and assigns them accordingly
• Attends supervisor meetings in the Criminal Investigations Division
• Reviews and approves training requests submitted by the Victim's Advocates
• Manages all aspects of the VOCA grant including but not limited to, the collection and preparation of reports required by the City. County. State or Grant Representatives.
• Prepares and updates the Unit policy and other publications as needed:
• Provides documentation to maintain compliance with the accreditation process (CALEA); AND
• Performs other duties as required

• Victim Advocates must have a Master's Degree. Degree must be in social work, mental health counseling, psychology, and/or criminal justice or a related field. A Bachelor's Degree in the field of social work, mental health counseling, psychology, and/or criminal justice or related field and three years of experience in the field of victims' services will be considered in lieu of a Master's Degree.
• Two years of experience working in the field of domestic violence, victim/witness counseling, victims' advocacy services, or Children and Family Services
• Familiarity with criminal and civil law and the criminal and civil justice system
• Skills in word processing, case management, statistical data maintenance, communications, and interviewing
• Ability to work some nights, weekends, and holidays
• Victims Practitioner Designation

• Ability to speak English/Spanish

DESIRED:

• Community resources knowledge
• Crisis counseling skills
• Knowledge of grant statistics gathering procedures