Victim Advocate

Description

Provides crisis intervention, advocacy, and emotional support, especially in legal matters like securing Orders of Protection and navigating criminal cases. Regularly updates clients on the status of their case. During crises, conducts thorough assessments to identify client needs, offers referrals, and links clients to community support services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Conducts comprehensive assessments of client needs during the initial crisis period, provides referrals to other victim services, and facilitates connections with additional community support services for additional assistance.
• Provide crisis intervention, advocacy, and support to victims of crime.
• Provides information about services to victims listed on Domestic Incident reports.
• Offers clear information and direct assistance to clients obtaining Family Court Orders of Protection.
• Actively participates in Child Abuse Response Team meetings, Domestic Abuse Response Team meetings and the Elder Abuse Multi-Disciplinary Team Meetings.
• Educates local law enforcement agencies regarding services.
• Educates clients about their eligibility for the Office of Victim Services and guides them through the application processes as necessary.
• Provides information to the victim/witness as to the status and/or disposition of their criminal case and send them all notices pursuant to article 380 of criminal justice procedure law.
• Connects and schedules meetings between assigned ADA and victim.
• Provides information to the victim/witness as to the status and/or disposition of their criminal case and sends them all notices pursuant to article 380 of criminal justice procedure law.
• Accompanies clients to court and offers emotional support throughout the process.
• Completes monthly and quarterly reporting information in a timely manner.
• Updates DA's office case management system.
• Participates in outreach activities and agency awareness events to promote services and increase community engagement.
• Covers a 24-hour hotline for approximately four weeks per year offering immediate support and guidance to individuals in crisis.

Requirements

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• A High School diploma with two years of experience working with vulnerable populations is required, while an Associate’s degree in human services with the same experience is preferred.

BILINGUAL CANDIDATES

• Candidates who are bilingual may qualify for an enhanced starting wage of $24.15 per hour.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively present in public forums.
• Skilled in addressing and discussing sensitive issues.
• Ability to establish and maintain networks of professional relationships.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, demonstrating a capacity to effectively prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Proficient in multitasking and managing workload efficiently under pressure, while maintaining professionalism and composure.
• Ability to demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity to other perspectives.
• Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to different work and communication styles of colleagues and clients.
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems using analytical skills and abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain composure and professionalism under stress.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Regularly required to walk, sit, use hands; and reach with hands and arms.
• Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to various weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Occasional exposure to bodily fluids.