Transitional Housing Advocate

Description

Job Overview

Provides empowerment-based advocacy, safety planning, supportive counseling, crisis intervention and service management to Peace Village participants. Provides information, referrals, and counseling to participants. Provide crisis intervention and referral services to phone callers.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Works with individual participants to assess the lethality of the situation and develop a safety plan. Assesses the participant’s individual strengths and needs, identifies strengths and challenges present, offers options and assists the participants in selecting from the options available. Coordinates services with appropriate community resources and refers participants and children to necessary support services.
• Has a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, service programs, confidentiality and privilege.  
• Completes intake documents and procedures.
• Meets with participants that have scheduled appointments and/or walk-ins as needed.
• Attends agency meetings and all other meetings as assigned.
• Service management and documentation meets DVP program standards.
• Provides on-going safety planning with participants.
• Reviews service plan with participant on a regular basis, which discussing short term and long term goals.
• Assists participants with arranging for transportation to appointments. 
• Refers participants to community resources and other organizations based on the participant’s needs.
• Maintains participant files and ensures data is entered into WS as soon as possible after all participant contact.  
• Maintains contact with participants to review progress towards achievement of individual established goals.
• Maintains written records required for statistical reporting. Compiles statistical information of services rendered and submits monthly.
• Completes and reports on all assessment tools and outcomes required by grant contracts.
• Consults with supervisor on a regular basis, regarding all agency, participant, and service management issues.
• Facilitates group(s), as assigned.
• Answers Peace Village phone voicemail and returns calls providing safety planning, information, referral, and links/schedules for services, as needed.
• Flexibility with schedule.

Occasional duties or projects which may be performed at irregular intervals

• Assist with training new, staff, volunteers and interns, as assigned.
• Facilitates weekly support groups as needed.
• Covers office as needed.
• Assists with community presentations and trainings as requested
• Assists with data collection for research and/or scholarly studies.
• Organizes, stocks, and shops for participant supplies. 
• Performs other related duties as requested.

Accountability: Areas in which the position is accountable/responsible:

• Participant Service: Maintains participant satisfaction and quality of services.  
• Records: Maintains complete and up to date participant files by entering data into WS, master list, and files as soon as possible after all contact. Assists with statistical reporting and other assessments as required.

Business-Related Contacts:

• Representatives of various community resources.

Prohibited Functions:

• Does not respond to requests from the media.
• Does not provide any service which could be interpreted as practicing law.

Requirements

Education/Training/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree and two years of experience preferred.

Specialized or technical educational requirements:

• Bilingual required (English and Spanish)

Certification or Licensing Requirements

• Valid Florida driver’s license, acceptable Motor Vehicle Report, active driving insurance, and dependable transportation is required. Must have 2 years of driving experience.
• Requires 24-hour FCADV Core Competency training and additional 6-hours (30- hours total) to qualify for privilege status.
• Requires on-going 16-hours of DV related training after the first year.
• Must be able to pass a Level 2 background check.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to hear, talk, stand, sit, walk, use hands and reach. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• 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 the essential functions.

Work Environment:

• The work environment is normally that of an office atmosphere with a moderate noise level.  
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Additional Remarks:

This position requires the following:

• Demonstrated maturity and good judgment.
• Ability to handle crisis situations calmly and with expertise.
• A self-starter and the ability to perform with a high degree of autonomy and as part of a team.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and decision making.
• Excellent organizational, analytical and time management skills.
• Excellent verbal and oral communication and presentation skills.
• Maintains professionalism at all times in all situations
• Reliable transportation required.

Behavior Expectations:

The expectation is that each team member demonstrates knowledge of our company culture code and works in a way that aligns with our 15 fundamental behaviors. Our Guiding Principles are at the beginning of our culture code guidebook, we are…

Survivor-Focused and Empowerment Based. The diverse voices of survivors inform the decisions we make. Survivors are encouraged to heal and move forward at the pace they set.

Collaborative. Collaboration with our community partners helps create better outcomes for survivors while also ensuring knowledge of the services we provide.

Diverse & Inclusive. Our team reflects the diversities of our community and the survivors we serve. We establish spaces and services that are supportive of all people.

A Great Place to Work. People love to work here. We develop the potential of our staff and support their growth as leaders in this work.

Honest & Ethical. We are transparent. We deliver on our promises. Each dollar we receive is used for its intended purpose and its greatest good.

A Safe Space. Safety leads each interaction with survivors.

Advocates. We tirelessly advocate for survivor safety, abuser accountability, and improving the overall system in our community.