Client Services Advocate C

Job Title: Client Services Advocate C

Job Location: Emergency Shelter

Shift Hours: 2:00pm – 8:00pm

Pay Rate: $10.25/hour

100% Grant funded position

Position Reports to: Shelter Coordinator/ Program Director

Job Purpose: The primary purpose of this position is to provide direct client services and advocacy to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Answering the 24-Hours Crisis Line to provide support, crisis intervention, information, referrals, case information, and other services over the telephone.

2. Provide services to walk-in clients including but not limited to assistance with Domestic Violence Protective Order paperwork, crisis intervention, information, referrals, case information, Legal Aid referrals, clothing vouchers, 911 cellphones, safety plans, domestic violence assessments, case management, parenting information, and other services as needed.

3. Provide job counseling, job training/placement, financial services, health education, and educational services to clients under the direction of supervisor.

4. Assess clients eligibility for shelter, complete shelter-intake paperwork for appropriate clients, assign rooms and lockers, provide care packages for each individual, and provide a brief orientation to the shelter for incoming clients.

5. Provide referrals to other agencies for persons seeking services the agency does not provide.

6. Ensure Client Exit forms are completed prior to a client leaving the shelter.

7. Clean and sanitize rooms after shelter resident exit, including packing belongings as needed.

8. Ensure that all shelter rules and regulations are enforced during shift, responding appropriately when they are not followed.

9. Document all client services and interactions, both over the telephone and in-person, using Crisis Contact Sheets ensuring that all important information is documented in a clear and legible manner by the end of each shift.

10. Maintain statistics, agency paperwork, daily log entries, and other record keeping forms by the end of each shift.

11. Entering client information and incident information from Crisis Contact Sheets into the Client Database correctly, including entrance and exit dates for shelter, client information, abuser information, description of the incident, and other information as needed.

12. Access the Client Database to obtain case information for clients and to check status of clients seeking shelter.

13. Accept and log donations from outside donors, including assisting donors with bringing in donations as necessary.

14. Act as an advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault by contacting other agencies, shelters, and other organizations on behalf of the victim and follow-up as necessary.

15. Facilitate weekly informational and support group activities for clients and children in shelter, documenting attendance and time spent on each group.

16. Stay up to date on policies, laws, statistics, and other information that affects victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

17. Educate and inform the community through community education, outreach, and other activities as directed by supervisor.

18. Complete and document shelter security checks, walk-throughs, and room checks as assigned during shift.

19. Complete routine chores and cleaning tasks to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the shelter facility, including ensuring that all staff chores are completed as assigned and resident chores are also completed assigned during shift.

20. Complete shift responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.

21. Take appropriate steps to deal with emergency situations with the goal of maintaining the safety of all shelter residents and advocates.

22. Adhere to all agency policies and work rules, including confidentiality, child abuse and neglect reporting, dress code, and code of ethics, while maintaining professional boundaries with all clients served.

23. Provide supervision and activities for agency volunteers during shift.

24. Attend all mandatory staff meetings on a monthly basis, including trainings as assigned by supervisor.

25. Complete other duties as assigned by supervisor, including assistance with specials projects and tasks.

Qualifications:

· Must be at least 18 years of age.

· Must possess a high school diploma or GED and experience working in a related field for at least 6 months.

· Must complete 20 hours of training before assuming position.

· Ability to work with culturally diverse populations.

· Ability to work sensitively with traumatized populations, including children.

· Ability to respond to stressful crisis situations appropriately, including deescalating and dissipating the situation.

· Work well as a member of a team.

· Ability to multi-task and work well under little supervision.

· Excellent written and oral communication skills.

· Ability to perform physical tasks: move objects, bend, lift up to 30lbs, walk up and down stairs repeatedly.

· Must be able to utilize vision and hearing in interactions with clients in a sometimes noisy environment, with or without corrective devices.

· Must possess basic computer skills, including the ability to work with Microsoft Office applications such as Access, Excel, Word, and more.

· Must pass background check.

· Experience working with victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault preferred.

· Minority and bilingual applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $10.25 per hour

Work Location: In person