Advocate – Full Time

The Purple Door; Corpus Christi (TX); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision

403(b)

Paid time off

Life Insurance

Job summary

The Purple Door in Corpus Christi, TX seeks an Outreach Advocate to provide information, supportive services, and advocacy to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Nueces County.

The role includes counseling, intake, referrals, court/agency liaison, flexible hours, and travel as needed; requires a Bachelor’s degree preferred and strong communication skills; some evening/weekend hours possible.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish).
• Flexibility, good judgment, and ability to handle crisis situations.
• High level of personal integrity.
• Diplomacy, discretion, and tact are necessary.
• Computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office products.
• Flexible and able to manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer counseling, education, and advocacy to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Complete intake, assess needs and safety plans, and assist with referrals and follow-up.
• Accompany clients to hospitals, police, and court proceedings as needed.
• Inform clients about options in the criminal justice system and assist actions chosen by clients.
• Refer clients to other social service agencies as appropriate.
• Assist clients in filing crime victims' compensation claims.
• Liaise with other agencies on behalf of clients as required.
• Respond to hospital calls for survivors when volunteers are unavailable.
• Transport clients to shelter as needed and per guidelines.
• Meet with criminal justice officials and social service workers to inform about services.
• Distribute educational materials to inform abuse victims of rights and services.
• Make public appearances to explain agency services.

Skills

Domestic violence knowledge

Communication skills

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Crisis management

Integrity

Diplomacy

Microsoft Office

Multitasking

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

MS Office

Job description

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE: 40 Hours/week

RATE OF PAY: 19.35 per hour

Outreach Advocate to provide services in Nueces County and surrounding areas. Purpose/Function of Position: To provide information, supportive services, and advocacy to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. To provide community education regarding domestic violence and sexual assault issues and referral information for agency services. Some nontraditional hours and flexible schedule responsive to client availability.

Duties

• Provide peer counseling, education, and advocacy to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Complete intake as outlined in the agency handbook, including a needs and goals assessment, safety plan, and legal needs assessment; assist with appropriate program referral based on the assessment and complete follow-up to ensure the client is receiving and participating in appropriate services. Document all activity in client record and Osnium database.
• Ensure accompaniment of client to hospital, police/sheriff departments, court proceedings, etc., as appropriate and necessary.
• Provide support and information to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault regarding options available in the criminal justice system and assist the client in accessing their chosen course of action.
• Refer clients to other social service agencies for additional services as appropriate.
• Assist clients in filing crime victims' compensation claims.
• Act as a liaison with other agencies/entities on behalf of clients, as required, either directly or through assigned volunteers.
• At the direction of the Non-Residential Services Manager, respond to hospital calls for sexual assault survivors when a volunteer is not available.
• Transport clients to the shelter facility when needed and in accordance with guidelines established by the Non-Residential Services Manager.
• Meet with criminal justice officials, social service workers, law enforcement, etc., to inform them of services offered by the agency.
• Distribute educational materials, which will inform abuse victims of the rights and services available to them.
• Make public appearances, as assigned, in order to interpret to the community, the services of the agency.
• When answering Hotline ensure that calls are identified and proper protocols followed.
• By means of active listening, provide quality telephone counseling in order to determine service eligibility of clients and to assist clients in crisis.
• Provide information to callers regarding agency services, programs, and eligibility requirements, etc. In such a way as to educate callers about the services of the agency.
• Screen incoming calls in order to ensure client confidentiality.
• Ensure incoming calls are properly logged in order to maintain proper and accurate documentation of records.
• Participate with staff in long-range planning as requested, in order to ensure continuing quality of service delivery.
• To perform other duties as assigned by the Non-Residential Services Manager, Deputy Director, and the President & CEO.

Education

Educational requirements: Bachelor's degree preferred. At the discretion of the President and CEO, substantial experience in a shelter setting or in advocacy may be substituted for educational requirements.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish).
• Flexibility, good judgement, and ability to hand crisis situations.
• High level of personal integrity.
• Diplomacy, discretion, and tact is necessary.
• Computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office products.
• Flexible and able to manage multiple priorities with ability to work with minimal supervision and meet deadlines.
• Non-traditional hours to include some evening and weekend hours possible.
• Some travel requiring a valid driver's license and personal insured vehicle for use on the job required.

Benefits

Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, 403(b) retirement plan, Paid Time Off, Life InsuranceEmployment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and pre-employment drug screening. The Purple Door is an equal opportunity employer.