DV Shelter Advocate

SAFESPACE INC; Florida; On-site; USD 38,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

SafeSpace, Inc. seeks a DV Shelter Advocate to provide crisis intervention, empowerment-based support, and survivor-centered advocacy in its emergency shelter serving Florida communities.

You will conduct risk assessments, safety planning, and link participants to housing, legal, medical, and social services while maintaining strict confidentiality. The role involves hotline management, intakes within 24 hours, daily operations support, data entry, and collaboration with local agencies to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field preferred, or a high school diploma with relevant experience.
• Experience in the victim services field of domestic violence advocacy is preferred.
• Ability to de-escalate crises using a trauma-informed approach and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Handle hotline calls with eligibility and risk assessments, safety planning, information and referrals, emotional support, crisis intervention, and confidentiality.
• Facilitate shelter orientation and complete intakes within 24 hours with new survivors entering the shelter program and enter relevant client data into the SafeSpace client management database.
• Schedule and facilitate ongoing case management appointments and provide safety planning, risk assessment, crisis counseling, and connections to housing, legal, medical, and social services.
• Enter and maintain participant information in the agency's client database and uphold confidentiality per state laws.
• Provide referrals and follow up to access injunctions, legal processes, financial, medical, and educational services; coordinate family support with agencies.
• Inform survivors about victim compensation and Address Confidentiality Program; assist with applications and follow-up advocacy.
• Provide criminal and civil advocacy services including court accompaniment and VINE registration.
• Facilitate weekly house meetings and groups to discuss power dynamics and survivor safety, choice, and well-being.
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, and potential disaster response planning.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Case management

Trauma-informed care

Advocacy

Communication skills

Emergency shelter operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field

High School diploma or GED with relevant experience

Job description

Description

Days / Shift: Monday-Friday; 12:00pm - 8:00pm with flexibility to meet program needs (one Saturday rotation each month)

Position Type/Classification: Full-Time, 40 hours per week; Non-Exempt

Position Summary

The DV Shelter Advocate utilizes an empowerment-based, trauma-informed, survivor-centered service model to provide direct crisis intervention, comprehensive case management, risk assessment, safety planning, and individual and group advocacy to domestic violence survivors residing in the emergency shelter.

The DV Shelter Advocate provides emotional support, information and referrals, criminal and civil advocacy, assistance with victim’s compensation, and linkage to resources focused on individual and family safety and self-determination of program participants. The DV Shelter Advocate handles hotline calls to assess callers for eligibility and provides telephone advocacy services to callers. The DV Shelter Advocate assists with the daily operations of the emergency DV shelter and assists with health and safety tasks, inventory, distribution of supplies, and organizing.

Job Responsibilities

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain an all-inclusive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

• Handle Hotline calls from survivors, law enforcement officers, emergency dispatchers, and/or community partners, contacting the SafeSpace, Inc. Domestic Violence Hotline in a calm, professional, and non-judgmental manner. Provide survivors/callers with the following: eligibility and risk assessments, safety planning, information and referrals, emotional support, crisis intervention, domestic violence education, resources, and confidentiality.
• Facilitate shelter orientation with residents upon entry and communicate community living guidelines to survivors as outlined in the Resident Handbook and provide welcome kits. Complete shelter intakes within 24 hours with new survivors entering the shelter program and immediately enter all relevant client data / information into the SafeSpace client management database.
• Schedule and facilitate ongoing case management appointments as needed and requested by the survivor and provide on-going safety planning, risk/lethality assessment, crisis counseling / advocacy, transportation, service plan coordination with outside agencies, case management, goal setting, assists with identifying and accessing safe housing, education on the dynamics of domestic violence, information and referrals, court accompaniment and exit meetings.
• Enter, update and maintain current and appropriate participant information regarding all ongoing services provided to participants immediately into the agency’s client database system in accordance with SafeSpace standards. Must maintain confidentiality laws applied to survivors of domestic violence and offer Releases of Information in the best interest of the survivor.
• As identified or requested, provide relevant referrals and follow up with the participants as appropriate and assist with accessing referrals, including, but not limited to injunctions, legal processes and options, financial, medical, mental health, educational, employment, local youth services, afterschool care, summer camps, and ELC. Coordinate parent/family support services with other agencies to address concerns expressed by parent / legal guardian. Accompany participant as needed.
• Inform and assist survivors in filing victim compensation claims from the Office of the Attorney General and processing Address Confidentiality applications including gathering the needed documentation and informing survivors of their rights. Provide follow-up advocacy with the victim compensation agency on the survivor’s behalf.
• Provide criminal and civil advocacy services including court accompaniment, assisting participants in registering for Florida Department of Corrections VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday), complete referrals to SafeSpace’s IFP Program, review law enforcement reports and initiate contact with the victim to offer services.
• Facilitate weekly house meetings and groups on diverse topics that support an understanding of the dynamics of power and control while fostering individual safety, choice, strength, and well-being.
• Participate in case staffing, shift meetings, team meetings, and staff meetings. Engage in one-on-one supervision meetings with the DV Shelter Manager.
• Conduct daily walk-throughs and take corrective action to meet compliance with SafeSpace policies, procedures, standards, regulations, to ensure health and safety standards are met.
• Conduct routine inventory of supplies to include food items, basic needs, and shelter supplies; assist in ordering and distributing supplies and donations.
• Attend and facilitate professional development trainings, community events and interagency meetings as directed by the Supervisor.
• Participate in other projects and assist with additional duties as requested by the Supervisor, including supporting the emergency disaster team in the event of a national disaster or weather emergency.

Requirements

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related human services field preferred or High School diploma/ GED, and prior equivalent experience; and one year or more providing case management, crisis intervention and/or advocacy to vulnerable, at-risk, or culturally specific populations.
• Experience in the victim services field of domestic violence, sexual violence or human trafficking is preferred.
• Ability to engage in and model supportive, healthy relationships, with survivors, peers, staff and community members.
• Ability to safely de-escalate a crisis, conflict, and critical event utilizing a trauma-informed de-escalation approach.
• Must adhere to SafeSpace ethics, policies, procedures, and contractual standards.
• Must have the ability to gain knowledge of local resources, social service agencies, including government systems.
• Ability to communicate efficiently utilizing verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Must maintain and protect the confidentiality of the program participants and shelter locations within agency guidelines and state statutes.
• Bilingual language skills are preferred.
• Must be willing to support the emergency disaster team in the event of a national disaster or weather emergency.
• Must be able to pass a level two background screen.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license with reliable transportation to work at various locations including both emergency shelters and outreach locations.
• Ability to be flexible and provide coverage when needed to meet SafeSpace Martin County and Indian River County emergency shelter scheduling needs, including nights, weekends and holidays, as needed.
• Must be organized and detail-oriented to report and collect accurate data and information.
• Must be able to handle and prioritize emergencies and unexpected needs of program participants.
• Ability to be self-motivated and work as part of a collaborative team.

Core Competencies

• Professionalism and compassion
• Attention to detail
• Reliability and accountability
• Cultural humility and inclusivity
• Problem-solving and initiative
• Team collaboration

Training Requirements

Required onboarding training will be conducted at the Administrative office or designated location during the hours of 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday regardless of shift schedule. Must successfully complete CORE Competency training provided by the agency within 90 days of employment and participate in ongoing mandatory education and skills training on relevant topics as required by statutory funding, certification of the agency or personnel, or as identified to improve employee performance. Must maintain annual training requirements outlined in the employee manual. Must have or gain knowledge in Florida Domestic Violence Statutes, Injunctions for Protection, court procedures, victim rights, Office of the Attorney General Victim Compensation / Relocation and Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), and the Florida Department of Corrections VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday).

Work Environment

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. This job operates in a 24-hour emergency shelter. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopies, filing cabinets and fax machines. Will be a noisy environment that is fast paced with high stimulation. Working with survivors of intimate partner domestic violence may increase exposure to secondary trauma.

Physical Demands

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is active and may require standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing. The employee must frequently lift and/or move items up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work will be performed in both inside and outside environments.

Notice to Applicants: All finalists for employment with SafeSpace, Inc. are required to undergo screening through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. For more information, please visit https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

SafeSpace is an Equal Opportunity Employer.