Rape Crisis Advocate

University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst (MA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Massachusetts Amherst seeks a Rape Crisis Advocate to support daily operations of 24-hour services for victims/survivors and their families. You will assist with counseling, advocacy, safety planning, and education across Hampshire County.

The role involves travel, collaboration with partners, and ensuring compliance with relevant policies. This grant-funded position may be reappointed depending on funding.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in related field or two or more years of college with related coursework.
• Relevant training and experience in rape crisis or related services.
• Experience providing culturally responsive services for diverse communities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to use MS Teams, MS Office, Box, and Google Docs.
• Driver's license and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Provides short-term peer counseling; crisis intervention; medical, legal and academic advocacy; safety planning; case management; and facilitates related support groups throughout Hampshire County.
• Travel to various locations throughout Hampshire County to provide immediate in-person crisis response and ongoing support.
• Responsibilities can include meeting and communicating with other service providers about clients.
• Complies with all relevant regulations, policies, standards, and protocols including those regarding privileged communication between rape crisis counselors and victims, and mandated reporting of abuse.
• Participates in the daily operations of 24-hour rape crisis services including ensuring scheduling and staffing of hotline and providing and/or scheduling back-up to ensure coverage.
• Participates in training and selection and can provide supervision and support to program staff.
• Participates in implementation of violence prevention outreach, education, and training for diverse populations.
• Maintains and completes timely reports to document accurate service data and other related administrative need such as travel, procard, etc.
• Generates relevant reports; participates in organizational and committee meetings; maintains positive working relationship with partners and stakeholders and provides consultation as assigned.
• Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, Executive Area/Division, and University goals and objectives.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Cultural competency

Multitasking

Time management

Team collaboration

Stress management

Education

Associate degree or college coursework

Bachelor's degree plus related experience

Tools

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Office

Box

Google Docs

Job description

Title: Rape Crisis Advocate

Executive Area: Student Affairs & Campus Life

College/School/MBU: Advocacy, Inclusion & Sup Prog

Department: Center for Women and Community

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Job Summary

Under the general supervision of Associate Director for Counseling and Rape Crisis Services, assists in the provision of services of the daily operations of 24 hour comprehensive services for victims/survivors and the family and friends of victims/survivors of sexual and relationship violence, and participates in violence prevention efforts and education to meet grant, program, and departmental goals.

This is a grant-funded position with reappointment dependent on funding availability.

Essential Functions

Provides short-term peer counseling; crisis intervention; medical, legal and academic advocacy; safety planning; case management; and facilitates related support groups throughout Hampshire County. Travel to various locations throughout Hampshire County to provide immediate in-person crisis response and ongoing support, consistent with program and operational needs.

Responsibilities can include meeting and communicating with other service providers about clients.

Complies with all relevant regulations, policies, standards, and protocols including those regarding privileged communication between rape crisis counselors and victims, and mandated reporting of abuse.

Participates in the daily operations of 24-hour rape crisis services including ensuring scheduling and staffing of hotline and providing and/or scheduling back-up to ensure coverage. Participates in training and selection and can provide supervision and support to program staff.

Participates in implementation of violence prevention outreach, education, and training for diverse populations.

Maintains and completes timely reports to document accurate service data and other related administrative need such as travel, procard, etc. Generates relevant reports; participates in organizational and committee meetings; maintains positive working relationship with partners and stakeholders and provides consultation as assigned.

Other Functions

Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, Executive Area/Division, and University goals and objectives.

Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.

Demonstrates capacity, skill and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.

Works collaboratively with other campus stakeholders to fulfill the mission of Student Affairs and Campus Life.

Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with University policy.

Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace defined by personal and professional competence, integrity, and collaboration.

Understands and contributes to implementation of departmental and institutional goals for achieving non-discrimination and creating a respectful, inclusive environment that is supportive of diversity.

Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.

Minimum Qualifications

Associate's degree in related field or two (2) or more years of college with related coursework.

Relevant training and experience.

Experience providing culturally responsive services for diverse communities.

Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, meet time sensitive deadlines, and prioritize workload with minimal supervision.

A collaborative team approach to work, meets individual goals, and constructively provides, seeks, and implements feedback.

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to utilize programs such as: Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, Box, and/or Google Docs.

Driver's license and access to a vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and 1-3 years of related experience; to include counseling.

Experience working in the field of sexual and relationship violence.

Experience in one or more of the following areas: conducting training, developing curriculum, supervising staff and/or volunteers, recruitment and retention of staff, leading support groups, and/or working with teens.

Completion of Rape Crisis Counselor or Domestic Violence Counselor training through a recognized Sexual Assault or Domestic Violence agency.

Contemporary knowledge of current events, social movements, climate, and political trends broadly and those related to campus life especially. Experience working in a university setting and college communities.

Bilingual.

Additional Details

Work performed in a noisy, crisis response environment

This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.

Working Conditions

Work is primarily performed in an indoor university environment and involves lifting and transporting materials or equipment and general physical activity, including prolonged standing, walking, or assuming low postures.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

M-F, maybe some evenings, weekends, holidays, snow days

Salary Information

Pay Grade: PSSAP Grade 25