Victim Advocate (District Attorney's Office)

County of Berks, PA; Reading (Berks County); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Berks, PA is seeking a Victim Advocate to assist with initial intakes, needs assessments, and coordination of services for victims/survivors and families.

Responsibilities include screening for mental health needs, referrals, data entry, and providing information on the Victim Compensation Program. This role supports outreach, training, and collaboration with law enforcement and social services.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in the criminal justice field or a social service agency.
• Successful completion of employment background check, including NCIC.
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors at the CAC and complete initial intake with victims/survivors and families.
• Provide and assess screening for urgent mental health issues and referrals.
• Coordinate with partner agencies for forensic interviews and medical exams.
• Maintain client files and enter data into the tracking system.
• Offer information on Victim Compensation, protective orders, housing, and transportation.
• Participate in Multidisciplinary Team Meetings and weekly supervision.
• Assist with outreach events, volunteer recruitment, and planning National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Data entry

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Associate's degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Services, Child Development or closely related field

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Access

PowerPoint

Outlook

Adobe

Job description

Position Summary

The Victim Advocate provides assistance with the following duties: initial intakes, needs assessments, coordinates services to victims/survivors and their families, and provides general client tracking and file maintenance. The Victim Advocate will assist with outreach efforts to raise awareness of victim's rights and available services. The Victim Advocate will perform other VOCA eligible duties as assigned.

Victim Advocates must understand the criminal justice system, dynamics of child abuse, crisis development and resolution, effective listening techniques, the impact of trauma on a child, the rights of crime victims, cultural considerations, and intervention strategies.

Position Responsibilities

***Essential Functions***

• Greet visitors when they arrive at the Children's Alliance Center (CAC).
• Complete initial intake process with victims/survivors and their families and inform them of the CAC process and available services.
• Provides and assesses a screening tool for all child victims to determine an urgent mental health issues and/or suicidal ideations. Results of the tool are utilized to make appropriate referrals and offer the child resources to manage their mental health.
• Performs an assessment tool with potential victims of human trafficking.
• Field in-coming calls to the Children's Alliance Center.
• Provide education to children and their families regarding the Children's Alliance Center.
• Provide victims/survivors and their families with information regarding the Victim Compensation Assistance Program and assist them with filing their claim, upon their request.
• Provide assistance with accessing services such as protective orders, housing, public assistance, domestic violence resources, support groups and transportation.
• Provide victims/survivors and their families with necessary referrals to community agencies and provide victim advocacy when needed, including linkage to necessary community resources to meet some of the basic needs listed above such as housing and transportation.
• Follow up to assure that needed support services are realistically accessible and received (counseling, sexuality evaluation, forensic examination, satisfaction surveys, etc.).
• Coordinate with partner agencies to schedule forensic interviews, medical examinations and sexual abuse evaluations.
• Act as a liaison with other social service agencies in the community to provide timely services and referrals to the family.
• Provide victim support throughout the investigation.
• Assist in creating and maintaining client files.
• Enter client information into client tracking system and perform data maintenance on all services provided.
• Provide opportunities for families to complete outcome measurements relative to services and programs.
• Participate in Multidisciplinary Team Meetings and case review.
• Participate in weekly supervision meetings with CAC Director.
• Participates in staff meetings.
• Maintain connections with other social service agencies. law enforcement agencies, education systems, and the general public.
• Assist in the planning of community outreach events, meetings and other program activities.
• Assist with recruitment of volunteers.
• Assist with updating correspondence to victims.
• Assist with planning local activities for National Crime Victims'Rights Week.
• Train to provide back-up to other positions, as needed.
• Complete other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• Occasionally travel on an as-needed basis for training and to complete assigned duties.

Minimum Education And Experience

• While an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Services, Child Development or closely related field may be acceptable; a Bachelor's degree is preferred.
• Two ears of experience in the criminal justice field or a social service agency.
• Successful completion of employment background check, including NCIC criminal check.
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Prior community/customer service experience with an emphasis on direct contact with both the general public and all levels of professionals, both face-to-face and by telephone.

Experience utilizing computer database programs to retrieve and manipulate information, as well as word processing and spreadsheet experience.

English fluency: Spanish language skills are desirable.

Ability to effectively communicate with the public and government officials in a highly charged, emotional setting.

Excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills.

Must be able to work independently and as part of a Multidisciplinary Team collaboration with a wide range of professionals including, but not limited, to law enforcement, child protection, attorneys, medical and mental health providers.

Must be self-motivated, adaptable and resourceful.

Excellent organizational skills with an attention to detail, accuracy and time management.

Must be able to attend and successfully receive a minimum of 8 hours of training every two years.

Proficiency with Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook and Adobe.

Understanding of office methods, rules, practices and procedures.

Capable of understanding and carrying out oral and written directions.

Able to maintain cooperative working re