Victim Advocate (LAP)

familyservicesny; City of Poughkeepsie (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

403(b) retirement plan with employer

Generous paid vacation, holidays, sick

Employee assistance program (EAP)

On-call support and on-site work

Job summary

Family Services, Inc. in Poughkeepsie, NY is seeking a LAP Victim Advocate to support victims of domestic violence through crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, information and referrals, and emergency financial assistance. This full-time role includes an on-call component and requires about 32 hours per week.

The advocate will complete intakes, maintain confidentiality, coordinate with law enforcement, hospitals and community partners, and provide ongoing services and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services or 3–5 years relevant experience.
• Ability to provide crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, information and referrals.
• Willingness to work irregular hours and be on-call.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to liaise with District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement, hospitals and community partners.

Responsibilities

• Complete intakes to determine service eligibility and needs.
• Review confidentiality with victims and maintain privacy.
• Provide crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy and referrals.
• Meet clients in person or by phone to assess ongoing needs.
• Accompany clients to appointments and court when needed.
• Develop and maintain relationships with criminal justice and community partners.
• Document activities and maintain up-to-date client records.
• Participate in 24-hour hotline coverage during assigned periods.

Skills

Clear communication

Crisis counseling

Advocacy

Documentation

Team collaboration

Empathy & compassion

Relationship building

Organization

MS Word

MS Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Services

3-5 years relevant experience

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

Job description

Title

LAP Victim Advocate

Salary

$24.73 per hour

Status

Non-Exempt, Full-Time, 32 hours per week, with on-call requirement

Supervisor

Coordinator of Advocacy

Location

Poughkeepsie, NY

Function

The Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) was implemented to identify risk factors for homicide in intimate partner domestic violence relationships. The LAP Victim Advocate receives referrals from partnering law enforcement agencies and provides outreach to victims who have had police contact or wish to file a police report. The LAP Victim Advocate will be responsible for following up on police referrals and providing casework services to clients including crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, information and referrals, emergency financial assistance, and claims filing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services field OR 3-5 years relative work experience in human services, counseling, and/or advocacy.

Position Responsibilities

• Complete intakes with victims seeking services as outlined by policy and procedure to determine eligibility for services and identify victim needs.
• Review consent and confidentiality with victims on a regular basis.
• Provide eligible and needed services to victims including but not limited to crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, accompaniment, information and referrals, and Office of Victim Services claims filing.
• Meet with victims in person and over the phone to provide ongoing services, support, and needs assessments.
• Accompany victims of crime as needed while providing crisis counseling, information and referrals, assistance with crime victims compensation claims, criminal justice advocacy and personal advocacy.
• Establish and maintain liaisons within the District Attorney’s Office, Law Enforcement, hospitals, attorneys, social services, and other community agencies and stakeholders.
• Accompany victims to hospitals, police departments, Title IX hearings, court, and other community agencies or locations during regular and irregular hours which may be on short notice.
• Review all assigned Office of Victim Services claims regularly and ensure claims are effectively managed.
• Provide information and referrals to all victims in need by following the agency’s protocol.
• Evaluate and dispense emergency financial assistance to victims as needed and approved by supervisors.
• Cover incoming calls on the 24-hour Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis/Crime Victims hotlines for a designated period during business hours and after hours through the on-call rotation.
• Provide community outreach through presentations and tabling events.
• Assist with fundraisers and special events (some of these may be outside agency hours of operation).
• Build and maintain effective and trusting relationships with professional in the Criminal Justice System including but not limited to officers, attorneys, Child Protective Services workers, etc.
• Complete all administrative tasks as assigned on a timely basis, including but not limited to documenting all activities, preparing weekly and monthly activity reports, maintaining up-to-date case records, and inputting into the client database.
• Maintain statistics, updated client records, and prepare reports as needed.
• Complete and maintain training certification as NYS DOH Rape Crisis Counselor.
• Complete NYS Mandated Reporter training; report any behavior or implication of behavior of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Requirements

• Must be able to get to and from various work locations throughout the day and during on-call hours.
• Must be reachable outside of office hours as needed and have the ability to work irregular hours on short notice.
• Must have a cellphone willing to use for work (will be reimbursed) with effective coverage for the Dutchess County area.

Skills and Abilities

• Clear and effective communication, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work effectively when under extreme pressure.
• Ability to work independently, but relate issues to manager, as appropriate.
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully as part of a large team
• Possess empathy and compassion
• Possess out of the box thinking, resourcefulness, and strong advocacy skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain working relationships within respective law enforcement agencies, other community agencies and stakeholders.
• Ability to remain organized and complete administrative tasks, such as documenting activities and maintaining up-to-date records, in a timely manner.
• Strong computer skills, including a working knowledge of an e-mail package and MS software programs: Word and Excel

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match up to 5%.
• Generous paid vacation, holiday, sick and personal time package (2 weeks’ vacation in first year, 13 paid holidays per year, 12 sick days per year and 4 personal days per year).
• Access to Family Services’ Compassionate Leave Program where employees can donate/receive unused time off.
• Group term life and long-term disability insurance.
• Supplemental life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment coverage (AD&D),
• Supplemental insurance through Aflac.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).
• Pet insurance.

Our Mission

To support people, strengthen families, and nurture safer, healthier communities.

Our Values

Compassion – Extending empathy and understanding to others.

Integrity – Being honest and dependable.

Hope – Believing in the strength of the human spirit and heart, to emerge and thrive when faced with a challenge.

Diversity – Promoting a vision of community comprised of wide-ranging assets.

Respect – Treating all individuals with dignity and without judgement.

Community – Recognizing and reinforcing the importance of our world as being comprised of people of differing strengths and perspectives.

Justice – Promoting social and economic equity and fairness.

Quality – Aspiring for excellence in every aspect of our work.

Work Environment

Family Services Inc. Center for Victim Safety and Support is a 24 hour crisis center. LAP Advocates will split their time between advocating/interacting with community agencies and systems, meeting with individuals and working on a team at the Center for Victim Safety and Support, completing documentation and administrative responsibilities and participating in meetings at Family Services.

Family Services, Inc. complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail].

Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We follow federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination in hiring and employment.

Must be authorized to work in the United States without work sponsorship.