Victim Services Social Worker

City of Garland; Garland (TX); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Garland's Behavioral Health and Resource Unit seeks a Victim Advocate to provide comprehensive victim advocacy, trauma-informed support, and case management. The role serves as subject matter expert on victim services and rights, offering non-mental health resource coordination assigned by clinicians.

Responsibilities include crisis intervention, safety planning, education on rights and procedures, and court accompaniment at municipal and county levels.

Qualifications

• BSW degree required; MSW preferred for advancement.
• Minimum of 3 years in victim advocacy, social services case management, or crisis support.
• Texas LMSW licensure preferred, not required.

Responsibilities

• Assess victim needs, safety concerns, and coordinate ongoing case management.
• Educate victims on rights, procedures, and available services; provide court accompaniment as needed.
• Connect clients with housing, counseling, financial aid, legal services, and medical care.
• Coordinate documents and follow up for protective orders and victim compensation.
• Maintain confidential case records and participate in multidisciplinary meetings.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Safety planning

Trauma-informed advocacy

Communication skills

Documentation

Case management

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Training/coaching

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree

Master of Social Work (MSW) degree

Tools

Case management software

Job description

Summary

Responsible for comprehensive victim advocacy, trauma-informed support, and case management within the Behavioral Health and Resource Unit. Serves as the department's subject matter expert on victim services and rights; provides non-mental health resource case management assigned by the clinician; and assists with employee wellness and peer support.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Review referrals and offense reports; assess victim needs and safety concerns; provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and ongoing case management for victims, survivors, witnesses, and affected families.
• Educate victims on their rights, investigative and court procedures, and available services. Maintain regular contact, coordinate authorized case updates, and provide court accompaniment on a municipal and county-level and advocacy when required.
• Connect individuals with housing, counseling, financial assistance, legal services, medical care, and other related needs; assist with applications and follow up to address service barriers.
• Assist with Crime Victims' Compensation, the Address Confidentiality Program, Protective Order resources, and protective order referrals; coordinate documentation and follow-up with appropriate agencies.
• Provide consultation and respond to requests from all department divisions regarding victim rights, trauma-informed response, complex victim cases, crisis support, and community resources.
• Manage victim assistance telephone and email accounts; maintain confidential case records, program documentation, service statistics, and required reports. Participate in assigned community partnerships and multidisciplinary meetings.
• Manage non-victim, non-APOWW, and non-mental health referrals from Patrol, CID, NPO, SROs, and other divisions as assigned; assess practical needs, develop service plans, coordinate resources, and document follow-up.
• Serve as an active Peer Support Team member and assist with wellness initiatives for sworn and civilian employees. Refer clinical needs to designated clinicians or providers; this role does not provide mental health diagnosis or long term therapeutic treatment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree, or in a related field, from an accredited college or university.
• Three years of related experience in victim advocacy, social services case management, or crisis support.

Preferred Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• Master of Social Work (MSW) degree; current Texas social work licensure, such as LMSW, preferred.
• Experience in law enforcement victim services, community resource coordination, training, or first responder wellness; bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of victim rights, criminal justice procedures, trauma-informed advocacy, crisis stabilization, safety planning, and social service case management.
• Knowledge of victim assistance programs and local, regional, state, and federal community resources.
• Ability to assess needs, prioritize cases, apply program criteria, develop service plans, and coordinate effective referrals using sound judgment.
• Ability to communicate effectively, provide training, maintain professional boundaries, and establish effective relationships with individuals of varied backgrounds and service providers.
• Ability to maintain accurate, confidential records and reports; use office and case management software; and recognize issues requiring supervisory, legal, or clinical consultation.

Licenses and Certifications

• Valid Class C Texas driver's license, or ability to obtain one as required by the City.
• Meet department background and system-access requirements; complete required peer support and program training.
• Social work licensure is preferred, not required.

Physical Requirements / Work Environment

Work is primarily in an office, with travel to courts, community agencies, hospitals, and approved field locations. Requires computer use, communication, and occasional handling of files and assistance supplies. May involve exposure to traumatic information and distressed or hostile individuals. Evening, weekend, or on-call assignments may be required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This description summarizes the general nature and level of work and is not an exhaustive list of duties or an employment agreement.