Victim Services Specialist

City of Norfolk, VA

Norfolk (VA)

On-site

USD 57,000 - 80,000

Full time

45 hours ago

Be an early applicant

Get a reply from this employer

Your resume and cover letter, tailored to exactly what they’re hiring for.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Pension plan

Life insurance

Medical and dental coverage

457 deferred compensation

Parking

Job summary

City of Norfolk is hiring a Victim Services Specialist to provide crisis intervention, emotional support, and safety planning for victims, survivors and witnesses of violent crime. You will coordinate referrals with law enforcement, prosecutors, and community agencies, and ensure proper documentation of cases.

The position requires a Master’s degree or higher in a related field and experience in crisis/ trauma intervention.

Qualifications

Master’s degree level knowledge in social/behavioral sciences, criminal justice administration, or related field.
Experience in crisis and trauma intervention.
Preferred: crisis intervention, victim advocacy, trauma-informed services, or case management.

Responsibilities

Respond to violent crime scenes and provide crisis stabilization.
Offer immediate support to victims, witnesses and survivors.
Explain victims’ rights and available remedies under laws and department responses.
Coordinate referrals to victim compensation, protective orders, and other services.
Maintain case documentation and liaise with law enforcement and community partners.
Participate in community outreach and victim support initiatives.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Victim advocacy

Trauma-informed services

Case management

Education

Master’s degree or higher

Tools

NCIC/VCIN certification

First Aid certification

Job description

Description

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself. Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.

Description

The Norfolk Police Department is committed to representing one of the most diverse cities in the region. Norfolk is home to over 244,000 residents including an array of social, economic, and ethnic groups. It is the Norfolk Police Department’s mission to recruit, attract, and maintain a diverse work agency that will represent our city, citizens, and the communities we serve.

The Norfolk Police Department is seeking to hire a Victim Services Specialist. This position provides crisis intervention, emotional support, safety planning and stabilization to victims, survivors, and witnesses of violent crime. Assists with concerns resulting from victimization. Identifies and coordinates referrals and services. Serves as a liaison with criminal justice professionals and community agency representatives, to address the rights of and access to processes and services for victims, witnesses, survivors of violent crime.

The department hiring salary range is $56,900.48 - $80,263.75 annually***

Essential Functions

Provides functions to include but not limited to:

Responds to active or recently reported violent crime scenes.
Maintains appropriate professional boundaries while avoiding interference with ongoing investigations.
Provides immediate crisis stabilization and support services to victims, witnesses, and survivors of violent crime.
Assists with concerns resulting from victimization.
Provides information using a trauma-informed approach to victims, witnesses, survivors of violent crime.
Explains victims’ rights and available remedies under applicable laws and departmental responses.
Prepares and maintains statistical records. Records case information and appropriate documentation in an identified case management system.
Assists victims/survivors in understanding and navigating law enforcement, prosecution, court, and medical processes.
Provides referrals and assistance related to victim compensation, protective orders, court accompaniment, restitution, financial assistance, and other resources.
Conducts individualized safety planning.
Identifies immediate and ongoing needs while coordinating with appropriate law enforcement or community partners for additional intervention.
Establishes appropriate follow-up, monitoring of referrals and service connections, and addresses barriers/obstacles to services.
Maintains accurate and timely case documentation.
Collaborates with patrol officers, detectives, supervisors, prosecutors, and other professionals to facilitate appropriate services.
Participates in community outreach, prevention, and awareness activities.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education/Experience

Work requires professional level knowledge which is acquired in a Master’s degree level of study or equivalent in social or behavioral sciences, criminal justice administration, or a directly related field.

Experience in crisis and trauma intervention.

Preferred Experience

Providing crisis intervention, victim advocacy, trauma informed services, or case management.

Additional Information & Requirements

Valid driver’s license.

Requires ability to obtain National Crime Information Center/Virginia Crime Information Network (NCIC/VCIN) certification and First Aid certification.

Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant’s school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

Note

The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.

Non-City

Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.

The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers.

I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

Please select the highest level of education you have completed.

High School Diploma/GED
Some College (6 months or more)
Vocational/Technical Degree
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree or higher

Please indicate the major(s) and/or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Select all that apply.

Social/Behavioral Sciences
Criminal Justice
Counseling
Psychology
Social Work

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you have in social work, criminal justice, juvenile justice, education or counseling do you possess?

I have no experience
I have less than 1 year of experience
I have 1-3 years of experience
I have 3-5 years of experience
I have more than 5 years of experience

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you have working directly with victims and/or witnesses of violent crime?

I have no experience
I have less than 1 year of experience
I have 1-3 years of experience
I have 3-5 years of experience
I have more than 5 years of experience

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you have working in system‑based victim advocacy field?

I have no experience
I have less than 1 year of experience
I have 1-3 years of experience
I have 3-5 years of experience
I have more than 5 years of experience

Have you ever provided specific services to victims of violent crime?

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have working in community‑based advocacy?

I have no experience
I have less than 1 year of experience
I have 1-3 years of experience
I have 3-5 years of experience
I have more than 5 years of experience

Are you fluent in other languages besides English?

Please list the languages and your proficiency in the language (in terms of speaking, reading, and writing) (this information must be included on the job application to be considered). If you marked no, please indicate N/A.

Please briefly explain your experience providing specific services to victims of violent crime (this information must be included on the job application to be considered). If you answered no, please indicate N/A.

Do you have previous experience coordinating with law enforcement and/or other agencies to provide comprehensive support to victims of violent crime?

Please briefly explain your experience coordinating with law enforcement and/or other agencies to provide comprehensive support to victims of violent crime (this information must be included on the job application to be considered). If you answered no, please indicate N/A.

This position requires the incumbent to establish and maintain effective working relationships with victims and/or witnesses and their families, departmental staff, law enforcement officers, attorneys and community agencies. Incumbent must be able to relate to a wide variety of individuals from different socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic groups. Are you able to meet this requirement?

Are you able to meet the requirements of working a rotating (days/evenings) schedule to meet the needs of crime victims?

Are you able to meet the requirements of an on-call response and be enroute to a callback assignment within 30 minutes of notification?

Do you currently possess a valid driver’s license?

Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?

Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."

A conviction (felony or misdemeanor) does not necessarily eliminate you from employment consideration. A criminal background check is conducted on all new hires. Failure to disclose all criminal convictions may result in disqualification from employment consideration or may result in dismissal from City of Norfolk employment if you have been hired. The nature of the offense; the time that has passed since the offense, conduct and/or completion of the sentence; and the nature of the job sought may be taken into consideration. Have you ever been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor?

I have been convicted of a felony
I have been convicted of a misdemeanor
I have been convicted of a felony and a misdemeanor
I have not been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor

If you answered, that you have been convicted of a felony and/or a misdemeanor, please provide an explanation including the city, state and date of the conviction. This excludes minor traffic violations such as speeding tickets.

Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)