Crime Victims Specialist 1 / Trainee (NY HELPS)

Minimum Qualifications:
NON-COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Either 1. four years of the qualifying experience described below.
Or 2. an associate's degree in criminal justice, criminology, human services, psychology, social work, or sociology AND two years of the qualifying experience described below.
Or 3. a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, criminology, human services, psychology, social work, or sociology.
Qualifying experience: Experience in completing Office of Victim Services claim applications or providing direct service* to Crime Victims.

• Direct Service is defined as those services which immediately respond to the emotional and physical needs of Crime Victims, including those impacted by human trafficking, domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, or rape by performing tasks such as:

? Conducting safety assessments and safety planning for victims of violent crime;
? Providing child protective services in person or through a state central registry;
? Providing one-on-one, group, or hotline counseling for Crime Victims;
? Providing court-related liaison and advocacy services, including preparation for testimony and accompanying clients to court hearings;
? Obtaining temporary, emergency resources related to shelter, food, transportation, and clothing and connecting clients to permanent solutions in these areas; arranging for transportation, accommodations, and childcare for victims and their immediate dependents;
? Assisting victims with financial, housing, medical and educational needs through referral and direct intervention;
? Performing crisis intervention services;
? Processing applications for Office of Victim Services.
NY HELPS
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).
For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title maybe filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In May 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Reachable on the current eligible list for this title, or one year of permanent competitive service in a title SG-12 or higher and otherwise eligible to transfer to a Crime Victim Specialist 1/Trainee under Section 70.1 of Civil Service Law. The only title eligible to transfer to CVS Trainee is Program Aide; titles eligible to transfer to CVS 1, SG-14 are Investigator 1 and Workers' Compensation Examiner.

The primary function of the Crime Victims Specialist (CVS) 1 is to review and process compensation and medical claims filed by Crime Victims or their survivors for unreimbursed compensable expenses incurred. A critical function of this position is handling telephone calls from providers and claimants, and being able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with victims, insurance companies, and law enforcement agencies.
Duties may include:

• review claims from initial investigation through the final decision on awarding the claim
• review documents, verify accuracy and validity of information
• obtain supporting documentation, and prepare written reports and recommendations
• analyze medical bills and explanation of benefit statements to determine the claimant’s responsibility
• review medical documents and reports to determine causal relationship of the treatment and crime injury
• create and approve payments to claimants and/or providers.
• gathering of documents and creating request when referring a claimant to an Independent Medical Examiner
• preparation of amended decisions as necessary
• responsible for processing Forensic Rape Exam (FRE) claims
• conducting training, internally and externally, on OVS rules, regulations, and guidelines for compensation; and showing compassion to the victims being served.