Victim Advocate

Position overview:

The Victim Care Advocate serves as a part of the Victim Care team and reports to the Victim Care Manager. The Victim Advocate provides culturally competent advocacy services to immigrants and refugees who are victims of crime. Services are rendered to respond to victims’ emotional and physical needs and assist them in stabilizing their lives past victimization. Survivors receive the necessary resources to navigate the court system, and education to increase their sense of safety and security.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

• Contact and interview victims to assess needs and provide options and appropriate referrals
• Provide ongoing advocacy to help clients, keep them informed, and assist them so that they are afforded the right to be heard
• Accompany or transport clients to appointments to provide support while involved in the criminal or civil justice process (court hearings, interviews with police, prosecutor’s office, providers, etc.)
• Ensure all client work completed is within the scope of the grant[s1], including but not limited to:
• Explanation of the process of the criminal and civil justice systems
• Providing information and assistance with victims’ rights (how to obtain notifications, victim impact statements, restitution)
• Interventions with employers, creditors, landlords, schools
• Obtaining protective orders
• Short term, limited assistance in applying for public benefits
• Short term, limited assistance in immigration matters with appropriate referrals to competent, licensed professionals and providing detailed and easily understood explanations from a culturally competent lens.
• Work on special program projects (National Crime Victims Rights’ Week, outreach events, and presentations)
• Provide ongoing and intermittent client contact and support to ensure successful achievement of the identified goals in the case plan
• Scheduling and working with interpreters, providing transportation, accompanying clients to appointments, connecting to resources, providing support
• Attend staff and other relevant meetings and trainings
• Accurately record tasks, case notes, and mileage in accordance with agency standards
• Enter and maintain accurate information in agency database
• Represent Victim Care Program and Amani in a professional manner in the community
• Make referrals for services based on the level of need (internal and external services)
• This position does not have supervisory responsibilities, however, may help coordinate volunteer activities.
• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in related discipline (or university-level education equivalent from other countries) preferred
• Prefer candidate who is bilingual
• Certificate from an accredited Interpreter training class such as Bridging the Gap preferred
• Experience working in crisis setting with individuals and families
• Experience in domestic violence or trauma informed service
• Prior work or volunteer experience with immigrants and refugees, as well experience working with low-income communities
• Some legal background helpful
• (3) Three to (5) five years of related experience preferred
• Professional technology skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, and database software. Ability to scan, edit and create PDF files and experience with shared folders
• Knowledge of community resources and agencies

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to read, write, and communicate fluently in English
• Strong administrative, organizational, interpersonal, problem-solving, time management, verbal communication, and writing and presentation skills are required
• Attention to detail is a must
• Must be able to meet deadlines
• Problem solving skills to address persistent challenges
• Must be able to work in a high stress environment
• Professional disposition and demeanor
• Ability to work in and adapt to the culture of a multi-cultural, community based organization
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the diversity and to the cultures represented in the communities served by Amani
• Knowledge of cultural competencies, internal biases and the ability to engage in self-examination to overcome this barrier to providing exceptional services to Amani clients
• Good/Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to relate well with persons from a variety of cultural, educational, and socioeconomic groups
• Client rapport building and engagement skills
• Superior active listening skills
• Experience with and application of crisis intervention skills
• Comprehensive knowledge of community resources
• Ability to define and uphold ethics and professional boundaries with staff and clients in all circumstances
• Strong personal and work ethics
• Commitment to maintain confidentiality
• Understand and follow all policies and procedures of Amani
• High level of independent judgment
• Ability to work effectively with minimal management guidance/supervision and communicate well with others
• Self-starter with great self-leadership
• Strong communication skills with the treatment team and partner agencies
• Excellent customer service, follow through, professionalism and courtesy
• Ability to multi-task and effectively judge priorities of workload
• Self-motivated and self-starter
• Willingness to accept responsibility
• Must be reliable and consistent with attendance and punctuality to work
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule according to client needs
• Satisfactory background checks (i.e. fingerprint, criminal history record, and motor vehicle report), as well as positive professional references are required
• Must be able to show valid proof of employment eligibility in the United States of America
• Must have a valid driver’s license, daily access to reliable transportation, and proof of personal automobile insurance meeting Amani’s required coverage levels

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Constant exposure to office work environment, which is typically controlled, agreeable, and in a non-smoking office
• Work also takes place in residential and community settings where weather and cleanliness conditions may be less predictable
• Travel may occasionally expose employee to inclement weather conditions
• A person in this position needs to frequently move about inside the office and frequent off-site meetings
• Frequent activity associated with attending meetings within the organization and meeting external constituents
• Regarding meetings: observing the presenter or information being relayed, as well as detecting the message, and exchanging information is a requirement
• The employee will occasionally be required to audibly address/convey information to large groups of people in an indoor setting
• Frequently communicate with others and/or express oneself via meetings, over the telephone, and through written channels
• Constantly recognize and discern written and electronic material
• Constantly operate typical office equipment (telephone, copier, printer, fax, computer, keyboard, etc.)
• Employee will occasionally need to position themselves to lower spaces or ground floor to reference objects/items or information such as literature
• On an infrequent/seldom basis, employee may need to move items up to twenty-five (25) pounds when preparing for meetings, events, or gatherings
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position up to 70% of the time
• May frequently ascend/descend stairs during frequent off-site meetings
• Frequently required to drive/operate a car

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $19.00 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Fort Wayne, IN