Residential Advocate

Residential Advocate

Position Summary:
Work as part of the residential team to provide intervention and support services to victims of family violence and sexual assault to aid in their recovery from abuse

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED
• Two years previous work/volunteer experience, performed at a minimum of 20 hours/week
• Previous experience in client services preferred
• Bachelors degree in a related field preferred
• Bilingual preferred
• Must have reliable transportation and current auto insurance as required by the State of Texas

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Direct Services:

Responsible for responding to our 24 hour crisis line and providing intervention and support services to individual seeking family violence and sexual assault services

Responsible for intake for eligible victims

Provide access to shelter services as needed

Responsible for providing orientation to shelter to include operational systems and tour of facility and an explanation of our confidential policy and security measures

Responsible for providing personal advocacy to include food, clothing, personal hygiene items and access to telephone

Meet with individuals weekly to do safety planning, goal setting, and looking and resources needed to accomplish their goals

Provide access to emergency medical care and transportation

Provide access to other medical care and transportation needs according to organizational policies

Provide accompaniment to include court and community resources as needed

Provide access to the residential child advocate and provide age appropriate services to meet the specific needs of children

Responsible for providing individuals with their Rights and Responsibilities and house guidelines

Provide and support clients in getting access to their medications 24 hours a day

Engage individuals in conversation related to the Dynamics of Family Violence and Sexual Assault and provide written material to increase knowledge in decision making

Provide information related to legal issues and assistance in the civil and criminal justice system to include information on obtaining crime victim compensation, protect orders, and increasing their knowledge related to the criminal justice system

Assist client with resources or education to increase their skills in budgeting, effects of trauma, healthy relationships, parenting and addiction

Utilize a formalized resources/referral system to assist clients with community resources

Provide individuals with information related increasing their employment options, skills assessment to identify training needs and seeking employment

Provide information regarding voluntary and involuntary terminations of services and access to an appeals process for services rendered

Utilize intervention, peer support techniques to facilitate recover from the abuse, decrease the effects of the abuse, understating negative feels and behaviors to aid the client in self-awareness and living an abuse free life.
Also techniques in resolving conflict through healthy communication

Participate in on call rotation for transportation and accompaniment of individuals

Responsible for daily documentation in client files, logbook and statistical data required according to organizations policies and grant funders for monthly, quarterly and annual reports

Attend team meetings to facilitate on going case management of individuals in our shelter

Responsible for collaborating with volunteers to provide shelter support services

Provide lodging for sexual assault survivors

Maintain confidentiality of client information and shelter location

Facilities:

Responsible for cleanliness and orderliness of physical structure

Responsible for implementation and maintenance of inventory system for food and other resources used to assist clients

Identify any safety issues, repairs and other needs of physical structure and document in appropriate place for notification to Executive Administrator

Ensure the refrigerators are maintained at correct temperature and that food is stored properly

Maintain all organization equipment and appliance to ensure they are in good working order

Maintain security of shelter facility

Program Support:

Adopt and practice the agency model of open, honest, and ethical communication and communicate effectively with clients and other staff members

Collaborate with the residential supervisors and volunteers to coordinate provision of shelter support services

• Assist with the creation and maintenance of a job manual specific to the functions and procedures of Residential Advocates

Manage and submit documentation of hours worked in accordance with agency policies

Attend meetings & trainings pertinent to job performance

Statistics & Reporting:

Complete all paperwork and reports necessary to maintain compliance with agency policies and procedures.

Compile client statistic reports as needed for different granters and internal reports

Public Relations:

Assist the Executive Client Services Director in maintaining a positive relationship with other agencies, community representatives, funders and professional organizations

Attend agency sponsor community events as needed

Additional Job Duties

• All other duties as assigned
• Data entry as related to position

Personal Skills:

Ability to remain calm and make decisions effectively while coping with crisis situations

Ability to understand and comply with confidentiality policies

Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize workload

Ability to organize work area

Requires good verbal and written communication skills

Must have emotional/physical stamina to deal with prolonged crisis situations

Ability to work independently without supervision

Ability to be flexible and change duties with short notice as needed

Physical/Sensory:

Ability to walk, stand, kneel, push, stoop, reach above the shoulder, bend repeatedly, grasp, pull, hear with aid, see, write, count, read, speak, analyze, alphabetize, lift and carry under 45 lbs., perceive depth, operate a motor vehicle and operate motor equipment

Conditions include working closely with others, working alone, working while children are playing close by, working protracted or irregular hours

Supervisor:
Residential Manager

Work Schedule:
Flexible Shift Work (some nights, weekends, and holidays required)

Location:

Residential Facility in Polk County (Polk County Advocates)

Residential Facility in Walker County (Walker County Advocates)

Schedules are subject to change to meet the needs of the agency

Status:
Non-Exempt, Part-time

This position is made possible fully or in part by existing grant funding; continued employment and salary could be contingent on funding renewal with applicable grants.

above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed.
They are not intended to be construed as exhaustive of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.