Residential Advocate

Job Description

Job Description

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
• Bachelor’s 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 organization’s 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.***

The 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.