Relief Support Advocate

Relief Support Advocate

The philosophy of our organization is that all people have the right to live without fear, abuse, oppression, and violence. Our advocacy programs embrace the philosophy that people experiencing violence and/or abuse have the potential to control their lives and can be helped in doing so through support, information, and encouragement. We believe that our organization should model behavior that is nonviolent and uses power responsibly for personal and organizational action and growth.

The Relief Support Advocate will provide, on call shift coverage for overnight hours and some weekend evening hours for hospital advocacy. They play a crucial role in maintaining adequate coverage for the hospital SANE program. This position is responsible for covering any open shifts throughout the week they are on-call. The ideal candidate is compassionate, capable of handling multiple tasks efficiently, and is incredibly reliable.

Priority 1: Equity and Inclusion

Reflect and understand how identities could give advantages in the workplace—even if they are not asked for or earned—while others might experience disadvantages. Reflect on how our position and power may shift depending on the environment, the people, or the institutions at play. Build the awareness and compassion that is needed and expected to create an equitable and inclusive workplace.

Create an inclusive environment and behave in a way that ensures that clients and employees feel embraced, no matter what their cultural orientations are, respected and valued, engaged, and connected to the community, and safe from abuse and harassment.

Priority 2: Shift Coverage

Provide on-call, shift coverage, in person, at the hospital for domestic violence and sexual assault exams. This will be on-call overnight and evening weekend hours for a week at a time. This relief work will be assigned to two relief advocates each week and between the two assigned, the expectation will be that one advocate will respond to each hospital call received. If a call is not covered by these assigned relief advocates, it will result in a 1/3 reduction of the stipend for each of the advocates assigned to this relief position that week. If this failure to respond occurs, the advocate supervisor will implement the necessary disciplinary response.

Regularly sign up for on-call weeks.

Priority 2: Client Services

Provide advocacy, referral, and crisis intervention for victims receiving forensic sexual assault and domestic violence exams.

Notify the Vice President of Advocacy Services, a clinical supervisor, or COPES when the client appears in danger of hurting themselves or someone else during hospital advocacy.

Act as a mandated reporter for child and elder abuse and provide reports to the Vice President of Clinical Services, Vice President of Advocacy Services, and the Vice President of Safe Housing.

Assist in monitoring the stock of survivor supplies and transport supplies to the exam site.

Maintain the hospital exam room in a clean and orderly manner.

Document and maintain client records for sexual assault exams, pursuant to DVIS guidelines and professional standards.

Job Requirements/Experience

Education: Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or counseling is required or preferred, or in a related field, or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Experience: None.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Proven computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite are necessary.

Understanding and sensitivity toward the issues involved in domestic violence, particularly as they relate to survivors of any gender, race, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

Ability to learn and grow trauma-informed, client-centered approaches

Ability to work with others in a collaborative decision-making process.

Knowledge of or experience working with social justice issues, specifically intimate partner and gender-based domestic and sexual violence, and racial, class, gender, sexual orientation issues, and intervention/prevention services strongly preferred. Requires dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, excellent organizational skills, written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize work and tasks. Requires adaptability to produce and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-task, and changing environment, with frequent pressure related to meeting deadlines and scheduling requirements. Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.

Requires the ability to embrace, support, and integrate DVIS's philosophies to promote and demonstrate DVIS's commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racism.

Diplomacy in confronting personal, individual, and internal discrimination requiring sharing and discussing personal identities relative to the work environment is strongly preferred.

Schedule Availability: Must be available to be on call for a week at a time and during that week, must be available to cover shifts Sunday-Saturday midnight to 8:30 am, and Saturday and Sunday 5:00 pm - midnight.

Licences/Certifications: Valid Oklahoma driver's license; current CPR and First Aid certification preferred.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made when requested to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to communicate and understand in English effectively, in person, and in writing. Ability to hear adequately in person and by phone, in personal and group settings, and function with periodic distractions such as people, telephone calls, and noise.

Ability to work with, and process information from, a variety of individuals and media (e.g., computers, projected images, printed materials), and occasional sitting and/or standing for long periods of time.

Mobility is necessary to access various offices and a wide variety of settings. Mobility is necessary to perform a variety of tasks that involve intermittent standing, walking/traversing, sitting, stooping, kneeling, bending, and twisting, occasionally climbing stairs or using an elevator, and possibly reaching chest high and overhead for materials.

Ability to reach for, move, and/or lift up to 25 pounds and the use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, including frequent repetitive movement such as extended periods of keyboarding.