Client Advocate

Job Description

Job Description

FULL-TIME and NON-EXEMPT

Reports to: Housing Services Coordinator 

Schedule of Hours: Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours/week

Pay: $25 - $26 

Position Remote Eligible: Hybrid (90% On-Site)

Mandated Reporter: Yes

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA), is the only agency in San Mateo County providing crisis intervention and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence and their children, seeks a Client Advocate to provide crisis intervention, case management, and supportive services to clients in the Supportive Housing programs as well as residents of CORA’s Safe House. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Client Advocate provides crisis intervention, case management, and supportive services to clients in the Supportive Housing programs as well as the residents of CORA’s Safe House. The Client Advocate is responsible for providing a safe, healthy and welcoming environment for residents. Services provided are voluntary and include safety planning, peer counseling, case management, information and referral, and group facilitation. All services are provided within the context of a trauma-informed approach and in conjunction with community partners and other CORA departments. This position involves responsibilities at multiple sites throughout San Mateo County. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Schedule, screen, and perform assessments and intakes for clients who are referred to the Supportive Housing Department and the Safe House Department, including at CORA’s confidential safe house location. 

• Provide crisis intervention, conflict resolution, mobile advocacy, and de-escalation intervention to clients as needed. 
• Provide peer counseling, education, and information regarding appropriate internal and external referrals to clients. 

• Provide immediate crisis response, needs assessments, and conduct safety planning with all residents and facilitate access to emergency resources that aid in increasing immediate safety.

• Provide targeted case management and advocacy support to a caseload of families in the Supportive Housing department and at CORA’s Safe House. 
• Conduct housing searches online to find rental units for Supportive Housing and Safe House clients. 
• Perform outreach to landlords and property managers in the real estate industry to obtain safe and stable housing for Supportive Housing and Safe House clients. 

• Facilitate resident activities, support groups, weekly community meetings, and other educational workshops.

• Support interdepartmental communication and monitor and manage program waitlist.
• Collaborate effectively with other departments and outside agencies to ensure successful service delivery and conduct community outreach, as needed, to optimize referral relationships with partner agencies.
• Complete required documentation and enter data into client database in an accurate and timely manner. Maintain up to date client files, records, and reports, in accordance with program standards.
• Assist in compiling program statistics, maintenance of filing systems, and development/implementation of new protocols and procedures.
• Attend supervision, departmental and agency staff meetings as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• BA degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience in the provision of social services.
• Bilingual (Spanish) Required.
• Experience working with survivors of domestic violence preferred, including completion of 40-hour domestic violence training. Candidates who have not completed the training will be required to do so.
• Ability to provide culturally competent services and work with a diverse staff and clientele in an empathetic and non-judgmental manner.
• Must demonstrate maturity, emotional stability, and sound judgment to provide effective services to diverse populations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to function as a part of a team and work in collaboration with outside agencies.
• Familiarity with community-based services in San Mateo County
• Ability to integrate feedback and utilize supervision. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to function as a part of a team and work in collaboration with outside agencies.
• Valid CA driver’s license, access to vehicle and insurance required.
• Background check, including fingerprinting clearance from the Department of Justice
• Demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States.
• Familiarity with community-based services in San Mateo County preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Willingness to travel to multiple sites within San Mateo County.
• Must be available to work a set schedule, which will include evening hours Monday through Friday, and some weekends and holidays

MANDATED REPORTER STATUS

This position requires you to directly supervise children without the presence of a legal guardian, or is a professionally licensed role that is listed in California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA). As a result, you are a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse under CANRA and must become familiar with your obligations and how to carry them out in compliance with other federal and state funding obligations. 

CORA History and Overview

CORA has provided services to survivors of intimate partner abuse for nearly 40 years. Our programs include Crisis Intervention Services, including a 24-hour hotline, collaboration with law enforcement, emergency shelter options, and supportive counseling. Family Support Services provides mental health therapy, supportive/transitional housing, and a children’s program. CORA has robust legal services for survivors of domestic violence and provides educational workshops about the dynamics of domestic violence and healthy relationship skills.

CORA is strengths-based, collaborative, accessible, and client-centered. CORA believes that everyone deserves to be treated with respect in their intimate relationships. We provide safety, support and healing to individuals who experience abuse in an intimate relationship and educate the community to break the cycle of domestic violence. Regardless of a survivor’s race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or culture, we save lives and provide an opportunity to begin again.

CORA inspires work of the highest caliber by fostering staff engagement through transparency and inclusion in agency decisions wherever possible. We strive to ensure our policies and communications reflect an appreciation of the impact of social inequities, historical and current, and actively promote healthy relationships amongst staff by demonstrating mutual respect in all our communications.

CORA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We seek diversity with respect to race, color, age, sex, (including breastfeeding and medical conditions related to breastfeeding), religion (including religious dress or grooming practices), national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic characteristics and information, ancestry, marital status, family status, political belief, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), medical condition, military, or veteran status or any other category or status protected by Federal, State or other applicable laws.

All applicants are welcome. Individuals who are bilingual, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community and/or survivors of domestic violence are strongly encouraged to apply. The position will remain open until filled.