Safe Advocate

Description

Position Title: SAFE Advocate

Employment Type/Hours: 16 hours per month required

Supervisor: Director(s) of Safehouse Services

Department: Safehouse Services Department

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

FLSA Exemption Test: N/A

Starting Salary/Hourly Rate: $19.00/hour

Last Updated: 9/10/26

Subject to work open available shifts

Our Mission

Safe Berks provides a safe haven and support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through education, advocacy and a relentless commitment to prevent abuse. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where individuals can be their true selves and feel empowered to stand up to all forms of oppression.

Our Values

SAFETY

We believe that freedom from physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological harm is a basic human right of all individuals. We know that domestic violence, sexual assault, oppression and privilege include power-based tactics that affect physical, emotional and psychological safety and we work to help survivors heal the wounds caused by power-based violence.

RESPECT

We value the dignity of all individuals while appreciating our differences and celebrating and honoring our diversity. Respect is reflected in the way we treat our clients, ourselves and members of the community. We believe our work requires us to reach out to marginalized individuals and communities and to create space to celebrate and nurture them.

EMPOWERMENT

We believe empowerment begins with recognizing and knowing that individually and collectively Safe Berks clients, staff and volunteers have the strength to make necessary change and to accomplish our goals. We recognize that success is defined by each individual given their experience, talents and culture and we celebrate this success.

EDUCATION

We will educate ourselves and our community to reject and prevent violence and oppression in our own lives and in the lives of the people around us. We recognize that our mission and values are transformational, and we must work with intention to break down social and cultural norms that continue to divide us.

HOPE

We believe that hope is key to our existence, to our ability to persevere and to achieve goals. We recognize that our work fosters hope and resilience and improves physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological well-being.

Equity and Inclusion

Safe Berks is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where all staff, residents, clients, board members, and volunteers feel safe and empowered to stand up to oppression of all kinds. We believe that the collective sum of our individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, creative outlets, innovative approaches and solutions, unique capabilities, and talent that our employees exhibit in their work represents the quality of our life-saving services. Reflective of the community we serve and embrace, we celebrate differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity, or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

Position Standards

1. Direct Service Delivery Standard
2. Employee demonstrates a commitment to exceptional service for all individuals seeking assistance from Safe Berks and does so in a manner that is trauma-informed and in line with agency values of safety, respect, empowerment, education, and hope . Employee always maintains confidentiality according to agency requirements, consistently follows agency policies and procedures, and makes good decisions within the boundaries of their position expectations.

1. Conduct and Behavioral Standard
2. Employee responds to changing circumstances by being innovative and adjusting behavior to fit different situations. Employee performs work with a calm demeanor in stressful situations. Even in situations that may cause employee personal discomfort, they are able to be flexible and understand and balance others diverse views and beliefs.

1. Essential Skills Standard
2. Employee has strong communication skills, which are essential to the work of an advocate. They express oneself clearly and effectively when speaking and writing. Employee practices active listening by facilitating two-way communication and ensures that information is understood by all parties. They share information in a timely manner using the most appropriate method and follows up with individuals requesting additional information, referrals, or assistance.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (includes but is not limited to the following):

1. Provide trauma informed support to residents and their children and assist in maintaining a welcoming, safe, and supportive community living environment.
2. Assist with the orientation process and respond to immediate needs of new residents while maintaining professionalism, sensitivity, and confidentiality at all times.
3. Conduct safety/security rounds in the building during assigned shift; complete necessary verbal and written reports. Complete logs as required; follow up on safety-related issues; contact medical, police and fire personnel in the event of an emergency.
4. Assist with intake and discharge of residents.
5. Assist with meal preparation and distribution when necessary and perform general housekeeping duties regularly.
6. Receive, sort, and distribute resident mail.
7. Answer the 24/7 hotline and text line, conduct assessments for shelter, respond to MAPP calls, assess survivor’s immediate needs and make all appropriate referrals.
8. Assist the department directors in the orientation and training of new staff/volunteers.
9. Work closely with Case Managers to coordinate entry/exit of Safe House residents.
10. Provide in-person medical advocacy, response, support and referrals to victims and survivors at local healthcare facilities as needed.
11. Cross-train with Rapid Response advocates to provide support, and advocacy to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at the Berks County Courthouse, including specific information about the process of filing an emergency petition and/or temporary petition for Protection from Abuse Order (PFA), Sexual Violence Protection Order (SVPO), and Protection from Intimidation Order.
12. Utilize language access services to effectively communicate with LEP individuals.
13. Maintain records in accordance with agency standards and complete/submit required documents as assigned.
14. Arrange transportation for clients when appropriate.
15. Provide coverage for open shifts and holidays as needed.
16. Attend staff, team, program, and agency meetings as required.
17. All other duties as determined by department supervisors.

This position is considered essential. To ensure continued 24/7 operations this position is required to work onsite during inclement weather, outages, emergencies, and/or authorized administrative office closures.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each of the essential duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

Educational & Experience Requirements:

Employment Experience (amount and kind)

• 1 – 2 years of experience in social or human services field
• Experience working with children and their parents preferred

Education (general level required or specific courses)

• High school diploma or equivalent degree required

Essential Physical Requirements:

Activity

Occasionally – 0-35%

Frequently – 36-74%

Constantly – Over 75%

Standing

X

Walking

X

Sitting

X

Balancing

X

Stooping

X

Kneeling

X

Crouching

X

Crawling

X

Climbing

X

Reaching/Working Overhead

X

Keyboard Use/Repetitive Hand Motion

X

Pushing/Pulling/Lifting/Carrying 0-10lbs

X

Pushing/Pulling/Lifting/Carrying 11-25lbs

X

Pushing/Pulling/Lifting/Carrying 26-50lbs

X

Other Requirements:

• Completion of a background check request; FBI, State Police, and Child Abuse Clearances obtained within required timeframe under Act 153 through agency vendor
• Successful completion of required Advocate Training provided by agency
• Valid driver's license, current vehicle registration, acceptable driving record, and PA Minimum Liability insurance coverage of $15,000 Bodily Injury per person / $30,000 Bodily Injury per accident and $5,000 Property Damage, or $35,000 Combined Single Limit, if your position requires operating a personal or organization owned vehicle.