Victim Advocate

Position Summary The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay brings help, hope, and healing to people facing serious life challenges or trauma resulting from sexual assault or abuse, domestic violence, financial distress, substance abuse, a medical emergency, suicidal thoughts, and emotional or situational problems. The Victim Advocate provides crisis intervention, emotional support, and advocacy on behalf of clients with medical, legal, mental health, and social service systems. The position reports to the Manager of Advocacy and, in their absence, to the Director of Sexual Assault Services. Strategic/Transformational Duties and Responsibilities Provide exceptional customer service as an advocate to clients who have experienced trauma from sexual assault or abuse in a safe, courteous, and professional manner. Participate in the performance quality improvement (PQI) process and use data to improve client services and outcomes. Transactional/Administrative Duties and Responsibilities Provide comprehensive victim services to all clients requesting advocacy. Respond to sexual assault exams 24/7. Provide community outreach to increase awareness and access to services with an emphasis on minority and underserved populations. Provide sexual assault awareness and prevention education presentations to community groups, schools, social service agencies, and other groups as needed. Attend community meetings and professionally represent the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. Develop and maintain relationships with medical, legal, mental health, and social service systems to better advocate for victims of sexual violence. Have knowledge of State of Florida statutes and policies impacting victims’ rights and options. Accompany clients to legal and medical appointments related to sexual violence. Assist clients through the victim compensation application process. Assist clients through the process of filing for injunctions for protection through the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Maintain updated information for Hillsborough County community resources. Attend all SAS department and other required Crisis Center of Tampa Bay meetings. Use the empowerment model to develop safety plans with clients. Develop positive and collaborative relationships with other agencies. Know and comply with the policies, procedures, and HIPAA regulations of the Crisis Center and partnering agencies. Required Competencies Cooperation/Teamwork – Works toward win/win solutions, collaborates on conflict, discusses root causes, and builds effective working relationships. Engaging Communication – Relates openly, honestly, and sincerely, treating people with respect, listening attentively, and communicating ideas clearly. Customer Service (Internal & External) – Recognizes important details, treats customers courteously, responds in a timely manner, solicits feedback, and proactively identifies and resolves customer needs. Adaptability – Adapts to changes, works under stress with minimal supervision, remains reliable and results‑oriented, and prioritizes work effectively. Problem Solving – Sees problems as opportunities, anticipates potential issues, and analyzes alternative solutions. Judgment – Gathers sufficient input, sees interrelatedness, considers alternatives, and makes timely decisions. Valuing & Fostering Diversity – Demonstrates respect for individual differences and fosters an inclusive climate through empathy and acceptance. Self‑Management – Takes responsibility for behavior and well‑being, works effectively under stress, and exhibits a professional demeanor. Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in social work, mental health, or a related social sciences field, plus one year of advocate and/or crisis counseling experience. Must possess reliable transportation and a valid Florida Driver’s license. Complete 30‑hour Florida Council Against Sexual Violence training within 30 days of hire. Physical Demands / Working Conditions Employee must be able to sit, climb, balance, hear, and use hands, taste/smell, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, stand, walk, talk, and reach with arms. Duties are performed primarily in an office environment. Travel Occasional local travel for community outreach, meetings, trainings, and off‑site exams within Hillsborough County. Hours Determined by assigned schedule. Services available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Employees are required to be on-call during holidays, evenings, weekends, and disasters/critical incidents. This job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of this position. As the nature of the business changes, the essential functions may also change. CCTB is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action for our applicants and employees. We apply recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, and professional development practices without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. #J-18808-Ljbffr