On-Call Advocate

Position Summary:

RCC Sexual Vioence Resource Center (RCC) On-Call Advocates (OCA) are responsible for providing crisis intervention services during non-office hours (nights, weekends, and holidays).  Crisis intervention services include emotional support (on the telephone and in-person), medical & legal accompaniments, and general assistance with referrals and community resources.  Additionally, OCA’s provide limited support for RCC’s Helpline Volunteers during non-business hours. All RCC employees must be committed to providing services with and to a variety of cultures with cultural awareness, sensitivity and humility.

Primary Position Duties:

Advocacy

• Provide legal and medical advocacy and accompaniments to victims of sexual violence.  This includes providing sexual violence victims with accurate information regarding involvement with law enforcement, the criminal justice system, Crime Victim’s Compensation and Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) funding, restraining orders, forensic medical exams, and general medical care related to the aftermath of sexual assault. 

• Must work collaboratively with community organizations and agencies such as law enforcement and the Forensic Nurse Examiner Program.

• Must report to Meriter Hospital, located at 202 S Park St. in Madison, or a law enforcement accompaniment within 30 minutes of being called.

Crisis Intervention and Referrals

• Provide brief emotional support services by phone and in-person to sexual assault victims, their support people and concerned community members.

• Provide accurate and up-to-date information and referrals to callers and clients.

Service Coordination

• Provide consultation and support to Helpline Volunteers and/or other On-Call Advocates; communicate case information effectively to office staff; work cooperatively and professionally with other systems such as medical personnel, law enforcement, social workers, etc.

 Program and General

• Ensure supervisor is regularly briefed in a timely manner on client services trends.

• Attend On-call Advocates meetings once per month (in the evenings).

• Attend Helpline volunteer training as a participant

• Training new OCAs and volunteers on job duties

• Required weekend and holiday shifts on a rotating basis.

• Maintain regular contact with RCC staff and supervisor.

• Complete and submit necessary paperwork in timely manner.

Education and Skills:

Required Qualifications

• Experience providing services with and to a variety of cultures with cultural awareness, sensitivity and humility or a desire and commitment to learn and implement such practices.

• Experience or education in social work, psychology or human services.

• Commitment to supporting RCC’s values of serving all survivors in Dane County, and an understanding of privilege and oppression and its impact on client needs and services.

• Strong verbal communication skills.

• Commitment to serving people affected by sexual violence through a client-centered service approach.

• Access to private transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience and/or training in providing counseling and/or advocacy to victims of sexual assault.

• Understanding of trauma-informed care.

• Experience in client advocacy in medical and legal settings.

• Knowledge of Dane County community resources.

• Bilingual and Bicultural preferred.

Position Requirements:

The work environment and job specifications listed below are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodations, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Work is primarily performed in an office or medical environment.

• Movement around the physical space (hospital, police station, etc.) and access or use of any pertinent supplies, space or equipment used to perform the duties of the position.

• Must be able to work with frequent interruption.

• Low to moderate noise level.