Counselor / Advocate (Full Time) - Location Coatesville

Title: Bi-lingual Counselor/Advocate and Transitional Housing Advocate -Full Time Onsite - Coatesville, PA

Department: Counseling

Work Week: 40 hours Three days 7:00 am- 3:00 pm; Two days 1-9 pm

Status: Nonexempt

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Job Summary: Will provide trauma-informed counseling, intervention, emotional support, and referrals to victims of abuse and their dependent children. Provide trauma informed transitional housing services to residents and/or their children living at DVCCC’s Garfield/Phase IV Program. Work with other agencies to support survivors with gaining financial literacy.

Job Responsibilities:

Maintain strict confidentiality of all client identification and information. May disclose confidential information only with valid, informed consent from a client or party legally authorized to consent on behalf of client.

Provide victims with crisis counseling, follow-up counseling, group treatment/ support groups, transitional housing, information and referral, emergency financial assistance, special services, and telephone contact/information and referral. Duties required but not limited to the following:

1. Provides counseling which includes in-person intervention, emotional support, guidance, and counseling.

2. Provides follow-up counseling which includes in-person and telephone individual emotional support, empathetic listening, and guidance for other than crisis reaction after the victimization that is designed to meet the needs of victims.

3. Provides group treatment/support groups which include the coordination and provision of supportive group activities. This category includes self-help, peer, social support, drop-in groups, and groups in partnership with Open Hearth for financial literacy.

4. Provides information and referrals which includes in-person contact with victims to identify services offered and support available by sub-grant projects and other community agencies.

5. Provides emergency financial assistance which includes payment for taxis, food, transitional and permanent housing, clothing, and emergency safety measures.

6. Provides special services which include assistance with addressing the immediate practical problems created by the victimization. This also includes acting on behalf of the victim with other service providers, securing childcare for counseling or other appointments that pertain to securing housing.

7. Coordinate the application process for survivors of domestic violence for the Garfield/Phase IV housing program.

8. Provide trauma-informed housing stability, case management, and supportive services to Garfield/Phase IV residents and their families

9. Assist in maintaining a welcoming, safe and supportive community environment at Garfield/Phase IV. Help residents in planning community events.

10. Assist Garfield/Phase IV residents in goal planning and identifying and securing safe and affordable permanent housing.

11. Locates and secures resources for Garfield/ Phase IV residents.

12. Conducts monthly home visits to Garfield/Phase IV residents, counsel residents on issues and alerts DVCCC management of any maintenance needs.

13. Collaborates with other counseling staff for counseling referrals on behalf of residents and/or their children.

REQUIRED TRAINING

• Attend a minimum of 10 hours of training annually.
• Assist with training other individuals in the Social Service Systems.

TEAMWORK

• Document program participant information in the database system on a daily basis.
• Attends staff meetings, other required meetings and in-service trainings.
• Participates in all agency-wide events: 45-hour advocate training; October awareness; volunteer recognition; various celebrations; fairs, etc.
• Assist with accomplishing agency-wide annual goals and objectives.
• Assist with keeping the facility clean and neat.
• Work collaboratively with social service agencies, hospitals, clinics, and other community resources to assist with external coordination of services for victim/survivors.
• Any and all duties assigned by the COO and/or CEO.

Skills and Qualifications

• Able to work under pressure and adhere to deadlines.
• Strong commitment to the mission and goals of DVCCC, professional work goals and personal development.
• Through knowledge and understanding of issues confronted by victims of abuse.
• Able to work with victims of domestic abuse and their children. Able to work with a diverse population.
• Knowledge of housing systems, and community agency support services available to victims of domestic violence.
• Ability to speak to program participants and various audiences.
• Ability to strategize issues related to domestic violence.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, and a variety of internal and external colleagues.

Physical Requirements:

• Much of the work performed is sedentary in nature yet may require the employee to exert themselves with minimal force and/or be able lift or move light objects associated with the job responsibilities.

Other Requirements

• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Products.
• Must have transportation to travel to meetings and trainings.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours to meet program needs and grantor accountability requirements.
• Adhere to all agency policies and procedures (attendance, work hours, paperwork, etc)
• Childcare, criminal and FBI clearances as required by the state and DVCCC.

Environment and Conditions

The incumbent’s typical place of work is an office environment and thus will not be substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions

Disclaimer

The information provided in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and working conditions required of employees assigned to this job. Management has sole discretion to add or modify duties of the job and to designate other functions as essential at any time. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract.

Minimum Training and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Services or related field
• Three years related experience
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.