Advocate - SA Victim Services

Position Summary

The Advocate – Victim Services serves as a staff member at will of Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS). The Advocate – Victim Services provides intake, case management and support of clients who have experienced sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence, human trafficking, and elder abuse., These activities occur at the exam site, at the outpatient office, offsite, and at the DVIS Shelter among other venues.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Ø Priority 1: Equity and Inclusion

• Reflect and understand how identities could give advantages in the workplace—even if they are not asked for or earned—while others might experience disadvantages. Reflect on how our position and power may shift depending on the environment, the people, or the institutions at play. Build the awareness and compassion that is needed and expected to create an equitable and inclusive workplace.
• Create an inclusive environment and behave in a way that ensures that clients and employees feel embraced, no matter what their cultural orientations are, respected and valued, engaged and connected to the community, and safe from abuse and harassment.

Ø Priority 2: Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Advocacy

• Provide advocacy, referral, and crisis intervention for victims receiving forensic sexual assault and domestic violence exams.
• Notify the Vice President of Advocacy Services, a clinical supervisor, or COPES when the client appears in danger of hurting themselves or someone else during hospital advocacy.
• Act as a mandated reporter for child and elder abuse and provide reports to the Vice President of Clinical Services, Vice President of Advocacy Service , and the Vice President of Safe Housing
• Assist in monitoring the stock of survivor supplies and transport supplies to the exam site.
• Maintain the hospital exam room in a clean and orderly manner.
• Compile and label victim packets.
• Document and maintain client records for sexual assault exams, pursuant to DVIS guidelines and professional standards.
• Participate in periodic external audits.

Ø Priority 3: Shelter Advocacy

• Assist with phone coverage, client intake, and client needs during evening and overnight hours at the Shelter.

• Provide rotating Staff on Call coverage to ensure that sexual assault crisis services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Assist victims in accessing immediate agency aid.
• Provide advocacy and referral services to victims at the Shelter.
• Document and maintain accurate client records for victim services at the Shelter, following DVIS guidelines and professional standards.

Ø Priority 4: Collaboration, Education and Outreach

• Maintain a professional relationship with the SANE nursing staff, law enforcement, and other external agencies and partners.
• Coordinate services with forensic nurses and law enforcement to provide immediate care for victims.
• Provide education and outreach to underserved populations that are at increased risk of victimization.
• Provide training to professionals that are likely to encounter those that have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking.
• Collaborate with the Grants Department on testimonials.
• Assist with training other Advocates and staff on Victim Services procedures.

Job Requirements/Experience

Education: 2-year degree in Behavioral Science, Criminal Justice, or Law Enforcement preferred, or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Experience: 2-years of experience working in hospital services, social services, or a domestic violence/sexual assault agency required; 1 year of experience working with victims of violent crime including familiarity with hospital, police, and court procedures related to sexual assault, and working in a nonprofit preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, lived experience, and/or special skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of or experience working with social justice issues, specifically intimate partner, and gender-based violence, post-traumatic stress, and rape trauma syndrome, and racial, class, gender, and sexual orientation issues strongly preferred.

Basic computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and database experience are preferred.

Requires organizational skills, written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize work and tasks. Requires adaptability to produce and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-task and changing environment, and the ability to work as part of a team.

Requires the ability to embrace, support, and integrate the DVIS philosophies to promote and demonstrate its commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racism.

Schedule Availability: Days, nights, and weekends; position is considered essential personnel and is responsible for reporting to work during inclement weather.

Licenses/Certifications: Valid Oklahoma driver’s license and reliable transportation required; current CPR and First Aid certification preferred.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made when requested to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to communicate and understand in English effectively, in person, and in writing. Ability to hear adequately in person and by phone, in personal and group settings, and function with periodic distractions such as people, telephone calls, and noise.

Ability to work with, and process information from, a variety of individuals and media (e.g., computers, projected images, printed materials), and occasional sitting and/or standing for long periods of time.

Mobility necessary to access various offices and a wide variety of settings. Mobility necessary to perform a variety of tasks that involve intermittent standing, walking/traversing, sitting, stooping, kneeling, bending, and twisting, occasionally climbing stairs or using an elevator, and possibly reaching chest high and overhead for materials.

Ability to reach for, move and/or lift up to 25 pounds and the use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, including frequent repetitive movement such as extended periods of keyboarding.