What are the responsibilities and job description for the Shelter Advocate position at Hope & Safety Alliance formerly Womenspace?
Position Title: Shelter Advocate
Employment status: Full time
Location: While in training Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm. After training- Shelter location
Benefits: Pay Range from $19.58-21.30, Employee Assistance Program, 3% retirement match, generous PTO package, paid holidays, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualifying employee, Paid Family Medical Leave, and opportunity for internal growth and promotion.
Hope & Safety Alliance is committed to providing a workplace that is welcoming, and everyone is valued.
Hope & Safety Alliance has been providing safety, hope, and healing to survivors of domestic violence for over 40 years. We believe everyone has the right to a life free from violence and fear of abuse. Each year we serve thousands of survivors and children. We provide resources, services, and programs in support of our mission to prevent domestic violence in Lane County and support survivors in claiming personal power.
Position Summary:
- Work as an integral part of the Hope & Safety Alliance team to provide survivor-centered advocacy to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking in Lane County.
- The Crisis and Support Services Shelter Advocate’s primary responsibilities will be working with the children and youth that are residing in our shelter, providing respite-like care, and parenting support.
- This position will work primarily at our confidential shelter and may also respond as part of the emergency mobile response team, providing or arranging transportation for survivors, coordinating emergency shelter, and providing in-person delivery of food and items to clients.
- Other duties include:
- Providing domestic violence education to survivors; assisting team members and other advocates with the completion of tasks
- collaborating and networking with local organizations and community partners; completing all necessary paperwork; documenting and updating statistics; and attending all meetings and training as assigned.
- Other duties may include answering Crisis & Support Line calls and responding to Web Chat messages.
- providing a wide variety of support and advocacy strategies to survivors, including emotional support, empathetic listening, safety planning, resource information, community referrals, system navigation, and case management.
Who you are:
- You work well independently and as part of a team, and you can multitask in a fast-paced environment and interact professionally, calmly, and equitably at all times.
- You relate effectively and respectfully with people of all ages and from all backgrounds.
- You have familiarity with crisis de-escalation techniques and can use mature judgment in decision-making and conflict resolution.
- You understand the impacts of trauma and the importance of delivering collaborative, trauma-informed services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
- You share Hope & Safety Alliance’s commitment to social change, and are united in our vision of building a future free from violence and oppression.
Responsibilities:
- Work with survivors in a courteous and professional manner, and provide the following services:
- Advocacy and safety planning
- Emotional support, peer counseling, and crisis intervention
- Referrals, resources, and information about community partner agencies
- Assistance determining client priorities and needs.
- Assist clients with resources and basic needs.
- Provide information on domestic violence dynamics, healthy relationships, and parenting.
- Collect and record demographic information and enter stats into database for tracking purposes.
- Learn new software and technology and use it for communication, tracking, etc.
- Work with community partners to provide accurate program information and referrals.
- Assist in maintaining the facility, materials, and equipment.
- Assure the premises are clean and orderly.
- Build relationships and rapport with shelter participants and foster community building.
- Coordinate with advocates for additional support and services.
- Provide or arrange transportation for survivors.
- Assist in inventory of shelter needs.
- Provide parenting support and respite care when possible while the survivor is onsite.
- Other duties as assigned; may include crisis line support.
Required Qualifications:
- Bilingual preferred
- Experience working with survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault.
- Flexibility, and ability to focus and multitask in a fast-paced or remote working environment.
- Ability to work well with a variety of people.
- Commitment to building a multi-racial diverse team.
- Demonstrated ability to problem solve and be proactive.
- Highly skilled in oral and written communication, and active listening.
- Understanding of safety planning and the necessity of strict adherence to confidentiality.
- Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite, the internet, and learn new computer programs as needed.
- Ability to remain up to date on current technology systems, learn new technology systems, and implement within the scope of duties.
- Maintain a level of comfort and ability around basic technology (email, database, text, chat, etc.) as well as future systems as our technology needs progress.
- Lived experience as a survivor of domestic violence highly valued.
- Completion of provided 40-hour domestic and sexual violence advocacy training (or equivalent approved by the CEO) within the first six months of employment
Background Check: The Department of Justice requires Hope & Safety Alliance to conduct a background check, fingerprint report, and a search of local and national sex offender registries based on each state of residency for the previous five years.
Work Environment:
A domestic violence agency environment can potentially shift from stable to highly charged, and all employees must remain calm, creative, and flexible.
Contagious Disease Considerations:
Protecting the health and safety of our community, including our team is our highest priority. We provide gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer to all team members. Hope and Safety Alliance takes great care to ensure the office is maintained in accordance with CDC guidelines.
Protecting the health and safety of our community, including our team is our highest priority. We provide gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer to all team members. Hope and Safety Alliance takes great care to ensure the office is maintained in accordance with CDC guidelines.
Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
Salary : $20 - $21