Hybrid Family Advocate chez Journey Center for Safety and Healing

The Family Advocate works to ensure that clients at Journey Center’s Emergency Shelter have a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for them to process their experiences and develop skills to a life free from domestic violence. Under the general supervision of shelter leadership, the Family Advocate provides case management, safety planning, and advocacy services to victims of domestic violence and assists clients in achieving goals to increase safety and promote healthy life choices.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

1. Assist in providing 24-hour coverage of shelter to ensure youth and adult clients have access to emergency assistance and supportive services while residing in shelter
2. Answer the 24/7 helpline, conduct intakes and assessments with potential clients, and/or provide linkage to internal and external services as needed
   1. Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and resources to helpline callers
   2. Maintain accurate documentation of each helpline call
   3. Report known/suspected child abuse and complete necessary documentation
3. Facilitate intake process for new clients entering shelter and ensure completion of preliminary intake paperwork within 48 hours of arrival to shelter
4. Assess the lethality of a client’s situation and provide safety planning services
5. Explain victim’s rights as set by the state of Ohio
6. Orient victims to civil and criminal justice system by explaining procedures and accompanying to court
7. Assist clients in developing individualized case plan within 7 days of client’s arrival at shelter
8. Assist clients in obtaining and maintaining entitlements and linkages to community resources including, but not limited to, Social Security Administration, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Division of Children and Family Services, employment, and housing
9. Meet with all assigned adult clients weekly in order to review established goals, current needs, concerns, barriers, and success
10. Carry out general operations of the shelter and ensure that services are provided to clients in compliance with the policies, procedures, and requirements of operation set forth by Journey Center and its funders
11. Provide a supportive environment for clients and listen to clients with a non-judgmental attitude
12. Respond to any crisis situations that arise during the shift and when necessary, notify the appropriate staff members
13. Develop and maintain case records in agency database that document services provided to clients in accordance with agency standards and funders
14. Assist with closure of shelter client records in collaboration with shelter leadership
15. Review safety and risk management planning and participation in information sharing during weekly team meetings
16. Participate in staff meetings and other meetings as needed
17. Facilitate/co-facilitate support and/or education groups as assigned
18. Performs general housekeeping responsibilities, as needed, including sweeping floors, taking out garbage, stocking supplies for residents, washing linens, sorting donations and putting them away

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Respect, understand, and promote Journey Center’s mission, vision, values, and goals
2. Complete agency orientation and training to meet job requirements
3. Assumes other responsibilities and duties as directed or assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field or equivalent experience working in the areas of domestic violence and child abuse or case management
2. Must have and maintain a valid Ohio driver’s license and appropriate insurance coverage; Must maintain appropriate driving record
3. Group facilitation preferred
4. Case Management preferred
5. Experience working with victims of trauma, domestic violence and/or child abuse preferred
6. Must be available to work extended and non-traditional work hours; Have the ability to tailor work hours to the needs of families

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics

1. Ability to make sensitive and insightful observations of individuals and to determine a course of intervention
2. Knowledge and compassion towards working with adults who have experienced domestic violence and/or child abuse
3. Knowledge of civil and criminal court system, crisis intervention practices, interviewing, community referrals and resources, crime victimization, victim’s rights, and advocacy techniques; Show competent knowledge of agency and services provided
4. Knowledge regarding domestic violence safety issues
5. Knowledge of social, emotional, and personal aspects of domestic violence
6. Sensitivity to working with diverse cultures and language abilities
7. Computer skills with word processing, database management, e-mail, fax, Windows applications capabilities
8. Ability to make sensitive and insightful observations of clients and to determine an appropriate course of intervention
9. Ability to address crisis situations which require prompt decision and action
10. Working knowledge of community resources available for adult/child victims of domestic violence
11. Ability to perform job duties with a high degree of initiative and independent judgment
12. Thorough knowledge of rules, regulations, functions, procedures, organization, and policies governing the operations of Journey Center for Safety and Healing
13. Ability to analyze problems and develop a plan of action/correction
14. Ability to organize work, engage in a variety of tasks, and consistently meet deadlines
15. Demonstrated sound judgment and outstanding interpersonal skills
16. Good written and verbal communication
17. Commitment to child abuse and domestic violence prevention
18. Experience in and commitment to building and supporting trauma informed organizations 
19. Maintain a positive attitude
20. Thorough knowledge of rules, regulations, functions, procedures, organization, and policies governing the operations of Journey Center for Safety and Healing
21. Ability to incorporate Journey Center’s Values into assigned duties

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

1. Ability to perform job responsibilities in a facility with multiple levels and without elevators
2. Must be able to provide services at various locations and provide client transportation using agency vehicles
3. Communicate with others in person, electronically, or by phone on a consistent basis
4. Regular and predictable attendance

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of Journey Center for Safety and Healing. Since no position description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the job holder’s responsibility.