Domestic Violence Advocate

Make an impact every day!

Job Overview:

As a Domestic Violence Advocate, you will play a crucial role in providing support and advocacy to individuals affected by domestic violence. You will work closely with survivors to ensure their safety and well-being while empowering them to navigate through challenging situations.

The professional in this role provides coverage of the safehouse programs by overseeing client activity, providing compassionate direct client services, answering the hotline, and maintaining a safe, clean and functional safehouse facility. Essential duties for direct client services include providing counseling and supportive services, completing intakes, and providing trauma-informed case management. The safehouse advocate may also supervise and train assigned volunteers and/or student workers. In addition, this position will carry out other duties as required to maintain the daily operations of the safehouse.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Provides supportive services, such as intakes, individual counseling, crisis intervention, case management, advocacy and support to safehouse clients and hotline callers.
• Provides welcoming, empathetic, and inviting environment while educating the clients/families on their rights and responsibilities
• Provides opportunities for clients to accomplish individualized goals through weekly individual case management appointments with assigned clients
• Provides education and information related to domestic violence topics such as the cycle of violence, power and control, etc. with individuals and groups
• Provides advocacy on behalf of clients by contacting resources as needed and encouraging and teaching clients to advocate for themselves
• Provides up to date information and referrals to clients so they can access appropriate resources
• Tracks data and accurately documenting information for United Way and OCJP grants
• Networks with community agencies and individuals to obtain services and resources for clients
• Works within a team environment with other staff to assist clients with wrap-around services
• Encourages clients to use self-determination and allowing them to make their own informed decisions
• Reports maintenance, security and other issues to supervisor as soon as possible
• Follows and enforces agency and safehouse policies, procedures, and protocol
• Supervises and trains volunteers and/or students as assigned
• Participate in the on-call rotation.
• Other duties as needed: grocery shopping, documenting and organizing donations, cleaning vacant rooms, etc.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Case Management: Proficiency in case management techniques.
• Behavioral Health Knowledge: Knowledge of behavioral health principles for trauma-informed care.
• Domestic Violence Issues: Understanding of the dynamics, impact, and legal aspects related to domestic violence including knowledge of child protection and law enforcement child abuse investigative procedures.
• Effective Communication Skills: Both oral and written. Must be able to interact well with the leadership staff and co-workers, Board of Director’s members, Clients, and community members.
• Cultural Competency: Awareness and sensitivity to diverse cultural backgrounds, norms, and practices.
• Computer Skills: Familiarity with basic computer operations, software applications, and digital communication tools. Familiarity with Microsoft Word, and Excel; proficient keyboarding skills.
• Crisis Management Skills: Capability to remain calm and composed during high-stress situations, especially when dealing with crisis or emergency cases.
• Emotional Resilience: Capacity to handle emotionally charged situations and maintain professional composure.
• Adaptability: Ability to adjust to changing circumstances and respond effectively to e
• Bilingual (Spanish speaking): Preferred, with ability to translate accurately without personal interpretation.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in social service field preferred (social work, psychology, counseling, family studies, etc.)
• Experience working with survivors of domestic violence
• Experience working with special populations/issues
• Experience working with confidential and sensitive information

Physical Demands:

• Talking and Hearing: Regularly required.
• Frequent standing, walking, sitting, reaching occasionally required.
• Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling occasionally required.
• Lifting and Moving: Occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Vision Abilities: Close vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• Light cleaning of rooms
• On-call rotation: Includes periodic calls during the night, which require waking from sleep and may require coming into work during off hours

Work Environment:

• This position is located in the emergency shelter where there are possible safety risks. The agency provides a monitored security system but cannot account for all risks involved in domestic violence work.
• May have frequent interruptions throughout the day.
• May need to change tasks rapidly and juggle several tasks at once.

Scheduled Shift:

• Monday– Thursday (4-day work week)
• 8 hours per day – 32 hours per week
• Schedule may change as safehouse needs change

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $42,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• On call

Application Question(s):

• Experience working with survivors of domestic violence is required for the role. Do you have this sort of experience? Please explain.
• Due to on-call responsibilities for this role, it is required to live within 20-25 minutes from the shelter. Do you live within 20-25 minutes of the Maryville/Alcoa area?
• What knowledge, skills, experience, or abilities make you uniquely qualified for this role?

Work Location: In person

Salary : $1,000 - $42,000