Victim Advocate

Description

Type: Regular, Full- Time

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Schedule: Friday - Tuesday (2:00pm - 10:30pm)

Location: Fresno Police Department (FPD)

Pay Rate: $20.00 (Entry) - $25.00/hourly (depending on experience)

Reports to: CRT Manager

(This position exists and is dependent on grant funding)

SUMMARY: The victim advocate will provide support to victims of domestic violence throughout the county of Fresno.  They will provide trauma informed interventions around both the criminal and civil justice systems. They will use strength-based assessments to help identify clients’ current resources and potential needed support. The advocate will provide linkages to internal programs and to community partners. Direct services provided by the victim advocate include, court accompaniment, safety planning, crisis intervention, transportation to court, assistance with domestic violence restraining order applications, and outreach to referrals from rural law enforcement. 

* Will need to complete an additional extensive Fresno Police Department background check, which includes: 

1.     Must be 21 years of age or over

2.     Possess a valid California Driver’s License

3.     Have no felony convictions

4.     Have no misdemeanor sex crimes convictions 

5.     Have no misdemeanor DUI or Domestic Violence convictions in the last five years (They may want to say No DV misdemeanor convictions and leave out the five years)

6.     No misdemeanor convictions in the past two years

7.     Have good moral character

8.     No Recent theft, even petty theft

9.     Adjudged by a court to be mentally ill, or being treated for mental illness

10.   Ongoing association or affiliation with convicted felons or any validated criminal gang

11.   Negative contacts with law enforcement, assault on or resisting a police officer

12.   Lack of integrity (honesty, trustfulness, or ethical behavior issues at work or school leading to discipline)

13.   Poor driving history (recent convictions or multiple moving violations or at fault traffic collisions)

14.   Recent substance abuse (illegal narcotics)

15.   Discrimination or bias related issues or complaints

16.  Cannot be on court probation, a registered sex offender, or a registered arson offender 

17.  History of violence or currently enrolled in court mandated anger management class

The Marjaree Mason Center is 24/7 operation and all employees, at any point of time, may be asked to perform other work duties from those normally assigned such as answering the hotline or working in the shelter. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provide crisis intervention to  victims of domestic violence.
• Work as a team and support the mission and goals of MMC.
• Work in collaboration with designated law enforcement agencies.
• Maintain positive working relationships with MMC staff and community partners.
• Provide information on the judicial process and legal advocacy
• Assist clients with their applications for a Domestic Violence Restraining Orders.
• Facilitate the Legal Options Class that educates clients about various types of restraining order.
• Maintains client files through Apricot System
• Provide client follow up, as appropriate, when requested
• Attend Team Decision Making meeting held by CPS
• Provide court accompaniment to clients attending restraining order hearings.
• Communicate with Crisis Manager, as needed for support and supervision
• Provide informational  presentations on domestic violence as scheduled, to outside groups.
• Provide outreach to facilitate the linkage of services for victims of domestic violence.
• Develop and maintain good networking relationships with community referral agencies.
• Safeguard clients’ security and confidentiality;
• Occasional travel to locations  in rural Fresno County to meet with clients;
• Daily preparation/maintenance  of client records and files;
• Provide complete, accurate and  timely information needed for grant reporting and management.
• Safeguard assets of MMC, including merchandise and other assets;
• Regular attendance and  promptness are considered part of each employee’s essential job functions.

NOTE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and requirements, which may change from time to time based on business needs. When appropriate, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job, so long as those accommodations do not create an undue hardship for the company.

Requirements

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Social Work, Criminology or other related field.
• Six (6) months of crisis intervention experience required;
• Experience working with law enforcement preferred;
• Experience in public speaking and networking.

Knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful in the position:

• Willingness to work in a team environment and on occasion independently;
• Ability to make decisions, which may have moderate to major impact on the operation of program and/or agency (general operations to funding);
• Capacity to problem solve and use deductive reasoning while assisting clients;
• Approach to working with families in an empathic, nonjudgmental, respectful, and professional manner;
• Ability to understand the needs of families and a willingness to address their concerns with action designed to create change;
• Demonstrate ability to work with sensitivity and without discrimination towards people of diverse cultures, races/ ethnicities, socio-economic positions, ages, religions, genders, physical/mental challenges/ disabilities and sexual orientations;
• Ability to manager high volume of work efficiently and effectively;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, analytical skills;
• Bilingual Spanish preferred;
• Ability to make presentations to medium to large groups;
• Sensitivity to issues pertaining to domestic violence.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Possession of a valid California driver's license and proof of liability insurance on personal auto; Must be insurable at all times at standard rate by MMC insurance carrier;
• Must successfully pass a drug, background and Tuberculosis test.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to adjust focus – (ability to adjust eye to bring an object into sharp focus.).
• Close Vision – (clear vision at 20 inches or less)/
• Lift up to 10 pounds – occasional to frequent
• Lift up to 25 pounds – infrequent
• Push/pull – occasional to frequent
• Reach with hands and arms- frequent
• Sit- occasional to frequent
• Stand – occasional to frequent
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl – occasional to infrequent
• Talk or hear – Extensive
• Use hands to finger, handle or feel- frequent
• Driving - occasional
• Walk – occasional to frequent
• Fine Dexterity – Both – frequent
• Typical noise level – normal office level
• Repetitive use of hands – frequent
• Hearing – ability to hear instructions - frequent
• Grasping: simple/light: - frequent

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Indoors, environmentally controlled
• Normal office noise level

ALL EMPLOYEES MUST BE ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES AND WILL PROVIDE ALL REQUIRED LEGAL DOCUMENTS TO PROVE THIS STATUS, AS REQUIRED BY STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS.

The Marjaree Mason Center, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.

Salary : $25