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Victim Advocate (Part-Time)
The Victim Advocate reports to the Senior Director of Advocacy Services and Operations. The Victim Advocate is responsible for providing supportive services including crisis intervention, information, and appropriate case management services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault violence. This position assists both adult and child victims. The Victim Advocate serves as an informed source of support to the victim during the immediate crisis and works closely with various community organizations and legal services to successfully support the victim and the Beacon of Hope Crisis Center programs. They also assist victims that experienced abuse in the past and are now seeking long-term services such as finding housing, financial assistance, employment, childcare, and counseling. The Victim Advocate follows up with victims that reported to law enforcement that are seeking advocacy services. This includes intakes from our confidential crisis line, community referrals, and law enforcement referrals.
Primary Responsibilities:
Benefits:
A degree in social work, human services, nursing, psychology, criminal justice, criminology, related field, or previous experience working with traumatized persons. In lieu of a degree, a qualified candidate must have at least two to four years of extensive nonprofit, trauma-informed, patient care environment, or management experience. Candidates must have a minimum of three years assisting trauma victims. Valid Indiana driver’s license, full coverage auto insurance, and reliable transportation required. Bilingual candidates will be strongly considered. Qualified candidates must be familiar with the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault, and experienced with public speaking, training, and volunteer recruitment in diverse populations.
Applicant must have excellent written, verbal and computer skills; must be a self-starter; to reach and work with a wide diverse population; be able to respect the confidentiality of the work that is performed at Beacon of Hope; have good record-keeping skills; and able to multi-task to handle multiple various projects. Able to adhere to strict standards of confidentiality and successful clearance of a criminal background check. Commitment to a non-violent and cooperative work environment. All advocates must have a thorough understanding of the criminal justice system, victimology, crisis intervention, cultural/ethnic diversity, and applicable state victims’ rights/laws. Commitment to providing quality and equitable services to all clients regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, or ability.
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment and includes the potential for hybrid remote work occasionally. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. Any role that permits remote work fully or in part requires the applicant to personally have in place prior to the start date of employment and throughout employment, an adequate internet speed for upload and download, which is a speed of at least 5Mbps, and utilize a secure network requiring a password (known as an encryption key) when doing any BOHCC work.
Physical Demands
This is largely a sedentary role; you will be sitting at a desk using a computer and talking on the phone about 98% of the time. Some filing is required, and this would require the ability to move files, open filing cabinets, and bend or stand as necessary. Must be comfortable talking on the phone for long periods and utilizing Bluetooth ear devices.
Beacon of Hope Crisis Center is an equal-opportunity employer. Beacon of Hope Crisis Center does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.
This is a fully funded grant position. While we certainly do not expect this to occur, a common nonprofit understanding is that if funding for this position were to cease this position could cease. We make every possible effort to know this in advance and to apply for alternate funding or move staff around to other funding sources when that is an option.
Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Educates victims on the topics of domestic violence and sexual assault.
- Facilitates educational meetings about domestic violence for victims seeking to drop the protection offered by No-Contact Orders when required by the court.
- Assists and advocates for victims in filing for protective orders, the Address Confidentiality Program, and Victim Compensation Assistance.
- Assists victims with navigating the court system, i.e., helping them understand the language used in legal documents and understanding legal processes.
- Assists the team by answering calls, if interns and volunteers are not available.
- Ensures access to anyone reaching out in need of services no matter their accessibility challenge. Becomes familiar with our extensive accessibility tools on our website, guiding those in need of services on how to access them in the way that is needed.
- Works with our language interpretation and translation services providers to meet the needs of anyone contacting us for assistance.
- Continues education and training on domestic violence and sexual assault.
- Maintains professionalism always, including:
- Positive rapport with collaborative partners.
- Positive rapport with victims.
- Develops and implements victim services and educational programs and assists program staff in relating their specialized work to the programs of the organization.
- Follows up with victims regarding court dates/hearings.
- Ensures victims have access to accompaniment to report incidents to law enforcement or seek emergency medical care.
- Ensures victims are referred and have access to emergency support services, including:
- Emergency financial assistance for food, clothing, or other items related to getting out of the immediate crisis.
- Emergency and essential transportation assistance to a safe shelter or essential appointments to aid in increased self-sufficiency.
- Emergency hotel stays when shelter beds are full and/or while arranging other optimal housing whether transitional or permanent.
- Connects victims to necessary counseling and/or other professional services, including:
- Medical/Dental advocacy – assisting in medical and dental services offered reduced or free through BOHCC service partners for injuries related to domestic violence or sexual assault.
- Personal advocacy – including securing rights, remedies, and services from other agencies.
- Victim Compensation Assistance/Advocacy.
- Provides the appropriate referral to victims, if BOHCC cannot provide what is needed for victims (note that we have a process we follow for recommending referral resources.)
- Provides timely follow-ups to victims.
- Provide mobile advocacy.
- Providing advocacy services where needed as needed.
- If BOHCC cannot provide what is needed for victims, provide the appropriate referral to victims (note that
we have a process we follow for recommending referral resources). - Communicates with the leadership team to understand and support victim needs, while continually supporting all BOHCC initiatives.
- Must maintain proactive and timely communication with BOHCC Leadership.
- Pass along important information to the leadership team that falls outside the scope of direct client service.
- Supports and expands on existing programs with the services of volunteers, including:
- Safety planning
- Crisis intervention services and emotional support (including phone or in person at an approved
secured facility). - Life Skills Training/Economic Self Sufficiency Training.
- Pet Safety Assistance.
- Fosters an environment of respect with clients, callers, and staff.
- Works with other agency staff on projects and initiatives as directed.
- Attends all staff meetings.
- Maintains a professionally appropriate, clean, and organized workspace in remote and office settings.
Benefits:
- Competitive compensation
- Flexible work scheduling options
- Health and wellness stipend (after 90 days)
- 12 paid holidays
- 2 floating holidays
- Generous PTO
- Paid parental leave policy (after 90 days)
- Continuing education and learning opportunities
- Qualified employer for the public service loan forgiveness program
- At&t personal account discounts
- Annual employee service recognition
- Annual board and staff networking event
- Beacon of Hope Crisis Center is a Certified employer of choice through EmployIndy’s Good Wages Initiative (GWI). As a Certified GWI Employer, we pay all full-time employees at least $18/hr and offer employer-sponsored health coverage.
A degree in social work, human services, nursing, psychology, criminal justice, criminology, related field, or previous experience working with traumatized persons. In lieu of a degree, a qualified candidate must have at least two to four years of extensive nonprofit, trauma-informed, patient care environment, or management experience. Candidates must have a minimum of three years assisting trauma victims. Valid Indiana driver’s license, full coverage auto insurance, and reliable transportation required. Bilingual candidates will be strongly considered. Qualified candidates must be familiar with the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault, and experienced with public speaking, training, and volunteer recruitment in diverse populations.
Applicant must have excellent written, verbal and computer skills; must be a self-starter; to reach and work with a wide diverse population; be able to respect the confidentiality of the work that is performed at Beacon of Hope; have good record-keeping skills; and able to multi-task to handle multiple various projects. Able to adhere to strict standards of confidentiality and successful clearance of a criminal background check. Commitment to a non-violent and cooperative work environment. All advocates must have a thorough understanding of the criminal justice system, victimology, crisis intervention, cultural/ethnic diversity, and applicable state victims’ rights/laws. Commitment to providing quality and equitable services to all clients regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, or ability.
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment and includes the potential for hybrid remote work occasionally. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. Any role that permits remote work fully or in part requires the applicant to personally have in place prior to the start date of employment and throughout employment, an adequate internet speed for upload and download, which is a speed of at least 5Mbps, and utilize a secure network requiring a password (known as an encryption key) when doing any BOHCC work.
Physical Demands
This is largely a sedentary role; you will be sitting at a desk using a computer and talking on the phone about 98% of the time. Some filing is required, and this would require the ability to move files, open filing cabinets, and bend or stand as necessary. Must be comfortable talking on the phone for long periods and utilizing Bluetooth ear devices.
Beacon of Hope Crisis Center is an equal-opportunity employer. Beacon of Hope Crisis Center does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.
This is a fully funded grant position. While we certainly do not expect this to occur, a common nonprofit understanding is that if funding for this position were to cease this position could cease. We make every possible effort to know this in advance and to apply for alternate funding or move staff around to other funding sources when that is an option.
Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
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