Career Opportunities

JOB SUMMARY:  The Victim Advocate/Outreach Coordinator assists survivors of sexual and domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking with necessary and appropriate services including protection orders, emotional support, education, and referrals to community resources.  This position has a special focus of being the sole advocate in the assigned rural county or counties.  Extra responsibilities include participating in community meetings, collaborating with inter-agency/multi-disciplinary groups, organizing and/or facilitating training for county partners.

 

The roles, responsibilities, job functions, knowledge, skills and abilities set forth herein may be revised from time-to-time in order to comply with federal and state laws, departmental needs and the changing requirements for this position. 

 

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• GENERAL ADVOCACY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Respond to day-time crisis calls and walk-ins in a trauma-informed manner.

  • Provide short-term one-on-one support to survivors of sexual and domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking.  Support may include, but is not limited to, emotional support counseling, teaching of life skills, education regarding sexual and domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking and/or assisting with employment and housing opportunities.

  • Provide on-going emotional and physical safety planning.

  • Make appropriate referrals to community agencies and assist with resources acquisition.

  • Offer continued or follow-up services as necessary and/or requested.

  • Provide transportation for survivors or assist survivors in making transportation arrangements as needed.

  • Conduct strength-based needs assessments with sheltered and non-sheltered survivors and assist in creating individualized goals.

  • Assist survivors with protection orders as appropriate and accompany survivors to court.

  • Accompany survivors to and support survivors during medical, law enforcement, and/or attorney appointments as needed and/or as requested.

  • Offer survivors tangible options to barriers and support personal empowerment of decisions.

  • Respond to requests from the community partners such as law enforcement, hospital, community mental health, etc., as appropriate.

  • Provide on-call relief with other staff on a rotating basis.

  • Provide community presentations and increase community awareness by making brochures, posters, and other items available to community partners and the public as appropriate.

 

• POSITION-SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITES

  • Participate in the inter-agency or multi-disciplinary groups to network and educate about sexual and domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking.  Establish and maintain a productive and collaborative relationship with these teams/groups.

  • Provide community presentations to both adults and youth through civic groups and schools.  Provide professional training to local systems (i.e., law enforcement, social service agencies, schools, etc.) Provide community awareness in public places or events throughout the county/community by displaying brochures, posters, and contact information for victims needing assistance. 

  • If bi-lingual, be on-call for native language speaking clients, either by phone or in person.

  • If bi-lingual, provide interpreting and translating for clients when related to sexual and domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking.  Translate documents from English to native language or from native language to English when needed.

  • If bi-lingual, network with community agencies and systems, especially in the native language-speaking community.

 

• ADMINISTRATIVE/CONTINUING EDUCATION

  • Document survivor calls and services and other imperative information using internal database and shelter files per agency policy and procedures.

  • Attend All Staff meetings.

  • Participate in weekly case staffings, monthly staff meetings, and supervision as arranged.

  • Attend professional training and continuing education opportunities when possible and at the request of your supervisor.  Apply to attend KAVA training – Kansas Academy for Victim Assistance within 20 days of your employment start date.

  • Complete other duties as assigned by the SOS Executive Director, including complying with grant goals and objectives including, but not limited to, informing crime victims of their statutory rights, and assisting crime victims in seeking available compensation.

 

• OTHER

  • Assist SOS employees and the public in a professional manner.

  • Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner that fosters a friendly environment with the public, coworkers, and management.

  • Be pleasant, respectful, and civil with others on the job and display a cooperative attitude.

  • Maintain composure, keep emotions in check, control anger, and avoid aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

  • Be reliable, responsible, dependable, and fulfill duties.

  • It is imperative to practice self-care due to vicarious trauma staff may incur. Employees are requested and expected to take care of themselves. SOS will assist with wellness tools for group and individual settings.  

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QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must possess a valid Kansas Driver’s License and auto insurance.

• EDUCATION:  Bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or proven experience required. Master’s degree in a related field desirable.

• EXPERIENCE: One year of advocacy or educational experience preferred, or similar work                 experience. Education may be substituted for experience.

• KNOWLEDGE:  Knowledge of sexual and domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking, and issues pertaining to the empowerment of victims and survivors. Demonstrate a client-focused environment/approach that encourages empowerment of all clients.  Must have the ability to receive, interpret and follow verbal and written instructions. Required to read, write, and speak English fluently. The ability to speak Spanish is beneficial but not required.

  • SKILLS: Desirable skills include but not limited to:

    • Communication: Possess good listening skills, strong writing, and oratory skills.

    • Decision-Making: Frequent situations occur that are outside established policies and procedures and require astute judgment.

    • Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

    • Inductive Reasoning:  The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

    • Integrity & Ethics: Demonstrate personal and professional integrity. Ability to maintain confidentiality along with representing the agency in a positive and professional manner

    • Interpersonal: Frequent contact with other departments, SOS employees, government agencies, and the public. Able to work with a diverse group of people, in a non-judgmental and empathetic manner especially those of other races, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds, and to be as inclusive as possible and as indicated in the SOS Employee Handbook.

    • Office Technology: Operate personal computer with a proficient level use of Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, printer and copier.

    • Problem Solving: Frequent problem solving occurs in this position. It requires the ability to evaluate alternatives to resolve disputes.

    • Public Relations: An ability to network with community professionals and represent the agency in a positive and professional manner.

    • Supervisory: Ability to supervise employees by recruiting and assisting with hiring staff, and planning, assigning, and evaluating the work of program staff.

    • Other: Mathematical, analytical, planning, organizational, and time management.

    • Working Conditions: Subject to work after hours on occasions with hours flexed during the same pay period.

• PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally and apply up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Requirements of moving about the building and sitting/standing at desk. Frequently express ideas verbally and in writing.

 

This job description has been examined for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA).

 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

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To apply for this position, email cover letter and resume to mhalleran@soskansas.com