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Advocate
Cleveland, United States
POSITION TITLE: Advocate
DEPARTMENT: Advocacy Team
REPORTS TO: Manager-Advocacy
CLASSIFICATION: Regular, Full-time
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt
POSITION SUMMARY
The Advocate is primarily responsible for providing trauma informed crisis intervention and ongoing support, and advocacy to survivors mainly in the judicial and civil systems, but also the medical and academic systems. The Advocate provides a broad range of services to empower a survivor including, but not limited to: educating and facilitating the survivor’s decision making, serving as a liaison between agencies, accompanying/staying with the survivor during court appointments, and conducting safety planning. The Advocate will also assist with providing training for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and other community professionals.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide survivor assistance in the judicial, medical and academic systems to survivors and co-survivors
- Coordinate with detectives with scheduling and coordinating survivor interviews
- Accompany clients to police interviews, grand jury, meetings with prosecutors, court proceedings, and Title IX hearings
- Provide survivor assistance for clients from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Juvenile Court, and Cleveland Police Department Sex Crime and Child Abuse unit, local police departments, and Case Western Reserve University
- Provide back-up survivor assistance in Lake, Ashtabula, and Geauga Counties
- Provide follow-up and referral services to clients
- Assist with training hotline and volunteer advocates
- Assist with trainings for community members, including roll call, in-service, grand jury, etc.
- Serve as an active member on the Sexual Assault Response Team
- Build relationships with other professionals, including police departments, prosecutor’s office, probation/parole, other SART members, etc.
- Provide back-up coverage of 24-hour support line as needed. Provide emergency line coverage as needed
- Maintain justice advocacy statistics in database (Apricot)
- Participate in coalitions directly related to advocacy, survivors and the criminal and civil justice system
- Submit monthly reports of activities using database (Apricot)
CONTACTS/REPORTING
- CRCC Clients (direct)
- CRCC Staff including multi-disciplinary teams as appropriate
- Various Community Partners and Agencies
- Works closely with professionals involved during a sexual violence investigation (e.g. law enforcement, city and county prosecutor’s office, victim advocates, forensic nurses, mental health professionals, probation, etc.)
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
None
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS
- Associates’ degree in law enforcement, paralegal, social services or related field; Bachelor’s preferred
- With an Associate’s degree, 5 years of work experience in a related field providing direct services to the community in a human services program; 2 years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree
- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
- May consider an equivalent combination of education, experience, and/or training to meet the essential functions of the position
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & COMPETENCIES
- Must have ability to build relationships, collaborate internally and externally, and communicate effectively with diverse audiences, staff, volunteers and partners both verbally and in writing
- Able to assess the needs of clients under emotional stress and refer to appropriate resources
- Handle graphic accounts of crimes, interact effectively with emotionally upset survivors
- Maintain confidentiality of information
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills demonstrated by the ability to handle complaints, mediate disputes, resolve grievances and conflicts, and negotiate with others
- Ability to listen to the ideas of others and accept feedback from others to continuously improve
- Ability to organize and prioritize tasks to maximize results and ensure deadlines are met
- Ability to approach the work and the decision-making process through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system
- Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communications skills
- Good analytical and organizational skills
- Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information
- Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Ability to use electronic medical records database and videoconferencing tools (e.g. Zoom, MS Teams)
Core Competencies for All Employees
- Committed to the mission of CRCC to serve survivors and prevent sexual violence
- Must have the ability to build relationships; collaborate internally and externally; and communicate effectively with diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing
- Demonstrated knowledge of cultural diversity and how intersectionality contributes to specific systemic oppression and discrimination
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion, integrity, and restraint
- Respectful of others; interacts with tact and sensitivity
Core Competencies for Client Facing Employees
- Ability to assess the needs of clients under emotional stress, de-escalate situations involving elevated clients, and identify appropriate initial response plans. Remains calm and reassuring in crises and responds appropriately.
- Comfort with and sensitivity to needs/expectations of clients and professionals with varied ethnic, socioeconomic, and philosophical perspectives
- Ability to be resilient
- Basic understanding of trauma informed care
WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS
- Typical office environment
- Community-based locations (e.g. libraries, offices of other agencies, Cleveland Police Department)
EQUIPMENT TO BE USED
- Typical office equipment (phone, computers, copiers, etc.)
TYPICAL PHYSICAL & MENTAL DEMANDS
ADA SPECIFICATIONS (Physical demands that must be met in order to successfully complete the essential functions of the position, with or without an accommodation)
- Ability to speak, hear, see and use computer and other office related equipment
- Ability to stand, sit, and lift up to 15 lbs.
- Ability to travel nationally, regionally and locally
Mental Demands that may be an inherent part of one’s position at CRCC
- Hearing and processing stories of sexual violence from survivors of various ages
- Understanding the symptoms of vicarious trauma and knowing how to minimize its impact
- Using supervision to appropriately process feelings of burnout, countertransference, and vicarious trauma
SCHEDULE/LOCATION
- In order to meet the needs of CRCC, this position requires work to be performed at any of CRCC locations and at locations within the community
- Work is performed onsite at a CRCC location as required, and may be performed remotely (i.e. at home) the balance of the time with supervisor approval
- Typical schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. In addition, the incumbent may be required to work outside of normal working hours/days
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 CRCC.
Furthermore, this position description does not establish a contract of employment and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the Center. In addition to the requirements for this position, all employees are expected to become familiar with and uphold the Center’s Vision, Mission, Core Competencies, Guiding Principles, and Standards of Conduct.
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