Navigator

About Harmony House

Harmony House provides shelter, advocacy, and education to domestic violence survivors. In addition to our emergency shelter, prevention education, and outreach programs, Harmony House partners with the Springfield and Republic Police Departments and the Greene County Family Justice Center to support domestic violence victims as early as possible in multiple locations. We believe robust, wrap-around support services have the most impact on victims long-term, helping them to break the cycle of domestic violence for themselves and their families.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Family Justice Center (FJC) Navigator reports directly to the Outreach Victim Advocate Coordinator with a dotted line reporting relationship to the Director of FJC Operations. This position is responsible for providing crisis intervention, personal and legal advocacy, and coordination of multi-disciplinary services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and related crimes. The Navigator provides trauma-informed assistance to FJC clients as they access and navigate the complex web of services they may require, and serves as the primary point of contact for survivors seeking multi-disciplinary services across various agencies and organizations.

Duties/Responsibilities:

· Provide confidential, trauma-informed client services as outlined in the Greene County Family Justice Center Operations Manual and in accordance with Harmony House policies and protocols.

· Conduct comprehensive intake assessments to identify survivors’ immediate and long term needs across multiple life domains.

· Complete comprehensive lethality risk assessments and build detailed, personalized safety plans with survivors that address their specific risks and circumstances.

· Respond to crisis situations requiring immediate intervention and safety planning, including 911 or emergency response coordination, wellbeing checks, and law enforcement response.

· Review multi-disciplinary services available across on-site and off-site community agencies and public criminal and civil justice systems with clients.

· Develop and implement survivor-led, individualized service plans that coordinate resources and services across various systems.

· Navigate survivors through interconnected systems including family court, criminal court, child protective services, immigration, healthcare, housing, and social services.

· Act as primary point of contact for victims and facilitate warm handoffs to ensure continuity of care between partnering agencies, including The Victim Center, Legal Services of Southern Missouri, Springfield Police Department, Greene County Sheriff's Office, Children's Division, Child Advocacy Center, Greene County Prosecutor's Office and Victim/Witness Office, and others.

· Follow up with clients to ensure that client safety and advocacy needs are being met by the Greene County Family Justice Center and partnering agencies.

· Assisting survivors in completing and filing emergency ex parte orders of protection through the court system.

· Regularly attend ex parte court to assist clients and court participants with understanding court processes, making referrals, providing emotional support, and safety planning.

· Conduct emergency shelter assessments for Harmony House, and when necessary, assist clients in identifying additional emergency shelter options.

· Represent Harmony House and maintain positive work relationships and effective communication with partner agencies in multi-disciplinary settings.

· Maintain confidentiality requirements while regularly interacting with partner and outside agencies, including agencies within the criminal justice system.

· Act as a primary point-of contact for victims, facilitate warm handoffs, and ensure continue of care between partnering agencies, including The Victim Center, Legal Services of Southern Missouri, Springfield Police Department, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Children’s Division, Child Advocacy Center, Greene County Prosecutor’s Office and Victim/Witness Office, and others.

· Facilitate warm handoffs and ensure continuity of care across service providers.

· Attend weekly team meetings and discuss community trends in victimizations, community needs, and share applicable resources.

· Attend pertinent meetings and trainings as requested by Director of FJC Operations and supervisor.

· Review all required documentation to ensure compliance with requirements of the Greene County Family Justice Center program guidelines and Harmony House guidelines.

· Generate required forms, reports and other documents used in the FJC intake process and as required by Harmony House.

· Complete 48 hours of domestic violence and sexual violence training within the first year of employment and eight hours annually thereafter.

Perform all other job-related duties as requested or deemed necessary and as agreed upon between Harmony House and Greene County Family Justice Center leadership

Follow up with clients to ensure that client safety and advocacy needs are being met by the Greene County Family Justice Center and partnering agencies.

· All other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities:

· Must be a self-starter with a high level of attentiveness to detail.

· Must possess outstanding customer service skills, as well as strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.

· Must be organized, efficient and detail oriented.

· Must have a strong interest in working with this population.

· Ability to manage cases involving multiple systems, long-term planning, and complex service coordination.

· Ability to manage high-stress situations and make critical decisions under pressure.

· Emotional resilience to work with trauma survivors and maintain professional boundaries.

· Ability to accurately type data on a computer and maintain client records in client case management system.

· Ability to exercise discretion for maintaining confidentiality of staff and client’s information.

· Must be able to multi-task, prioritize and work independently as well as part of a team. Positive attitude and ability to be flexible.

· Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Education and Experience:

· Bachelor’s Degree in human services, social services, criminal justice, psychology, sociology or related field preferred.

· Previous experience working with domestic violence survivors or in human services preferred.

· Thorough understanding of victim issues, including training in the area of victimology, crisis intervention, dynamics of victimization, and trauma-informed approaches.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

· None

Physical Requirements:

· Performs bending, squatting, sorting, kneeling, and reaching to ground level and overhead as required for tasks as retrieving files.

· Ability to lift, grasp, carry, push, or pull up to 15 pounds.

· Ability to climb stairs while carrying objects up to 10 pounds in weight.

· Must be able to hold and grip objects.

· May be subject to sitting for long periods of time.

· Visual ability sufficient to operate a computer.

· Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, hand eye coordination and ability to focus

· Hearing ability sufficient to communicate in person and by telephone

· Regularly required to sit, stand, use hands/fingers/arms, to perform repetitive movements

· Must be able to move safely inside and outside of building

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS:

· Conscientious: carefully and thoroughly does their job, being very particular. Does not neglect any aspect of their job or do things carelessly. Takes pride in work.

· Initiative: self-motivated. Begins actions without having to be told to do so.

· Organized: arranges environment in a systematic manner to achieve objectives.

· Stress Handler: able to handle mental tensions, pressures, urgencies and important situations. Able to handle more than one important and urgent thing at a time.

· Verbal/Nonverbal Communication: expresses self in a positive manner and interchanges thoughts, information and feelings orally. Is considerate, courteous, respective, and well-mannered.

· Agreeableness: has a great deal of interest in other people, feels empathy and concern for other people, enjoys helping and contributing to the happiness of other people, assists others who are in need of help.

Other:

1. MUST have a current / valid driver’s license and current / valid motor vehicle liability insurance. Harmony House does NOT provide insurance coverage for the employee’s liability while using personal autos on agency business.

2. MUST pass criminal background checks.

3. MUST pass a 5 panel drug test which includes marijuana.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.50 - $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person