Sexual Violence Victim Advocate (SVVA)

Are you willing to come alongside those that have experienced sexual violence/abuse to help them with practical solutions that will empower them to thrive?

Would you thrive in a position where you come alongside those who have experienced sexual violence, empowering them to begin healing from the trauma they’ve experienced? Are you willing to work with survivors, offering resources that could help them meet their goals? If so, the sexual violence victim advocate may be a good position for you. This position is ideal for those committed to growing in the social services field.  

The Sexual Violence Victim Advocate is primarily responsible for delivering services to those who experienced of sexual violence and human trafficking. The Sexual Violence Victim Advocate works with other True North staff and volunteers to coordinate volunteer hospital advocacy for victims of sexual violence and/or human trafficking

This staff person also educates service providers and at-risk victims about the services available to sexual violence and/or human trafficking victims, the dynamics of these issues, and provides service provision training on these topics. The agency's Non-Residential Services Coordinator supervises this person.

Sexual Violence Victim Advocate’s primary workplace location is the Administration Office. Persons working with this job description may from time to time have a secondary primary workplace location due to client requirements.

Sexual Violence Victim Advocate’s primary workplace location is the Administration Office. Persons working with this job description may from time to time have a secondary primary workplace location due to client requirements.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Providing direct victim services at the hospital, court, or in case management sessions

2. Coordinating the volunteer hospital advocacy program to ensure that coverage is maintained twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

3. When requested by a victim, assisting the victim in completing a petition for a temporary order of protection.

4. Accompanying victims to hearings for full orders of protection and any other court contacts required of the victim to escape the violence in her life.

5. Providing advocacy through the hotline to victims of sexual violence.

6. Assisting victims with safety planning before, during, and after the full order hearing.

7. Providing case management and/or victim advocacy services to facilitate the victims' quest for independence.

8. Assisting the Training Manager in preparing sexual violence and human trafficking victim service provision training for new staff and volunteers twice a year.

9. Coordinating services to victims of human trafficking between True North and other agencies.

10. Training service providers in the community and other social service organizations in victim screening and service provision.

11. Providing the community at large (civic organizations, businesses, student organizations, schools, among others) with education on the dynamics of sexual violence and recognition of trauma in those individuals.

12. Being on the hospital on-call rotation as a staff backup for the hospital volunteer advocates.

13. Facilitate support groups for non-residential clients.

1. Adhering to True North of Columbia code of conduct, core values; adopting a solutions-based approach and being proactive, professional, timely and respectful in communications

2. Adhering to True North of Columbia personnel policies, procedures, and agreed upon protocols and processes, and all state and federal regulations that pertain to the workplace

3. Maintaining a growth mindset; being coachable, able and willing to accept constructive criticism

4. Completing appropriate paperwork in a timely and accurate manner

5. Participating in training activities that facilitate the performance of job duties for other staff and volunteers

6. Attending and participating in weekly CORE and staff meetings to ensure progressive case management for each client

7. Maintaining a professional and respectful relationship with clients, staff and general public

8. Maintaining client and staff confidentiality; adhering to a compassionate trauma-informed approach towards clients

9. Being available for necessary staff calls and emergencies that may arise after hours or on weekends and respond to all calls in a timely and thoughtful manner

10. Driving between locations for service provision or staff meetings (in accordance with specific job description), which may include: transporting clients; running errands; delivering products or services required by clients; among others

11. Cross-training in other program areas (as needed or requested by the Executive Director) in order to meet client and staff needs; and

12. Performing other duties both within the program area and throughout the agency, as requested or required by the Executive Director

1. Bachelor's Degree in Human Services or related field or equivalent experience in the work-related field

2. Familiarity with the Adult Abuse Law

3. Ability to be appropriately assertive in seeking services for clients

4. One (1) year of experience in working with victims of violence preferred

5. Intermediate knowledge of and ability to use community resources, including resources within True North of Columbia

6. Crisis intervention, problem-solving and advocacy skills

7. Intermediate level understanding of the issues of domestic and sexual violence and sensitivity to survivors' needs and issues

8. Willing to travel to meetings and conferences, reimbursement for travel will be authorized if traveling outside agency property.

1. Must possess a high level of ability to be appropriately assertive in seeking services for clients while respectfully interacting with all stakeholders

2. Must possess the ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English fluently; oral and written fluency in at least one language other than English preferred;

3. Ability to effectively present information to top management, employees, and the public

4. Ability to be confident and articulate in presenting information to top management, staff, clients, and the public; ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from internal and external stakeholders;

5. Ability to read and comprehend complex instructions given from written and oral sources

6. Must possess an ability and willingness to work with people of various ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds

7. Must possess an ability to remain patient, calm, and tactful under stressful situations; must consistently possess an ability to use diplomacy, tact, and good judgment when dealing with problems

8. Must be able to promptly provide appropriate follow up to internal and external stakeholders in a timely manner

9. Must maintain confidentiality of client and staff information

1. Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's; ability to understand and employ basic accounting mathematics, i.e. in order to calculate time and paid time off, among others

1. Ability to identify problems and determine the best course of action for their resolution

2. Ability to critically evaluate information for accuracy and usefulness in solving problems

3. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in a variety of situations

4. Ability to respond effectively to poor behavior, accidents, medical emergencies, safety issues; and

5. Ability to make quick but appropriate judgments

1. Intermediate computing and technology skills, including Office Suite (word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, and email software);

2. Ability to do or perform the following:

a) Manage, prioritize, and answer emails;

b) Use appropriate document storage software, including Company server to access other documents; basic level of Google Suite;

c) Navigate online training modules;

d) Ability to navigate agency software for client management, among others; and

e) Ability to use and operate ring central system.

1. Must have a proven ability to work with little or no supervision

2. Must possess valid driver’s license and be insurable

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

1. Climb up to two flights of stairs occasionally

2. Up to daily driving is required; employee must have own vehicle.

3. Ability to remain at a computer screen for up to two hours at a time (and sometimes up to six hours per shift) for virtual meetings, document creation, editing or working with digital documents

4. Occasionally sit and/or stand and navigate around the territory of their work premises

5. This person must be regularly able to use their hands and fingers to handle, or feel objects, tools, computer mouse, keyboard or controls and regularly be able to reach with their arms

6. This person must be able to speak and hear

7. The employee must regularly lift and/or move the weight of 10 pounds and rarely the weight of 30 pounds.

8. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision

This person may be exposed to:

1. Household chemicals

2. Low noise to moderate noise

3. Fluorescent lights

1. Common illnesses, such as viruses, colds, influenza, bacterial infections

2. Cuts/scratches/bruises/bites

3. Bodily fluids

4. Stress; and

5. Volatile situations requiring agency approved de-escalation techniques