Community Advocate & Group Facilitator

Job Description

Job DescriptionSalary: $24.34/hr-$26.34/hr DOE

Community Advocate & Group Facilitator

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid holidays and paid time off in accordance with SafePlace personnel policies. Employee Assistance Program provided. Retirement benefits available upon meeting SIMPLE Plan qualifications.

Summary

The Community Advocate & Group Facilitator will utilize agency curriculum to implement survivor support groups. They provide individual advocacy to drop-in clients and group members at the SafePlace business office and may be assigned advocacy duties at community partner sites. The partner with their manager and the Prevention Specialist to implement outreach events and awareness activities, and education sessions, and may support prevention work as needed. This position advocates for sexual and domestic violence for survivors, performs crisis intervention and ongoing advocacy in person and over the phone, provides clients with referrals and other information, and assess survivors current situations and develops safety plans. Stipend phone coverage is expected for this position outside of regularly scheduled shifts, which includes covering crisis line calls one to two nights per week as needed. The position may work with agency volunteers or interns and will perform general administrative duties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this position include the following. Other duties may be assigned as arise due to the business needs of the program.

1. Provide emotional support and advocacy services to sexual and domestic violence clients during drop-in hours, by appointment, and during off-site advocacy staffing of partner agencies.
   1. Provide clients with crisis intervention, advocacy, safety planning, emotional support, and other requested
   2. Maintain current and thorough working knowledge of community resources to make quality referrals to clients.
   3. Provide in-person sexual assault advocacy to clients through drop-in, appointment, and hospital response.
2. Provide appropriate documentation of client
   1. Keep accurate and contract-compliant client records according to agency policy.
   2. Ensure weekly data entry is complete, accurate, and timely.
3. Maintain appropriate documentation of shift Ensure activities are tracked via Outlook and program calendars and proactively follow up with any relevant activity partners to ensure timely and consistent implementation.
4. Participate in on-the-job training and ensure that annually required continuing education hours are met.
5. Attend community meetings and/or tabling/outreach events, as
6. Engage community partners in supporting the work of the agency and needed services for survivors.
   1. Track, research, and properly document outreach activities performed within Thurston
7. Work with Program Manager to identify potential opportunities and changes to current programming and curriculum when needed or requested.
8. Participate in agency and team meetings which may include case
9. Perform duties as described in a culturally responsive manner according to agency policy, ensuring compliance with ethical practice.
10. Follow all agency policies and procedures including conduct, communication, services, accurate record and time keeping, and stewardship of agency resources.
11. Work with Program Manager to Plan, organize, and facilitate support group sessions.
    1. Plan activities, discussion topics, and/or schedule guests each week on relevant domestic violence, sexual assault, and children and parenting topics, and/or on community resources and include feedback from participants when planning.
    2. Get supervisor and/or director approval of curriculum or outreach and awareness activities prior to implementation.
    3. Screen potential participants for group participation, including information on confidentiality and mandated reporting and schedule
    4. Attend meetings community partners and workgroups as
12. Regularly distribute client feedback surveys for group participants and outreach or educational sessions.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

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

• Associates degree in human services related fields, plus one years experience working/volunteering in a social service field and/or with vulnerable populations or people in crisis, or relevant and equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Complete the SafePlace Advocate Core Training (ACT) within the required initial timeframe.

• Experience with support group facilitation and/or curriculum development, public speaking and presentation, or other similar experience.

• Experience providing services in a culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and client-centered manner.
• Experience with basic computer skills using the Office 365 suite; ability to use the internet safely and effectively.
• Experience with effective communication, both verbally and in
• Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts and set
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and effectively solve problems.
• Ability to track multiple activities and be effectively organized.
• Ability to handle detailed work accurately and to handle multiple tasks
• Ability to work
• Ability to handle stress
• Ability to react calmly and quickly to emergency
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude in a crisis intervention work
• Have a car, current automobile liability insurance and telephone or have access to transportation to respond to offsite locations within 20-30
• Ability to implement and maintain standards of safety and confidentiality
• Agreement with the SafePlace mission, values, and philosophy

Preferred Qualifications

• 
  Bilingual/bicultural (Spanish or Asian languages).
• 
  CPR/First Aid training
  
  

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess the following interpersonal skills:

• Brings and maintains high level of enthusiasm and employee engagement to the
  • Ability to respond to crisis, set limits and maintain healthy
  • Ability to manage personnel issues and conflicts with confidentiality, fairness, and respect with a diverse
  • Ability to maintain a positive attitude in a fast-paced work
• Open to being part of a collaborative team environment with a diverse
• Flexibility and the ability to accommodate both staff and
• Engages with supervisor, teammates, staff, volunteers, and clients in a positive
• Embraces the following SafePlace values in all interactions with staff, volunteers, and clients:
• Quality Employee provides quality programs and services for our clients, helping to maintain the best facilities we can provide, be part of the finest staff we can hire and promote a positive atmosphere for
• Respect Employee recognizes that the foundation for our relationships with others is respect for individual rights and
• Self-Care The Employee recognizes the need for self-care as a priority for themselves, clients, and other
• Diversity - Employee values, acknowledges, and integrates diversity into their role at SafePlace. Employee is dedicated to serving the diverse cultures in our community and working to mirror that diversity in our staff and
• Integrity - Employee endeavors to build relationships with clients, community members and each other based on integrity and honesty.
• Confidentiality - Employee will hold client and personnel information in the strictest of confidence creating a culture of openness and

Reasoning, Math, and Technical Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess the following reasoning abilities:

• Ability to identify and solve problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule
• Ability to identify gaps in standardized procedures and formulate proposed
• Ability to accurately add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and
• Ability to compile statistics and report them in an understandable
• Basic computer skills using Office 365
• Knowledge of Publisher and Power Point programs

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Advocacy Core Training certification.
• Valid drivers license and current automobile liability
• CPR/First aid training certifications

Training Requirements

Employee is required to complete initial Advocate Core Training and on-the-job crisis line training within first 90 days of employment and prior to providing direct services to clients. Employee must ensure compliance with required annual continuing education.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Functional Area Breakdown with Percentages

Function

Estimated % of Time

Description

Direct Services

70%

Direct service delivery to DV/SA survivors that includes drop-in advocacy, advocacy off-site at partner locations, phone advocacy, system navigation and advocacy and facilitation of survivor support groups. Includes after-hours crisis line response.

Community Engagement & Systems Advocacy

10%

Representing SafePlace at relevant task forces and partner meetings, maintaining systems advocacy relationships, and community collaboration.

Administrative Oversight & Reporting

5%

Data tracking (InfoNet), create and maintain client files, contribute to other data or reports

Curriculum development and program evaluation

10%

Developing and implementing evaluation tools, measuring program effectiveness, and supporting programs curriculum creation and adaptations as needed.

Training & Professional Development

5%

Participating in required training and ongoing professional development related to advocacy, management, and compliance.

Additional Requirements:
Employment is contingent upon agreement with the SafePlace Philosophy Statement and successful completion of a Washington State Patrol criminal background check.

Forms Required Upon Interview Invitation:

• 
  Criminal History Questionnaire
  
  
• 
  Criminal Background Check Disclosure
  
  
• 
  Identifying Information for Criminal Background Check
  
  

SafePlace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or any other status protected by law.

Code of Ethics and Integrity

At SafePlace, we are committed to fostering a culture of ethics, accountability, and integrity. All employees, volunteers, and representatives are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct in their professional duties and interactions.

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read, understood, and agree to uphold the SafePlace Code of Ethics and Integrity, which includes, but is not limited to:

• Acting with honesty, transparency, and accountability in all aspects of my work.
• Maintaining client and organizational confidentiality in accordance with policy and law.
• Treating clients, colleagues, and community partners with dignity, respect, and cultural sensitivity.
• Adhering to professional boundaries and avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Complying with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Reporting concerns or violations of ethics or integrity through appropriate channels without fear of retaliation.

Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

SafePlace is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and all other protected characteristics under federal, state, and local laws. As part of our affirmative action efforts, we actively seek and welcome applicants from historically underrepresented communities.

At-Will Employment Disclaimer

Employment at SafePlace is at-will. This means that either the employee or SafePlace may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, unless otherwise stated in a written agreement signed by an authorized representative of the organization. Nothing in this acknowledgment or any SafePlace policy shall be construed to alter the at-will nature of employment.