Bi-lingual Victim Advocate, Concilio

Posted by Concilio on September 19, 2016

General Description:

The Full Time Victim Advocate will serve as a community based advocate for victims and witnesses of crime in the East Division. This position will also serve as a back up to ensure on site services at the Criminal Justice Center as assigned. Services delivered include but are not limited to: education about victim legal rights and protections; criminal justice progress; providing crisis intervention, emotional support and safety planning; helping submit comments to courts, probation, and parole boards; intervening with creditors, landlords and employers on behalf of victims; helping find shelter and transportation; referral linkage and support with follow up to community based services; connecting victims SAVIN to ensure notification of inmates’ release or escape; and completion of Crime Victims Compensation Applications. Advocate will also help victims to prepare and submit a victim impact statement, support intervention with harassment and intimidation, and help to request translation services in court as appropriate. Advocate will offer victims information about the different options available to them and support victims’ decision-making from a client centered, trauma informed approach and be committed to maintaining the highest possible levels of confidentiality in their communications with victims. The Victim Advocate will be responsible for ensuring participation in and facilitation of community level outreach and awareness activities in collaboration with community partners and community residents. This position will serve as a key liaison to the District Attorney’s office, police districts, other community partners and community residents..

Duties and Responsibilities:

· Provide community based support and advocacy services to victims within Philadelphia’s East Division.

· Inform victims and witnesses of hearing dates, familiarizing them with and encouraging them to participate in the criminal justice process, and reporting any victim-witness intimidation and/or retaliation with the goal of increasing the number of cases being held for court.

· Education victims and witnesses about their legal rights

· Provide safety planning, crisis intervention, and emotional support

· Help victims with impact statements or comments to courts, probation and parole boards

· Referral linkages to community based services

· Connecting victims to SAVIN to ensure notification of a inmates’ release or escape

· Complete of Crime Victim Compensation Applications

· Participate in community level outreach to promote services, including table settings and facilitation of informational presentations

· Participate in community level events that promote violence prevention to represent Concilio and agency services

· Provide bi-lingual community presentations promoting services

· Support both written and verbal translations, English/Spanish

· Utilize a strengths-based, trauma informed resiliency model of practice

· Maintain client confidentiality and handle all communication in a professional manner

Qualifications/Requirements

¨ Bachelor degree in Social Work or related field preferred, with a minimum of two years’ work experience serving victims of crime.

¨ Knowledge of victim’s services and court processes including, victim rights counseling, support, and service connection.

¨ Strong oral and written communication skills.

¨ FBI, Pennsylvania Childline and Criminal Background Clearances.

¨ Computer and technological proficiency required.

¨ Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

¨ Flexible schedule with willingness to support events outside normal business hours

¨ Ability to work under pressure and respond to emergency situations or be on-call as applicable.

Interested candidates should email julie.avalos@elconcilio.net.