Victim Advocate Jobs

Position Summary

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay brings help, hope, and healing to people facing serious life challenges or trauma resulting from sexual assault or abuse, domestic violence, financial distress, substance abuse, a medical emergency, suicidal thoughts, and emotional or situational problems. The sexual assault advocate provides crisis intervention and emotional support, and advocates on behalf of clients with medical, legal, mental health, and social service systems. The advocate performs duties of considerable difficulty which require initiative and independent judgment. This position reports to the Manager of Advocacy and in his or her absence the Director of Sexual Assault Services.

Strategic/Transformational Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in the performance quality improvement (PQI) process, and uses data to improve client services and outcomes.
• Provide exceptional customer service as an advocate to clients who have experienced trauma from sexual assault or abuse in a safe, courteous, and professional manner.

Transactional/Administrative Duties and Responsibilities

• Use the empowerment model to develop safety plans with clients.
• Respond to sexual assault exams 24/7.
• Provide sexual assault awareness and prevention education presentations to various community groups, schools, social service agencies, and other groups as needed.
• Assist clients through the process of filing for injunctions for protection through the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
• Have knowledge of the State of Florida and Statutes, and policies impacting victims’ rights and options.
• Maintain updated information for Hillsborough County community resources.
• Provide comprehensive victim services to all clients requesting advocacy.
• Assist clients through the Victim Compensation application process.
• Attend all SAS department and other required Crisis Center of Tampa Bay meetings.
• Develop positive and collaborative relationships with other agencies.
• Attend community meetings and professionally represent the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
• Know and comply with HIPAA regulations.
• Provide community outreach to increase awareness and access to The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay services with an emphasis on minority and underserved populations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with the medical, legal, mental health, and social service systems in order to better advocate for victims of sexual violence.
• Have knowledge of and comply with the policies and procedures of the Crisis Center and all partnering agencies.
• Accompany clients to legal and medical appointments as related to their experience with sexual violence.

Required Competencies

Adaptability *Remains open-minded and adjusts one’s behavior in light of changing conditions; Manages transition between tasks well and adapts to shifting priorities; Facilitates others’ ability to flex and refocus in light of changing conditions or priorities.

Cooperation / Teamwork *A desire to accomplish together what you cannot accomplish alone; respecting all views and leveraging each other’s skills and experiences; working in the best interest of the team in the pursuit of common goals.

Customer Service *Both internal and external, listens and respects all customers’ opinions and ideas and maintains appropriate professional boundaries. Demonstrating concern for the needs and expectations of customers and making them a high priority; Responding effectively to customer questions and needs in a timely manner. Building strong relationships of trust with customers.

Engaging Communication *Ability to shape communication so as to draw favorable attention of and meet the needs of the audience; Conveying ideas and opinions clearly through tact and consideration of others; Listening attentively to others’ ideas and opinions in an effort to fully understand the message; Writes and speaks clearly and effectively.

Judgment *Making sound decisions based on accurate and relevant facts gathered, rather than emotions; Analyzing situations carefully by applying logic and practical thinking before taking action or making referrals for services.

Problem-Solving *Anticipating and identifying work-related problems; Analyzing problems in a systematic and timely manner; Gathering relevant information prior to implementing reasonable solutions; Acting decisively to implement appropriate solutions, and considering the impact on other areas within the organization.

Self-Management *Taking responsibility for one’s behavior and well-being; Working effectively under stress and adapting one’s style to changing situations; Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, and needing minimal supervision; Exhibiting a professional demeanor.

Valuing and Fostering Diversity *Demonstrating respect for individual differences and establishing a climate where all people can be comfortable and productive through sensitivity, empathy, and acceptance of cultural, racial, mental health, and socio-economic diversity.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Spanish bilingual is preferred, but not required. The preferred job candidate should have excellent knowledge of the Spanish language, both verbal and written, and should have excellent interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, mental health, or other social sciences-related fields, and one year of advocate and/or crisis counseling experience.
• Complete 30-hour (within 30 days of hire) training through the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence.
• Must possess reliable transportation and a valid Florida Driver’s license.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Physical Requirement: Employee must be at to sit, climb or balance, hear, use hands, taste/smell, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, stand, walk, talk, and reach with hands and arms.

Working Conditions: Duties are performed primarily in an office environment.

Travel: Occasional local travel for community outreach, meetings, training, and off-site exams within Hillsborough County.

Hours: Determined by assigned schedule, but typically Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm. Services are available 365 days a year 24 hours a day. Employees are required to be available on-call during holidays, evenings, and/or weekends; and during hurricanes and other times of disasters/critical incidents based on an established location schedule.

Join Us!

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

We want you to be YOU, and you’re encouraged to apply! Come learn more today!