Shelter Services Advocate

Job Summary:

Job Title: Full-Time Residential Services Advocate

Location: Shelter Location – undisclosed

Position reports directly to: Shelter and Housing Coordinator

Overtime Eligibility: Eligible for Overtime

Qualifications: High school diploma and/or a two- or four-year degree in a social service-related field and/or a minimum of two years’ experience working in the domestic violence and/or sexual violence field or relatable field.

Principal Job Duties

• Provide trauma-informed, survivor-centered advocacy to individuals and families in the shelter program. Conduct crisis intervention, emotional support, and needs assessments through in-person meetings, text, and 24/7 crisis line communication. (25% VOCA)
• Use best-practice models to deliver individualized support services that prioritize survivor empowerment and autonomy. Assist with intake, conduct ongoing lethality assessments, create personalized safety plans, and provide crisis and emotional support. Offer case management, complete necessary documentation, and assist survivors with applications for Victim Compensation, Injunctions for Protection, and other safety-related resources. (25% VOCA)
• Provide survivor-led referrals to ensure access to critical services, including medical care, housing, legal assistance, employment, education, and court advocacy. Offer transportation support as needed while maintaining survivor choice and confidentiality. (15% VOCA)
• Establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with service providers and community organizations to reduce barriers and enhance survivor access to resources. Advocate on behalf of survivors to ensure timely, respectful, and trauma-informed responses from other agencies. (10% VOCA)
• Conduct consistent follow-ups with survivors to assess needs, evaluate the effectiveness of referrals, and adjust safety and support plans as necessary. (10% VOCA)
• Facilitate survivor-centered support groups and healing activities that help survivors process trauma, build resilience, and regain a sense of control and empowerment. (5% VOCA)
• Ensure shelter policies and procedures uphold a safe, empowering, and inclusive environment that respects the dignity and autonomy of all survivors. (5% VOCA)
• Support the safety and well-being of all residents by maintaining a clean, hazard-free, and welcoming shelter space. (2% VOCA)
• Maintain ongoing professional development by completing required training hours in trauma-informed care, crisis response, and best practices for survivor support. (1% VOCA)
• Participate in case review and staff meetings to ensure continuous improvement in survivor care. (1% VOCA)
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements through accurate documentation and adherence to funding guidelines. (1% VOCA)

Total Allocations: 100% VOCA

Responsibilities to Survivors

Employees of the Domestic Abuse Council will:

• Treat all participants with consideration, respect, and with full recognition of their human dignity and individuality.
• Provide care, and services that are adequate, appropriate, and in compliance with relevant state, local, and federal laws and regulations.
• Ensure that survivors are notified and involved in all decisions that impact them, their legal cases, that status within services and their families.
• Ensure survivors are involved in all goal setting and plans to meet their individual needs.
• Not share survivor information with anyone without their expressed written consent.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding the survivor’s situation and ensure survivors have the right to deny the release of information to anyone for any reason at any time;
• Provide survivors with an explanation of services in accordance with the goals and actions plans.
• Ensure survivors have the right and opportunity to object to, or terminate, any goals or actions.
• Treat survivors in a manner that is ethical and free from abuse, mistreatment, exploitation, and/or physical restraint.
• Not discriminate based on race, creed, color, age gender, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, disabilities, and any other classification prohibited under state or federal law including the American with Disabilities Act, 28 CFR 35, and the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. – 3604.
• Provide survivors information on any center guidelines that apply to them.
• Provide that all reasonable requests are responded to promptly and adequately within the capacity of the center; and provide access to the center’s grievance procedure.

Agency Requirements

• Continuously uphold and support the agencies survivor focused, empowerment-based philosophy by providing equal opportunity for individual choice and by making educational information available to all survivors.
• Will act as an advocate to survivors when communicating or partnering with other service organizations by providing education and reducing the incidents of judgments, blame or any other unethical communication or practice.
• Maintaining appropriate and healthy boundaries with survivors and co-workers.
• Continually challenge yourself and your co-workers to improve services and act in the best interest of survivors.
• Continually strive to maintain cultural competence.
• Recognize that societal oppressions such as racism, sexism and homophobia occur daily and strive to eliminate the negative impacts of these oppressions on survivors.
• Maintaining a professional demeanor reflecting positively upon the Domestic Abuse Council and the participants we serve at all times.
• Dress professionally and appropriately representing the Domestic Abuse Council and the participants we serve with integrity.
• Strive to continually educate yourself and maintain current knowledge of the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault and the impacts on survivors and children.
• Provide feedback to the Domestic Abuse Council that seeks to improve services and increase the accessibility of our services.

Work Environment: All staff of Domestic Abuse Council is expected to practice ethical communication, show good judgement, and maintain strict confidentiality of the participants served.

Required Skills Include: professional presentation, excellent verbal communication and writing skills, public speaking skills, ethical communication skills, good judgment, desire to advocate on behalf of survivors, ability to perform calmly in crisis situations, and a valid Florida driver’s license, insurance, a safe driving record and reliable transportation. Computer skills including working knowledge of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher, public speaking skills, training facilitation and the ability to develop programs.

Physical requirements: Mobility and ability to bend and reach during an 8–12-hour day, able to lift minimum 20 pounds. Visual and auditory acuity sufficient to evaluate, intervene, treat, and record client health care needs. Fine motor skills for legible and accurate charting, daily correspondence, and presentation, either manually or orally. Work endurance ability to work 8-12 hour shifts with a meal break, as possible. Routine 8–12-hour shifts. Hours and days off may vary. Extra hours may be required. Work assignment locations may vary.

All Employees of Domestic Abuse Council are expected to demonstrate a commitment to:

• promoting diversity and equality
• professional ethics and standards
• flexibility and teamwork
• protection of confidentiality

To maintain grant compliance and maintain the safety of our survivors, all applicants offered the position must pass a background screening through FL Clearinghouse: FL Clearinghouse | Florida Agency for Health Care Administration

Pay: $17.00 - $18.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17 - $18