What are the responsibilities and job description for the Victim Advocate/ Defensor de Victimas position at Eagle County Government?
Hiring Range: $30.21-$36.25. The maximum pay for this position is $42.29.
The Victim Advocate Officer assists victims of crime or crisis with information concerning their rights and provides emotional and social needs in an effort to reduce the victim's physical and emotional suffering. This position also helps coordinate the victim services volunteer program and helps maintain records for the department.
Schedule:7:30 am-5:30 pm - plus additional time on-call nights and weekends.
Applicants are encouraged to apply by January 5th, however, the job will be posted until filled.
El Defensor de Víctimas brinda asistencia a las víctimas de delitos o crisis con información sobre sus derechos y proporciona necesidades emocionales y sociales en un esfuerzo por reducir el sufrimiento físico y emocional de la víctima. Esta posición también ayuda a coordinar el programa de voluntariado de servicios a las víctimas y ayuda a mantener registros para el departamento.
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Essential Functions
Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification, or Registration:
The Victim Advocate Officer assists victims of crime or crisis with information concerning their rights and provides emotional and social needs in an effort to reduce the victim's physical and emotional suffering. This position also helps coordinate the victim services volunteer program and helps maintain records for the department.
Schedule:7:30 am-5:30 pm - plus additional time on-call nights and weekends.
Applicants are encouraged to apply by January 5th, however, the job will be posted until filled.
El Defensor de Víctimas brinda asistencia a las víctimas de delitos o crisis con información sobre sus derechos y proporciona necesidades emocionales y sociales en un esfuerzo por reducir el sufrimiento físico y emocional de la víctima. Esta posición también ayuda a coordinar el programa de voluntariado de servicios a las víctimas y ayuda a mantener registros para el departamento.
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Essential Functions
- Outreach to victims of crime in the following illustrative, but not all-inclusive, service areas- 30%
- Telephone and/or face-to-face crisis response.
- Assess emergency needs and provide emotional support immediately following the crime/crisis.
- Information and referral to community resources.
- Emergency third-party mediation with employers, therapists or others in an immediate position to stem the crisis.
- Inform victims about rights guaranteed by the Colorado Constitution, including the right to be heard at critical stages of the criminal justice process, and inform about their case progress when they request it.
- Initiate brief follow-up for most victims, and extended follow-up for victims of violent crimes.
- Document contacts and collect data for tracking the case, report writing and program.
- Prevent, if at all possible, the re-victimization of the victim by the criminal justice system by helping the client predict and prepare for the full range of possibilities and by advocating for victims’ rights when indicated.
- Explain crime Victim Compensation Guidelines and provide assistance with the application process.
- Agency Operations to include- 30%
- Review crime reports to identify victims to be notified of their constitutional rights, resources available and/or community referrals where appropriate.
- Outreach telephone calls to crime victims or others in need of services or community referrals;
- Emergency response to crime or crisis calls from law enforcement;
- Participate in training the community about crime victim issues;
- Recruit, screen and arrange training for new volunteers;
- Schedule monthly volunteer meetings and in-service training;
- Arrange for regular opportunities for recognition and appreciation of volunteers to improve retention.
- Record keeping to include- 20%
- Maintain statistics of monthly and quarterly summaries of victims by law enforcement agency, by crime categories, special victim status, etc.
- Conduct surveys with victims and officers about the efficacy of the advocate’s response and provide feedback for the purpose of program development, modification, and planning.
- Maintains records regarding volunteer victim advocates’ assignments, schedules, evaluation and ongoing training and improvement- 15%
- Other Duties- 5%
- Observes safety and security procedures, uses equipment and materials safely and reports potentially unsafe conditions.
- Serves the community by demonstrating Eagle County Government mission and core values and following relevant policies and procedures.
- Other duties as assigned
Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification, or Registration:
- Experience working with people in crisis or volunteer management is preferred.
- Minimum of continuing education in Human Services, Business Administration or job-related;
- At least 5 years of increasingly responsible administrative experience; or a combination of education and experience which produces the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Previous employment or volunteer work in Human Services, Public Health, Community Agencies, or other related nonprofit or social change organizations is preferred but not required.
- Possess a valid Driver's License and a satisfactory motor vehicle record.
- Ability to pass various qualifying examinations, and examine background investigations, and successfully complete a polygraph test, psychological exam, physical, drug screen, and detailed background investigation.
- Must not have used illegal drugs within the past 3 years or marijuana within the past 1 year.
- Must not have been convicted of any felonies or any acts involving domestic violence.
- Must list the past 10 years of work experience
- Ability to read, write, speak, and understand the English language. Ability to speak Spanish preferred.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and a high comfort level with telephone interactions. Converses effectively with persons of divergent ethnic, cultural, and educational backgrounds.
- Ability to work in a twenty-four-hour on-call environment.
- Be able to operate vehicles routinely which can be under varying road, weather, and lighting conditions.
- Computer Skills: Ability to utilize and understand a variety of computer systems.
- Department Policies and Procedures: Demonstrates working knowledge of compliance with all department policies, procedures, and directives
- Controls personal emotional responses and acts appropriately under high levels of emotional stress. Demonstrates sensitivity to feelings of others; listens with empathy towards others; and displays compassion to those in distress. Controls personal aggressive responses and acts in a manner calculated to calm volatile persons.
- Ability to understand the Colorado Constitutional Amendment giving victims rights. Ability to testify in court if required. Able to explain the investigative and court processes to victims. Able to understand the victim compensation programs.
- Ability to reason and apply logic in a multi-tasking environment. Comprehends and processes new information quickly and accurately. Retains relevant information.
- Have an open, non-judgmental attitude with genuine concern and empathy for crime victims and tragedy survivors.
- Must have the ability to establish and facilitate successful relationships with many diverse groups of people including volunteers, victims, law enforcement officers, and other members of the criminal justice system.
- Ability to think well in stressful situations, a high degree of integrity, and good judgment required.
- Be willing and able to follow regulations for appropriate victim advocate behavior.
- Prepares reports, memos, forms, etc. Writes legibly using acceptable grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Assures accuracy of information. Documents victim contact in a variety of computer platforms with some duplication.
Salary : $30 - $42