Crisis Hotline Advocate

Job Title: Hotline Advocate
 FTE: Full time 
Location: San Jose, CA

Schedule: Monday through Friday 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Reports to: Manager of Crisis & Emergency Services

Who We Are

Our mission is to end domestic violence in the moment and for all time.

In 1971, our founder Bea Robinson Mendez, concerned about the lack of services and options for domestic violence survivors, gathered a small group of her friends to figure out a solution.  They set up a shelter in a garage and established a hotline number to provide information and support to survivors. Unbeknownst to them, it would become the second domestic violence agency in California and the first bilingual domestic violence shelter in the nation. So began the story of Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence (NDS). Domestic violence is the most prevalent form of gender-based violence, often the most frequently reported crime and arguably the one with the greatest damaging effect on our families, youth, and communities.  We are the only stand-alone, domestic violence agency in Santa Clara County, answering approximately 15,000 crisis calls and serving an average of 3,000 survivors of domestic violence annually. Our comprehensive, compassionate, bilingual and multicultural services are available free of charge to all individuals across the gender spectrum and of varying abilities.

By joining NDS, you become part of a team that serves thousands, uplifts community models of support, and looks first for a way to say “yes.”  NDS is a place where inclusion, diversity, equity, access, liberation (IDEAL) are not just celebrated, but they are central to our existence. We are emerging from the pandemic in a stage of rapid reflection, and change, which means exciting new opportunities are opening up for forming transformative community partnerships, nurturing our staff, and growing our team.

Culture and Climate

NDS has developed a supportive workplace culture where personal and professional connections are valued and facilitated. Our guiding values are:

• Oneness & Connectedness
• Survivor & Community Centered
• Compassionate Accountability
• Equity & Justice
• Inclusion for Liberation

Overview:

Responsible for answering the hotline and responding to crisis callers, handling intakes for individuals seeking shelter, providing information on agency programs and services, providing referrals to community legal, medical and social services. The Advocate also ensures comfortable environment at the shelter.

Responsibilities: 

• Act as the first point of contact for Next Door Solutions clients and the community, offering client-centered, confidential services.
• Provide trauma informed services to hotline callers and shelter residents.
• Handle crisis and information calls from victims of domestic violence and members of the general public. 
• Compile statistical data as required.
• Answer and take messages for APS line when needed.
• Perform other related duties and assume other responsibilities as required in furthering the Agency mission, goals and objectives as directed by supervisor.
• Maintain up-to-date training on domestic violence and other related topics

 Qualifications: 

• BA degree or equivalent experience in non-profit agency.
• Fluency in English and Spanish.
• Direct service experience in client-centered counseling and crisis intervention and experience working with victims/survivors of domestic violence from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work as part of a team, under pressure in a crisis atmosphere and meet assigned deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work with various cultures.
• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Services

 Requirements: 

• Complete 40-hour domestic violence training program. 
• Complete CPR Certification, as and when available

Next Door Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of ancestry, age, color, disability (physical and mental, includes HIV and AIDS), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion (includes religious dress and grooming), sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and/or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, or request for FMLA.