INDEPENDENCE HOUSE, INC.
JOB DESCRIPTION
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE SHELTER ADVOCATE
MULTIPLE POSITIONS
Independence House encourages applicants of diverse races, all abilities, identity, sexual orientation, and genders to submit application.
Multiple positions: Weekend, day and evening shifts
Hours: Part-time or full time
Hourly Non-exempt position
The Shelter Advocate is responsible for providing support and advocacy to victims of domestic and sexual violence and their children in the emergency shelter. The Shelter Advocate works closely with shelter children advocates to offer and provide services for parents and children at the shelter, including intakes, assessments, advocacy, case management, safety planning, educational and recreational activities, crisis counseling, and ongoing emotional support. The Advocate also collaborates with the Children Exposed to Domestic Violence staff, the IH Clinical Director & Shelter Director and to provide comprehensive services to families at the shelter. The Advocate represents IH through participation in community and statewide meetings, collaborations, and coalitions; documents as appropriate, prepares rooms/units for new residents, assures safety and attend supervision and team meetings. The Shelter Advocate is an awake position. Work shifts may include days, evenings, weekends, overnights, and holidays to ensure adequate coverage of the shelter program.
RESPONSIBILITIES / SPECIFIC JOB DUTIES
Provide Comprehensive Advocacy, Case Management and Support Services to Adults Who Have Been Impacted By Domestic & Sexual Violence, Including:
- Trauma informed crisis intervention, intakes, advocacy and safety planning, emotional support, to adults/youth in the shelter, including assessment and development of safety plans, parenting support, information, education & referral and individual action plans
- Monitor and maintain the safety of domestic violence survivors in the shelter
- Ensure the shelter is a welcoming environment, which includes maintaining a space in which harassment and discriminatory actions or remarks are not tolerated
- Engage with survivors to check in on their well-being
- Assist survivors in navigation of shelter program and guidelines
- Thoroughly and accurately document all pertinent incidents that take place throughout shift, as well as any referrals or support services provided
- Assist in maintenance of the shelter space
- Maintain strict confidentiality of all clients’ information, with the exception of instances mandated by law. In such cases, follow agency protocol for reporting and response
- Maintain up-to-date information on survivors, intakes, and exits
- Address issues of child abuse and neglect in accordance with MA law, follow and work alongside appropriate agencies
- In partnership with survivor, develop and facilitate group activities
- Provide and coordinate language and cultural support as needed
Provide Support to Adult & Parent Residents:
- Offer weekly case management meetings with shelter survivors to focus on individual needs and link families to appropriate resources
- Promote parent-child relationship building, and offer parenting education and emotional support to parents including creative, non-violent approaches to discipline, child development, children’s behavioral and mental health, transitions into and out of shelter, impact of violence on children, etc
- Work closely with Child Advocate to provide coordinated family case management services
- Provide support to single adult residents as needed
- Assists with the daily living needs of shelter residents
- Completes intakes (both direct service and paperwork) within 7 hours of survivor entering shelter
- Provides shelter orientations to survivors within 24 hours of survivor’s entry into shelter
- Completes an exit survey with survivors leaving shelter as well as required exit paperwork
- Facilitates cooperative living, peer support, and survivor participation in shelter programming
- Model and actively promote positive, nurturing interactions between adults and children in shelter
- Communicate shelter agreements and community living guidelines to survivors as outlined in the shelter intake. Promptly address difficulties or problems that arise per agency protocol, address any living concerns with residents and maintains documentation of the discussions
- Model non-violent conflict resolution and use non-violent forms of guidance
- In conjunction with the shelter director and the shelter team, the shelter advocate takes appropriate steps to deal with emergency situations with the goal of maintaining the safety of all survivors
- Interacts sensitively with traumatized populations and handle crises appropriately
- Understands and utilize principles of trauma informed care and the empowerment philosophy of advocacy
- Provides direct service to survivors on the hotline. Hours may vary
- Performs other duties as assigned
Work Environment and Physical Demands:
- Work is primarily performed in a secured residential facility setting with communal areas, as well as in an office setting
- Work requires the ability to ascend or descend stairs, as well as the agility to move about and position self efficiently to perform physical tasks and address emergency situation
- Position requires the ability to monitor and observe the activities of clients, and children of clients, within the facility
- Regularly exposed to cleaning products, chemicals and solvent. Occasionally work in outdoor weather conditions
- Routinely requires the ability to move or transport supplies or equipment weighing up to 30 pounds unassisted, while ascending or descending stairs
- Some exposure to pets/therapy animals (small dogs, cats, fish, hamsters)
Specific staff schedules are subject to change periodically, as coordinated by Program Director. Attendance at staff meetings, held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month from 1:00PM – 3:00PM, is optional.
QUALIFICATIONS
- A.S., High School Diploma and/or GED with related experience
- Experience and ability to work with individuals of all ages, races, culture, gender, sexual orientation and abilities and their parents
- 3+ years of experience with case management and/or working with survivors of violence of diverse communities (i.e. based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age, gender identity, class, education, immigration status, etc.) highly desired
- Knowledge of trauma and its manifestations
- Knowledge of and sensitivity to issues of domestic violence; commitment to social justice
- Commitment to and practice of non-violence, including non-corporal discipline of children
- Ability to deal with crisis situations effectively and calmly
- Ability to be flexible to accommodate immediate survivor and agency needs
- Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
- Familiarity with community and social service agencies/resources locally and statewide is highly desired
- Experience in creatively advocating and providing support to families
- Ability to offer emotional support / excellent listening skills
- Ability to participate in collective, non-hierarchical decision making within the small team and all staff environments
- Ability to work both independently and as a team member
- Computer proficiency
OTHER
- Satisfactory Criminal Background Check
- Must possess a valid MA driver’s license and proof of vehicle insurance, and have access to a vehicle during work hours
- Bilingual/bicultural LGBTQ and/or persons of color encouraged to apply
- Must obtain or maintain account with a financial institution for direct deposit of paychecks
To Be Considered: Please send a resume and a cover letter to: colleenp@indhouse.net
Please write “IH Application- [Your Last Name]” in the subject line.
No phone calls, please.
Independence House, Inc.is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, or disability and denial of family medical leave and pregnancy leave. This search is being conducted by Independence House, Inc.
