Victim Services Counselor, Austin Police

Victim Services Counselor

Purpose:

Uses comprehensive knowledge to provide crisis and clinical counseling to individuals, couples, and families experiencing crime, trauma, or crisis situations in support of the Austin Police Department's Victim Services Counseling Program.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Provides psychological, emotional, cognitive, and physical assessments of individuals of crime, trauma, or crisis situations; either on scene of the incident or at a later time when the person is located.

• Formulates and implements clinical intervention strategies until stabilization occurs.

• Provides support and assistance to victims and witnesses throughout the criminal justice process serving as a liaison and advocate with law enforcement and other agencies.

• Delivers death notifications for all APD related cases as requested by the Travis County Medical Examiner's office and other outside agencies across the country.

• Prepares for and testifies in court as a fact witness or as an expert witness.

• Plans, develops, and conducts trainings, presentations, and educational sessions to law enforcement, other outside agencies and the community.

• Serves as the Crime Victim Liaison for the Austin Police Department, providing information about victim's rights and Crime Victims' Compensation to victims of crime and law enforcement personnel.

• Conducts media interviews in collaboration with the Public Information Office.

• Compiles data and information for reports.

• Assists other public safety agencies.

• Conducts debriefings, group counseling, and/or diffusing's to law enforcement, other public safety agencies, other agencies, and the community after critical incidents, large scale events, and disasters.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

None

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of counseling, theoretical frameworks, and techniques.

• Knowledge of mental health issues, trauma, and victimology.

• Knowledge of Critical Incident Command.

• Knowledge of police operations and investigative procedures.

• Knowledge of Victim Assistance best practices.

• Skill in oral and written communications.

• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.

• Skill in using computers and related software applications. Skill in data analysis and problem solving.

• Skill in planning and organizing.

• Skill in trauma and crisis counseling.

• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities. Ability to train others.

• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees, external agencies, and the public.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in Mental Health Oriented Science or in a field related to the job, plus two (2) years' experience in mental health crisis and trauma counseling.

Licenses and Certifications

Required:

Valid Class C Driver's License.

Preferred qualification:

• Ability to effectively communicate in both English and Spanish.

• Ability to work a rotating schedule of four, 10-hour days on and three days off (weekends every other month).

• Ability to work non-major and major holidays, weekends and overtime as needed.