Victim Services Specialist

Victim Services Specialist

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others.

With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself. Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.

The Norfolk Police Department is committed to representing one of the most diverse cities in the region. Norfolk is home to over 244,000 residents including an array of social, economic, and ethnic groups. It is the Norfolk Police Department's mission to recruit, attract, and maintain a diverse work agency that will represent our city, citizens, and the communities we serve. The Norfolk Police Department is seeking to hire a Victim Services Specialist.

This position provides crisis intervention, emotional support, safety planning and stabilization to victims, survivors, and witnesses of violent crime. Assists with concerns resulting from victimization. Identifies and coordinates referrals and services. Serves as a liaison with criminal justice professionals and community agency representatives, to address the rights of and access to processes and services for victims, witnesses, survivors of violent crime.

The department hiring salary range is $56,900.48 - $80,263.75 annually.

• Responds to active or recently reported violent crime scenes.
• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries while avoiding interference with ongoing investigations.
• Provides immediate crisis stabilization and support services to victims, witnesses, and survivors of violent crime.
• Assists with concerns resulting from victimization.
• Provides information using a trauma-informed approach to victims, witnesses, survivors of violent crime.
• Explains victims' rights and available remedies under applicable laws and departmental responses.
• Prepares and maintains statistical records. Records case information and appropriate documentation in an identified case management system.
• Assists victims/survivors in understanding and navigating law enforcement, prosecution, court, and medical processes.
• Provides referrals and assistance related to victim compensation, protective orders, court accompaniment, restitution, financial assistance, and other resources.
• Conducts individualized safety planning.
• Identifies immediate and ongoing needs while coordinating with appropriate law enforcement or community partners for additional intervention.
• Establishes appropriate follow-up, monitoring of referrals and service connections, and addresses barriers/obstacles to services.
• Maintains accurate and timely case documentation.
• Collaborates with patrol officers, detectives, supervisors, prosecutors, and other professionals to facilitate appropriate services.
• Participates in community outreach, prevention, and awareness activities.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Work requires professional level knowledge which is acquired in a Master's degree level of study or equivalent in social or behavioral sciences, criminal justice administration, or a directly related field.

Experience in crisis and trauma intervention.

Preferred experience:

Providing crisis intervention, victim advocacy, trauma informed services, or case management.

Valid driver's license. Requires ability to obtain National Crime Information Center/Virginia Crime Information Network (NCIC/VCIN) certification and First Aid certification.

Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.

Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and…