Victim Advocate; Grant Funded Job Pensacola area,Florida USA,Social Work

Position: Victim Advocate (Grant Funded)

This is a grant funded position agreement between the State of Florida Department of Legal Affairs Office of the Attorney General and the Escambia County Sheriffs Office and is approved for the budgeted period of October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. This grant is reviewed annually for approval to continue with each budget year that commences October 1.

This class provides crisis intervention counseling and assistance to crime victims.

Employees of the Escambia County Sheriff's Office are expected to be loyal, work in a safe manner, use common sense, and complete their work efficiently and correctly.

Contacts crime victims, witnesses, and applicable family members to assess counseling needs; provides information and counseling related to victim's physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Responds to suicide, homicide, sexual battery, catastrophic incident, and/or other related call-outs; evaluates situation and implements appropriate emergency response assistance.

Answers phones and assists callers with requests for assistance; disseminates appropriate referral information to callers.

Prepares supplemental reports related to caseload.

Assists victims in filing victim compensation claims; notifies other agencies offering assistance of victim needs.

Serves as a liaison between law enforcement and families at crime scenes involving death.

Provides written and/or verbal testimony for court proceedings, prosecuting attorneys, and/or medical personnel.

Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Associate Degree or two-year technical certificate; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

License and Certification Requirements:

Valid driver's license

Knowledge of (position requirements at entry):

Applicable social service agencies and services.
Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and/or statutes.
Court procedures.
Case management principles and practices.
Radio communication procedures and practices.
Evidence collection methods and chain of custody.
Counseling methods.

Skills in (position requirements at entry):

Using a computer and related software applications.
Observing people and situations in an objective manner.
Driving defensively.
Recalling details and facts.
Interviewing and questioning victims of crimes.
Empathizing with victims.
Preparing reports.
Distinguishing between facts and observations.
Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Positions in this class typically require:

Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

Medium Work:

Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Incumbents may be subjected to blood and other bodily fluids and travel.

NOTE:

The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.