Legal & Community Advocate

Position Summary

This is a non-permanent, grant-funded position. Continued employment is strictly contingent upon the ongoing availability of grant funding. In the event that funding is reduced, exhausted, or otherwise terminated, the position will be eliminated.
Resume & Cover Letter required.

The New Hope Legal and Community Advocate provides community based, medical and legal advocacy services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and general crimes and if applicable, their non-offending family members.

New Hope provides comprehensive prevention, crisis intervention, general, medical and legal advocacy, emergency shelter service, community education and information and support group services. New Hope serves all of Grant and Adams Counties. The position provides direct services to victims of any crime including domestic violence and sexual assault. The position requires a unique understanding of national, state, and local issues to provide appropriate services to victims.

This position is generally scheduled to work 40 hours per week with a standard Monday-Friday schedule. On occasion the position will be required to work various hours/days of the week.

The following examples of duties and accountabilities illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the position but are not intended to define the limits of required duties. Other essential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position. Employee must comply with all County and department policies, procedures, WAC’s, or other regulatory bodies.

• Assures 24-hour access to advocacy services, access to emergency shelters, hospital response and provides 24-hour on-call duties.
• Secures emergency shelter services for victims and family members.
• Facilitates the use of natural supports for victims and families.
• Provides crisis interventions, safety planning, legal and medical advocacy, information and referral to clients.
• Makes independent decisions while providing comprehensive case management services for clients.
• Provides support services for victim’s dependents.
• Ensures that services to clients are compatible with the culture, language, customs and traditions of the person being served.
• Builds informal networks and develops partnerships with law enforcement, housing resources, the medical community and other professionals.
• Prepares and provides community education and information within the scope of prevention guidelines.
• Documents and maintains accurate client records.
• Participates in case staffing, trainings, and meetings as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Any combination of education and experience may be substituted as long as it provides the desired skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required

• High School Diploma or GED;
• Previous experience in victim advocacy services;
• Meet all initial training requirements for domestic violence, sexual assault and general crimes;
• Must complete annual continuing education requirements for domestic violence, sexual assault and general crimes;

• Personal computer operations experience;
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License:
  Must have a safe reliable vehicle with proof of automobile insurance
• Criminal Background Checks:
  Must have acceptable clearance on:
• WATCH background report at time of hire and every two years afterward,
• FBI fingerprint Criminal Report at time of hire and every 5 years afterward,
• The national public sex offender and child abuse registry at time of hire and every 5 years afterward.
• Driving Abstract:
  Must have an acceptable driving report

Preferred

• Associate’s degree
• Spanish Bilingual/Bicultural
• Leadership experience
• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing victim services
• Be a survivor of domestic violence and/or sexual assault

Knowledge of County and Agency policies and…