Victim Advocate - Virginia Police Operations

About YWCA South Hampton Roads

YWCA South Hampton Roads (YWCA SHR) is the oldest and largest multicultural women’s organization in the world. YWCA SHR is dedicated to the fullness of its mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Serving approximately 8,000 individuals each year, YWCA SHR is a source of strength, courage, and empowerment for women and families facing crisis. We are a community catalyst for meaningful change and the advocate for shaping vital impact through quality services responding to the critical needs of survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence. YWCA SHR works across racial, gender, religious and social lines with organizations‑partners in all sectors to educate about disparities, advocate for change and provide resources and tools to dismantle oppressive systems.

YWCA SHR is in the midst of a rapid transformation from a well‑established direct service provider for women and families facing crisis to an organization working at the intersection of eliminating racism, empowering women, standing up for social justice, helping families, and strengthening our community.

Under general supervision of the Survivor Services Director, provides victim advocacy services, victim advocacy accompaniment, legal education, crisis intervention counseling, emotional support, and community referrals to primary and secondary victims of interpersonal violence.

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provide in-person and telephone communication with clients providing; crisis intervention, legal victim advocacy, personal safety planning, service planning, and community referrals
• Work collaboratively with YWCA staff, law enforcement units, Commonwealth Attorney, and Victim Witness staff to provide immediate and ongoing communication regarding clients while maintaining YWCA confidentiality policies
• Maintain documentation of clients’ requests for services, intervention initiatives, service plans, and services provided through the ECM and VADATA systems
• Provide advocacy and accompaniment services during legal proceedings, during law enforcement interviews, emergency rooms, local jails, magistrate offices, and during forensic exams to primary and secondary victims of interpersonal violence
• Provide advocacy and accompaniment services during forensic PERK exams to victims of sexual assault
• Assist with facilitating sexual assault support group meetings
• Act as a resource person for staff. Prepare and deliver in-service programs and training for agency staff, interns and volunteers
• Provide community and allied professional training regarding YWCA services and interpersonal violence
• Pursue ongoing training and education regarding interpersonal violence, legal issues, community resources, and other related topics
• Attend staff meetings and attend related professional activities as assigned
• Other duties as assigned

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, or a related Human Services field required
• Two (2) years of experience in the field

Other Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age
• Must complete the training programs of YWCA SHR
• Must complete a successful background check

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must possess a strong understanding of interpersonal violence
• Demonstrate knowledge of interpersonal violence and a strong commitment to ending violence against women, men, and children
• Must possess strong organizational skills
• Must be able to work independently and manage multiple priorities and respond to participants in a professional and reassuring manner
• Demonstrate ability to act as an advocate on behalf of clients with a working knowledge of legal, medical and social service systems
• Demonstrate ability to function as part of a team with co-workers
• Demonstrate ability to work well with people of various ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Demonstrate ability to communicate clearly and…