Counselor Advocate - Day Shift

Counselor Advocate - 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

This is a full-time non-exempt position. 35 hours/week, including weekends and holidays for events, on-call rotation and weekend coverage rotation. Flexibility required.

• Deliver Emergency Shelter and Hotline services primarily for Carbon and Luzerne Counties (may speak with individuals in other counties as well), i.e., crisis intervention, intake, supportive options counseling, safety planning, information and referral, advocacy with other community resources, referral to emergency shelter and transportation arrangements, if needed.
• Facilitate regular house meetings and support groups for all residential guests.
• Ensure that clients are abiding by house rules and perform regular living area checks.
• Schedule and conduct interviews to gather necessary information and review program requirements and guidelines with clients; checks references prior to intake acceptance.
• Conduct in-person intake interviews with new residents and eases their adjustment to communal living by orienting them to the building and to house rules and residents’ guidelines.
• Assure the safety and well-being of clients in accordance with DVSC guidelines.
• Help residents to set and achieve personal goals by providing information and referral to available resources and services. Assist clients in achieving their established goals.
• Provide domestic violence related services to victims who reside in the Bridge Housing Program.
• Ensure compliance with fire and health code regulations.
• In addition to Domestic Violence and Bridge Housing Services, Counselor Advocates who are assigned to or who volunteer for work in the post-residential program provide home visits, case management, advocacy, support group services, etc., to women who are at particular risk of revictimization and/or homelessness.

• Provide intervention as needed with individuals, other agencies, and systems on behalf of clients. Provide assistance in filing victim compensation claims. Assist with “systems advocacy” efforts as requested.
• Provide crisis intervention, intake, supportive options counseling, safety planning, information and referral, advocacy with other community resources, follow up services, referral to emergency shelter and transportation arrangements, if needed, in person (Shelter/BH, court, and hospital) or on Hotline as necessary.
• Accept daily police referrals; completes follow-up with police-referred clients.
• Continually work towards promoting a harmonious and cooperative environment among residents.
• Perform daily housekeeping checks to ensure completion of residents’ chores.
• Ensure that “in‑kind” donations are organized and stored in an orderly manner. Ensure the availability of adequate consumable supplies for resident needs.
• Assist in preparing rooms for arriving or departing clients. Clean out rooms, laundry services, housekeeping tasks, etc.
• Facilitate community support groups as necessary or requested.
• Ensure a safe, secure and efficient facility. Perform basic preventative maintenance and housekeeping to remove any safety concerns.
• Advise and recommend policies and procedures based on working knowledge of the program to improve quality of services. Assist supervisors in the planning, scheduling, and implementation of activities designed to promote client self-sufficiency and independence. Participate in case conferences with supervisors and other staff as scheduled.
• Accurately document all client, client contact activities and daily logs on appropriate forms and client-based software and according to DVSC policy and procedure. Update on a regular basis; and maintains a list of referrals for clients and victims of domestic violence.
• Work cooperatively with other staff,…