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.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
CLIENT CONTACT:  
•    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.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
•    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, volunteers and interns; assisting and guiding duties, program requirements and housing guidelines while on duty.
•    Perform other reasonably requested duties as per the Program Supervisor or the Executive Director. 

 
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND JOB SKILLS
•    A minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent; with experience working with domestic violence, social services or social work is required.
•    The ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times is an essential requirement.
•    The ability to use basic practical problem-solving skills, good reasoning and judgment to confront varying situations is essential.
•    An ability to manage in-house crisis situations; to provide crisis intervention; and to interact professionally but assertively with others is essential.
•    A demonstrated understanding of and commitment to client self-determination is preferred.
•    Familiarity with feminist philosophy and issues; of problems faced by victims of domestic violence; and of problems faced by disadvantaged and homeless women, is preferred.
•    Effective communication, organizational and interaction skills are essential.
•    Must be able to follow direction and be able to work as a cooperative member of a team.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
•    A PA Child Abuse History Clearance  
•    PA Criminal Background Check 
•    FBI Criminal Background Check
•    Successful completion of pre-employment drug screen
•    A valid PA Driver’s license, access to a motor vehicle, successful MVR check, and adequate auto insurance
•    A willingness to work toward the goals of the agency according to DVSC philosophy and policy; and to accept further education/training to develop skills appropriate to the position.
•    Successfully complete mandatory Domestic Violence Counselor/Advocate training in a timely manner. Attend in-service training programs as scheduled.
•    To perform this job successfully, a person must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodation, as long as the accommodation does not result in undue hardship to the DVSC, may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

COMPUTER SKILLS: Required to successfully complete the essential functions of the job.
•    Proficiency with MS Office required – MS Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
•    Working knowledge of office equipment, like printers and fax machines
•    Ability to learn and use other industry specific software

PHYSICAL DEMANDS typically required to perform the essential functions of this position.
•    Ability to lift, push, pull up to 25 lbs occasionally
•    Ability to be on your feet and to sit at a desk/computer for extended periods of time
•    Ability to climb stairs and ramps, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, squat, lift, grasp, speak, hear, and see objects
•    Ability to respond quickly to sounds; ability to see and respond to dangerous/crisis situations

WORKING CONDITIONS under which the essential functions of this position are typically performed.
•    Frequent exposure to general office setting
•    Regular exposure to emergency and transitional housing shelters 
•    Regular travel to agency affiliated and partner sites
•    Occasional travel within Luzerne and Carbon counties to address client needs

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT typically required to perform the essential functions of this position.
This position requires occasional use of personal protective equipment when working within the emergency and transitional housing shelters, specifically: gloves to prevent skin contact with biological and chemical substances, and safety glasses/mask to protect against splashes and projectiles.