SDV Advocate at GoochlandCares – Goochland, Virginia

This position is responsible for providing crisis response, advocacy, and community outreach for sexual and domestic violence (SDV) survivors served by GoochlandCares. Duties include immediate crisis support, managing the crisis hotline, case management, grant reporting, community outreach, and networking, as well as a variety of duties that support consumer services, dispersal of information and the day-to-day operation of the organization.

Essential Job Functions

Crisis hotline:

Daily provides immediate crisis support to victims in need by managing the crisis hotline.

Conducts a risk assessment to determine the level of danger.

Determines safety measures, if law enforcement is needed, and what options are safest.

Assesses for shelter needs.

Provides emotional support.

Direct client services:

Provides support services to sexual and domestic violence survivors and continually documents case notes, maintaining updated and accurate case notes at all times.

Advocates for clients as needed while providing them with or connecting them to appropriate resources and/or referrals (legal, transportation, children's services, counseling, etc.).

Helps clients develop goals and tracks progress.

In conjunction with other SDV staff members, helps maintain the emergency shelter.

On-call support:

Rotates overnight and weekend on-call support with other SDV-trained staff.

Ensures the on-call schedule is created and sent to the regional hotline, front desk, senior leadership, and SDV team each month.

Grant reporting:

Writes client case studies, program celebrations/barriers, community trends, and accurately reports client services for funders.

Community outreach efforts:

Provides educational presentations to Goochland individuals, groups, and other partners in surrounding counties twice each quarter.

Attends local, regional, and state-wide network and training events/meetings.

Stays updated on SDV-related issues and legal matters by networking with other SDV programs, identifying resources, and learning ways to improve the program.

Other duties:

Collaborates with other GoochlandCares program coordinators in the overall support of clients in the shelter: client needs, caseload management, and evaluating any other SDV-related need.

Records program expenses, allocates funding, and submits expense receipts to Finance as incurred.

Trains, supervises, and tracks SDV volunteers throughout the year to ensure the program has the support it needs, and volunteer hours are tracked.

Connects clients to other GoochlandCares services or to other organizations to help them with their needs.

Completes other duties as assigned.

The following represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, or related field is required.
• 1-3 years of sexual and domestic violence experience is preferred.
• Willingness to go through SDV training and Case Management certification.
• Ability to be on-call to support SDV program and urgent matters.
• Ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive matters in dealing with clients and staff, with a trauma-informed care approach.
• Ability to always maintain strong boundaries.
• Strong interpersonal communication and collaboration skills displaying a caring, tactful, diplomatic, and respectful attitude towards staff, volunteers, and clients.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing situations and schedules.
• Ability to multi-task, have strong attention to detail, and manage different priorities while understanding the big picture.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines and projects.
• Strong self-awareness and willingness to seek assistance when needed.
• Commitment to the mission of GoochlandCares.
• Understand that all employees participate in engaging volunteers to help fulfill our mission.
• Must have a valid driver's license in good standing.
• Must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office is required, specifically Excel.
• Ability to learn new software programs/databases.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions:

• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.
• Prolonged periods of sitting, standing, typing, talking, lifting, and driving.
• Occasionally may be required to wear personal protective equipment (mask, gloves, etc.).