Employment

We are seeking candidates for full-time employment, which will include weekends.  The Hotline/Shelter Advocate responds to incoming calls on the hotline from victims, advocates, service providers and the general public.  The Hotline/Shelter Advocate provides crisis, supportive counseling, service management, referrals, information, maintain cleanliness of the shelter, shelter screenings and safety planning to all callers.  Candidates must have a strong understanding about the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence.  Bachelor’s degree preferred.  We are also seeking a full-time overnight advocate, which will include weekends. Bilingual preferred.

Refuge House is seeking two part-time advocates for the Taylor County Shelter.  The advocate provides hotline services, crisis intervention, shelter screening, rape crisis response coordination, information and referral, counseling, and advocacy to victims calling the 24-hour hotline, and to victims of domestic and sexual violence living within emergency shelter.  A Bachelor’s degree in human services and 2 years of relevant experience or significant work experience is required.

The DV Program Director is responsible for the development and direction of domestic violence program services within five of the Big Bend counties. This position directly supervises the Leon County Residential and Crisis Hotline Program, Youth Services (Children with Wings Childcare), InVest, CPI Co-located project, Leon Courthouse, Outreach Counseling in Leon, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, and Wakulla.
Experience: Candidates must demonstrate a proven track record of strong supervisory skills, Statewide monitoring, and quality assurance practices. The candidate must possess critical skills in evaluating and implementation of contract management. The candidate must be capable of providing administrative oversight and development of grant management with federal, state, and local statutes as well as state and internal Coalition policies and procedures, and services to clients. Candidates must represent the organization in public arenas and promotes the mission of the agency in the community. The candidate should also have a working knowledge of fiscal practices. A candidate must have strong written and communication skills, and highly preferred a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with Board Certification by the State of Florida or able to obtain within 1 year. Additional preference will be reviewed if a candidate is post-licensure for a least two years.

Please send resume and cover letter to Charlotte Kantartzis at cn-kantartzis@refugehouse.com.

Job purpose

Provide crisis intervention, emotional support, personal advocacy, information and referral, and information about Crime Victims Compensation to victims of sexual assault.  Victims may be adults who were abused in childhood, and/or child victims, and/or adult sexual assault victims.  Facilitates community education and public awareness events regarding VOCA funded services for sexual assault victims.

Duties and responsibilities

• Represent Refuge House in accordance to agency mission, philosophy, and policy.
• Be accountable for professional conduct at all times.
• Communicate clearly and directly with supervisor regarding all Refuge House activities.
• Provide crisis intervention services to adult and/or child victims of sexual assault.
• Provide individual counseling to adult and/or child victims of sexual assault.
• Provide support groups to adult and/or child victims of sexual assault.
• Provide information and referral resources to victims of sexual assault.
• Provide information regarding Crime Victims Compensation to victims of sexual assault.
• Facilitate support groups for incarcerated victims of sexual assault.
• Coordinates with OAG Victims Compensation for quality assurance on SB Claim Forms for benefit reimbursement.
• Facilitate community education and public awareness events to inform the public about the availability of VOCA funded services at Refuge House.

• Provide accurate, reliable information to the Refuge House Management Team as requested.
• Gather data and activity reports to compile required agency statistical information, as well as grant and funding contract reports.
• Attend all mandatory trainings assigned by Refuge House.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

This position requires a caring, patient, good-humored, and flexible individual with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to deal with individuals in a crisis.  Must be capable of good decision making, and be able to remain calm in stressful situation.  Additionally, this position requires an individual to be humble and teachable, and be able to follow directions.

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s Degree, plus two years of professional experience in social service related field.
• Understanding of the dynamics of sexual violence.
• Strong counseling skills, with an understanding of trauma related conditions, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong work ethic and professional boundaries.
• This position is required to participate in the SAFE on-call schedule, and some evening and weekend work required.
• Bi-lingual a plus.
• Must be able to pass a Level 11 background check, and provide excellent professional references.

Working conditions

On-call and irregular work hours may be required occasionally.  This position requires flexibility, and the ability to competently prioritize essential tasks.  Must be able to adapt to change in a high stress environment while remaining calm, focused, and professional.  Requires excellent counseling skills and experience in de-escalation.

Direct reports

Debra McGrew, Region Three Program Director

• This position requires on-call responsibilities over 24/7 hour program. Nights and weekends might apply as needed.
  • Provide support group and individual counseling at Refuge House and community based sites.
  • Provide crisis counseling, hospital advocacy, and other direct services to victims of sexual assault.
  • Recruit and train SANE advocates and SANE nurses, under the direction of the Sexual Violence Program Director.
  • Completes SANE advocate and nurse schedules.
  • Participate in on-call SANE advocate schedule as required for the program.
  • Maintain and monitor SAFE Center to ensure it is up to facility standards
  • Provide accurate, reliable information to the Refuge House Management Team as requested.
  • Gather data and activity reports to compile required agency statistical information, as well as grant and funding contract reports.
  • Co-facilitate advocate and nurse meetings.
  • Facilitate Leon SART meetings, and assists rural community meetings as needed.
  • Coordinate with Refuge House Hotline, Law Enforcement, Consolidated Dispatch, and local hospitals to assure effective victim service protocols.
  • Coordinates with OAG Victims Compensation for quality assurance on SB Claim Forms for benefit reimbursement.

  Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree, plus two years of professional experience in social service related field.
  • Understanding of the dynamics of sexual violence.
  • Strong counseling skills, with an understanding of trauma related conditions, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Must have reliable transportation.
• Please send resume and cover letter to Charlotte Kantartzis at cn-kantartzis@refugehouse.com.

• Provides crisis intervention counseling to primary and secondary victims of sexual assault.
• Be available to provide group counseling sessions as needed.
• Accompany survivors to court proceedings, law enforcement interviews, and other appointments relevant to the sexual assault for which they are seeking services.
• Create care plans with primary and secondary victims regarding safe housing, access to food, clothing, and other basic needs.
• Safety plan with parents to reduce the likelihood that children will be sexually molested.
• Assist survivors in identifying personal resources that can enhance safety and promote personal wellbeing.
• Work collaboratively with community service providers, law enforcement, medical staff, etc. to assure victim centered, trauma informed care is being provided to survivors.
• Provide outreach presentations highlighting sexual assault services.
• Be reasonably available to respond to survivors seeking forensic care at Weems Memorial.
• Maintain monthly statistics and reports.
• Please send resume and cover letter to Charlotte Kantartzis at cn-kantartzis@refugehouse.com.