Advocate Supervisor - Shelter

Description

The philosophy of our organization is that all people have the right to live without fear, abuse, oppression, and violence. Our advocacy programs embrace the philosophy that people experiencing violence and/or abuse have the potential to control their lives and can be helped in doing so through support, information, and encouragement. We believe that our organization should model behavior that is nonviolent and uses power responsibly for personal and organizational action and growth.

Position Summary

The Advocate Supervisor serves as a staff member at will of Domestic Violence Intervention Services, Inc. (DVIS). The Advocate Supervisor schedules and provides support to the after-hours shelter team. Works with the team to provide advocacy and assistance for all Shelter clients.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Priority 1: Equity and Inclusion

• Reflect and understand how identities could give advantages in the workplace—even if they are not asked for or earned—while others might experience disadvantages. Reflect on how our position and power may shift depending on the environment, the people, or the institutions at play. Build the awareness and compassion that is needed and expected to create an equitable and inclusive workplace.
• Create an inclusive environment and behave in a way that ensures that clients and employees feel embraced, no matter what their cultural orientations are, respected and valued, engaged, and connected to the community, and safe from abuse and harassment.

Priority 2: Supervisory

• Supervise and coordinate the schedule for after-hours employees to ensure adequate coverage.
• Share a rotating week-long on-call responsibility.
• Monitor all Shelter physical operations after hours ensuring the facility is safe, clean, and comfortable.
• Assist in personnel issues and professional development of the employees supervised.
• Interview, prepare offer requests, onboarding, orientation, and training of new after-hours employees.
• Facilitate meetings and training for after-hours employees,
• Complete performance reviews and performance improvement plans (as needed) for employees supervised.
• Assist dispute resolution with employees and clients. De-escalate and create a calm atmosphere.
• Assist in the implementation of the written policies and procedures for Shelter operations.
• Manage and train employees on the use of the text line.

Priority 3: Advocacy

• Along with co-workers, make rounds routinely and engage clients. Document meaningful contact with clients.
• Provide crisis intervention services for phone-in and walk-in clients. Assess needs and make informed referrals to other community resources.
• Organize and conduct activities for the benefit of shelter residents. Support efforts to provide a structure through the implementation of shelter guidelines.
• Provide advocacy services after hours for shelter clients to include intake, crisis intervention, safety planning, exit interviews, and advocacy in individual and group settings. Encourage relationships and rapport building with clients in the absence of survivor advocates.
• Assist clients in obtaining services and completing necessary paperwork for such services as financial assistance, housing, food, clothing, etc.
• Maintain availability for individual client sessions as requested after hours.
• Assist clients in working out solutions for transportation and provide backup transportation services on a temporary basis in order for clients to reach self-sufficiency.

Other Duties/Responsibilities: Other assistance to support the overall goals of the department and organization. DVIS retains the right to add or change duties and/or responsibilities at any time.

Supervisory Responsibilities: All after-hours advocates

Budgetary/Fiscal Responsibilities: Responsible for keeping hours within the approved limit for after-hours advocates. Acts as a good steward of DVIS’s resources.

Responsibility for Confidentiality: The nature of this work requires safeguarding against the release of confidential and proprietary information of DVIS and its clients.

Contact with Others: This position will interact with managers at all levels and staff members across the organization, in addition to members of external organizations and the public.

Documentation: Maintains up-to-date and accurate files for each client according to agency guidelines and current professional standards.

Meetings and Training: Attend meetings and training as requested by supervisor.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work, is required, or in a related field, or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Experience: Requires a minimum of 1 year experience working with a nonprofit and with direct client services are strongly preferred, or any equivalent combination of experience, lived experience, and/or special skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Proven computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite are necessary.

Knowledge of or experience working with social justice issues, specifically intimate partner and gender-based domestic and sexual violence, and racial, class, gender, sexual orientation issues, and intervention/prevention services strongly preferred. Requires dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, excellent organizational skills, written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize work and tasks.

Requires adaptability to produce and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-task, and changing environment, with frequent pressure related to meeting deadlines and scheduling requirements.

Requires the ability to embrace, support, and integrate DVIS’s philosophies to promote and demonstrate DVIS’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racism.

Experience applying an equitable analysis to all duties to achieve organizational goals and demonstrate DVIS’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racism preferred.

Diplomacy in confronting personal, individual, and internal discrimination requiring sharing and discussing personal identities relative to the work environment is strongly preferred.

Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.

Understanding and sensitivity to the issues involved in domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking,

Ability to demonstrate good listening skills and engage clients in assessing needs, problem-solving, and goal-setting.

Knowledge of community resources and skills in resource utilization.

Crisis intervention and case management skills.

Schedule Availability: Sunday through Wednesday 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Thursday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Licenses/Certifications: Valid Oklahoma driver’s license; current CPR and First Aid certification preferred.