Supervised Visitation Advocate (Two Shifts Available)

Full-time - 37.5 hours per week / 52 weeks per year 

Pay Rate: $17.26 - $22.45

Shift 1:

Monday to Friday: 9:30am - 5:30pm

Shift 2:

Sunday through Thursday: 9:00am to 5:00pm

About Oswego County Opportunities

Ranking among Oswego County's top ten largest private employers, OCO carries out its mission to inspire partnerships and provide services that empower people, support communities, and change lives through more than 50 programs serving 15,000 people each year.

OCO's Employee benefits include:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance (available to Full-Time staff)
• Paid leave (sick leave, PTO, holidays, etc.)
• 403B Deferred Annuity Retirement Plan
• Term Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

JOB SUMMARY:

Provides services to children and families who are mandated to participate in supervised visitation, or who have agreed to supervised visits or exchanges. Carries out duties in accordance with Agency and Program policies/procedures and funder regulations.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides services, independently, at OCO’s Supervised Visitation Center, to people of all ages, depending on the family composition, including, but not limited to: victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, stalking & crime victims; individuals with a substance use disorder; and/or individuals with a mental health disorder.
• Develops a trusting relationship with the child and family members while maintaining an unbiased, neutral, 3^rd party stance.
• Provides services that prioritize meeting the needs of the child and keeping them safe.
• Identifies consumer needs and provides linkage and referral to community resources.
• Conducts intakes for program eligibility and assists children and families with developing and carrying out the visitation safety plan.
• Works collaboratively with the contractor to develop visitation plans. Reviews and amends visitation plan and consults with appropriate parties.
• Works collaboratively in scheduling visitation sessions with various community partners, including, but not limited to: CPS/Preventive Case workers, Oswego County Family Court, Oswego County Probation, Attorneys, NYS Parole Officers, other OCO program employees, etc.
• Conducts debriefing session after each visit with children of appropriate age or development.
• Monitors visits to ensure designated boundaries are maintained during visitation, according to the visitation plan. Provides needed coaching and interventions to parents during visits.
• Continually assesses risk of re-offending and appropriately intervenes to protect the child. When needed, stops and/or ends the visit to address a parent’s inappropriate behavior.
• Documents detailed observations concerning all child /parent interactions
• Reports consumer infractions and concerns about consumer behavior to supervisor(s).
• Ensures safety of child(ren) and non-offending parents, when applicable, and that agency and funder safety regulations are maintained (ex: use of waiting room, use of separate entrance/exit, ring doorbell, staggered entry & exit, locked doors protecting non-offending parent, etc.)
• Follows strict protocols to ensure confidentiality of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and stalking, when applicable.
• Assesses visiting parent’s compliance and success to determine appropriate skill development to allow for visits to occur in the community
• Completes safety assessment prior to scheduling and conducting visits outside of the controlled environment at the center
• Completes all required paperwork in compliance with OCO policies and procedures and federal/state regulations. Responsible for maintaining the accuracy and confidentiality of consumer records.
• Completes data entry into program designated databases. Compiles and prepares statistical data for timely and accurate program reporting
• Transports consumers to and from their Supervised Visits when needed.
• Frequently cleans and sanitizes visitation rooms and items.
• Attends internal and external meetings and trainings as assigned.

 JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Have a desire to work with individuals and families and have the ability to handle stressful situations in a calm, professional manner.
• Must complete and maintain all regulatory training/education, including but not limited to: 40 Hour Training for all SAF staff working with victims of domestic & sexual violence, NYS OCFS Mandated Reporter Training, NYSCADV online training modules, Justice For Families Immersion Training, etc.
• Must be able to work independently and be self-motivated, resourceful, organized and adaptable in carrying out job duties
• Must have good oral and written communication skills and have excellent documentation and reporting skills.
• Must have demonstrated ability to work with others in a warm, non-judgmental manner and be a positive role model.
• Must exhibit professionalism, good judgment and maintain strict confidentiality with regard to client information.
• Must be effective in working with a diverse population, including but not limited to: people experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness, poverty, unemployment, substance use disorder, mental health disorders, as well as convicted criminals.
• Must demonstrate knowledge about childhood development, trauma, risk factors associated with visitation, and methods of interrupting patterns associated with grooming and coercion.
• Must have the ability to establish and maintain cooperative, effective, courteous, respectful, empowering, non-judgmental relationships with victims, offenders, community agencies, volunteers, interns and staff.
• Must be flexible with work schedule and able to work outside normal business hours to meet the needs of the program.
• Must have acceptable health to carry out the responsibilities of the position, including the ability to lift children and perform housekeeping tasks such as vacuuming/mopping. 
• Must have a valid NYS Driver’s license with driving record within policy and access to a properly insured, reliable vehicle for regular travel and transporting consumers.

  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate’s Degree in Human Services, Public Justice, Sociology, or related field; or
• 1 to 3 years’ experience working with children, youth, or families; or
• Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training.