If you’re looking to do truly life-changing work, consider joining our team! Synergy Services employs compassionate individuals committed to strengthening people, families, and our community through prevention, crisis care, shelter, counseling, advocacy, and education. Before you apply, take a few minutes to visit our Employment Page to explore all of our current opportunities, watch our recruitment video, and get a feel for the culture, mission, and people that make Synergy Services such a rewarding place to work: https://www.synergyservices.org/about-us/employment/ Position: Victim Advocate Program: Children's Advocacy Center Status: Full -Time, Hourly position. Description: Provides specialized and comprehensive advocacy and support to children, youth, and families within the Children’s Advocacy Center in order to improve outcomes for the victim and family; minimize the re-victimization and reduce trauma of child victims/witnesses and their protective family members as they go through the criminal and civil investigation, intervention, and prosecution process; providing guidance and navigation regarding the child abuse Multidisciplinary Team (MDT); assesses family for service provision by utilizing ACEs and trauma-informed approaches to individualized action plans; provide training and education to families and MDT on the prevention, culture, and dynamics of child abuse/neglect; act as a liaison between the family and the MDT; may conduct developmentally and culturally appropriate and legally defensible forensic interviews of children and adolescents who are victims of child abuse/neglect or witness to crimes. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following: Direct Client Services Responsible for obtaining and assessing pertinent information regarding family history (ACEs) and current functioning of the family Evaluate and assess the need for the family to receive supportive services; identify and link family to appropriate services; assist family in accessing service when appropriate. Knowledgeable regarding and able to facilitate access to local community resources. Utilize a standardized screening tool to assess for trauma symptoms and mental health services and be able to provide that feedback to caregivers regarding the results of the screener. Offers guidance and support for the child and families throughout the investigation process. Act as a liaison between family members and the MDT regarding case disposition within the other agencies involved in the investigation (i.e. law enforcement, Children’s Division, prosecution.) Conducts forensic interviews. Service Coordination Processes new referrals and schedules clients for forensic interview, when necessary. Provides family information, service engagement, and updates to the MDT on a regular basis including case review settings. Documents family’s progress in obtaining and engaging in services. Maintains charts/database with integrity and accuracy. As a member of the CAC team, ensure CAC space is neat and comfortable for family and MDT. Participate in defining program outcomes and maintaining all necessary data to comply with grant related outcome measurement information. Navigate complex systems and determine areas of strengths and needs for child/youth and family as appropriate. Advocate with or for client to meet needs, assist in service navigation and engagement, and communicate with any multi-disciplinary teams who are engaged with the child/youth and/or family. Supports client choice in care, engagement and help-seeking skills. Community Relations and Communications Represents and promotes the interests and the image of the program and organization to governmental entities, at all levels, to the local community, to accrediting bodies and to the public at large as needed. Maintain connection and relationship with partner agencies, community stakeholders, and other MDT agency partners to support collaboration and effective implementation of trauma sensitive and trauma aware practices. Serves on community committees and/or boards to maintain collaborative relationships. Provides training to agency, community, families, team members, and other interested parties on the dynamics of child abuse, disclosure, prevention, and culture as it relates to childhood trauma. Supervision and Training Will be knowledgeable of the child abuse investigation process and court system process. Stay up to date on NCA Standards and research supporting the CAC work and advocacy. Participates in supervision with management to discuss families, MDT, and barriers or challenges as well as creative solutions and ideas. Attends and engages in statewide and regional meetings, trainings and discussions regarding trends, changes, challenges and solutions to common reluctance or barriers when working with families and children experiencing trauma and possible additional system trauma. Participates in professional development and training. Respect the worth of each person by acting with kindness, empathy and cultural sensitivity. Supervisory Responsibilities When appropriate, provides supervision/support to intern students. Expected to assist other employees by sharing experience, expertise and training. Self-Management Respects confidentiality of client/agency. Participation in Performance and Quality Improvement activity is required by each employee. Behaves in honest, fair, and ethical manner; demonstrates consistency in words and actions; models high standards of ethics. Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Assesses and recognizes own strength and challenges and pursues self-development. Deals effectively with pressure; identifies skills to build resiliency in self. Listens effectively and communicates clearly and effectively both orally and in writing. Adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles. Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates, evaluates, and recommends alternative solutions. Performs other duties as assigned. Principles and Values Team Work: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of the Synergy team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone’s efforts to succeed. Strategic Thinking: Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organizations’ strengths and weaknesses; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions. Willing to Grow: Accepts accountability for mistakes and uses the mistakes as an opportunity to learn about self and to change future behaviors. Safety and Security: Observes safety and security procedures; determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; remedies potentially unsafe conditions. Attendance: Regular attendance is a requirement of this position QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s degree is preferred. At least two years’ experience in child welfare or investigations recommended. Specialty training and experience in the child abuse field with particular emphasis on child abuse and trauma informed principles preferred. Advanced working knowledge of child welfare systems and child abuse and neglect research preferred. Must demonstrate an ability to accomplish and advance program goals, a willingness to remain abreast of current research related to child abuse and neglect, and an ability to remain sensitive and demonstrate appropriate boundaries with program clients, agency staff, and volunteers. Master’s Degree and working knowledge of child welfare systems and child abuse/neglect research will be given preference. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from clients, regulatory agencies, or members of the community. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. REASONING ABILITY Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS Must have a valid Driver’s license. OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES The employee in this position must have the ability to use audio/video equipment and general office equipment. In addition, the employee must be able to use computer software, including Windows, Word for Windows, EXCEL, and Access. Prior experience working in human services field working with children/families, excellent communication skills both written and verbal, and have the ability to work in a cooperative manner with diverse professional groups. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; sit; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS Must be at least 20 years of age, pass a background check and Family Care Safety Registry screening, fingerprint screen, drug screen and have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. Position requires CPR, Med Tech Certification and Chauffeur’s License within 30 days from the date of hire. Non-Discrimination: Synergy Services is an EEO employer. We firmly support the principle and philosophy of equal employment for all individuals, regardless of age, race/ethnicity, religious creed, ancestry, color, sex, disability (including pregnancy), national origin, marital status, political belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic testing and screening information, covered veteran status or any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state or local laws. Benefits: All full-time positions are eligible for generous benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, paid vacation and holidays, sick days and personal holidays and a 401K Plan with Employer Match. Some regular part-time positions are eligible for partial benefits. Synergy Services is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of belonging and representation. We feel our staff, interns, and volunteers are among our most valuable assets. We embrace and encourage the differences in life experiences, knowledge, self-expression and unique capabilities that our staff, interns and volunteers bring to their work at Synergy. These aspects strengthen our agency, community, and our work with clients. |
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| Website | https://www.synergyservices.org/employment |