Client Advocate

Date: January 4, 2023

FULL-TIME and NON-EXEMPT

Reports to: Housing Manager

Schedule of Hours: Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours/week

Pay: $23/hour

Position Remote Eligible: Hybrid (90% On-Site)

Mandated Reporter: Yes

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA), is the only agency in San Mateo County providing crisis intervention and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence and their children, seeks a Client Advocate to provide crisis intervention, case management, and supportive counseling to emergency safe house residents.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Client Advocate provides crisis intervention, case management, and supportive counseling to emergency safe house residents. The Client Advocate is responsible for providing a safe, healthy and welcoming environment for residents. Services provided are voluntary and include safety planning, peer counseling, case management, information and referral, and group facilitation. All services are provided within the context of a trauma-informed approach and in conjunction with community partners and other CORA departments. This position involves responsibilities at multiple sites throughout San Mateo County.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Schedule, screen, and perform intake and assessments for new residents entering both safe house sites.
• Provide immediate crisis response, needs assessment, and safety planning with all residents. Facilitate access to emergency resources that increase immediate safety.
• Provide crisis intervention, conflict resolution, mobile advocacy, and de-escalation intervention for residents on-site.
• Provide counseling, education, and information regarding appropriate internal and external referrals to potential shelter residents.
• Provide targeted case management and advocacy support to a caseload of residents and/or families in the Housing department.
• Provide brief child supervision on an as needed basis.
• Develop individualized short-term service plan goals with safe house residents.
• Facilitate resident activities, support groups, weekly community meetings, and other educational workshops.
• Monitor and enforce residential guidelines to maintain the confidentiality, safety, and security of the site.
• Provide accompaniment and/or transportation to client appointments, as needed (case by case).
• Complete required documentation and enter data into client database in an accurate and timely manner. Maintain up to date client files, records, and reports, in accordance with program standards.
• Communicate effectively with other members of the Crisis Intervention Services team in order to ensure the most up-to-date information and appropriate follow-up for potential resident clients.
• Support interdepartmental communication and monitor and manage program waitlist.
• Assist in compiling program statistics, maintenance of filing systems, and development/implementation of new protocols and procedures.
• Maintain safety and cleanliness of the site, and collaborate with facility/ maintenance to prepare units for incoming clients.
• Collaborate effectively with other departments and outside agencies to ensure successful service delivery and conduct community outreach, as needed, to optimize referral relationships with partner agencies.
• Attend supervision, departmental and agency staff meetings as assigned.
• Provide support to other Housing Advocates across locations as needed.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• BA degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience in the provision of social services.
• Bilingual (Spanish) Required.
• Experience working with survivors of domestic violence preferred, including completion of 40-hour domestic violence training. Candidates who have not completed the training will be required to do so.
• Ability to provide culturally competent services and work with a diverse staff and clientele in an empathetic and non-judgmental manner.
• Must demonstrate maturity, emotional stability, and sound judgment to provide effective services to diverse populations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to function as a part of a team and work in collaboration with outside agencies.
• Familiarity with community-based services in San Mateo County
• Ability to integrate feedback and utilize supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to function as a part of a team and work in collaboration with outside agencies.
• Valid CA driver’s license, access to vehicle and insurance required.
• Background check, including fingerprinting clearance from the Department of Justice
• Demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States.
• Familiarity with community-based services in San Mateo County preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Willingness to travel to multiple sites within San Mateo County.

• Must be available to work a set schedule, which will include evening hours Monday through Friday, and some weekends and holidays

MANDATED REPORTER STATUS

This position requires you to directly supervise children without the presence of a legal guardian, or is a professionally licensed role that is listed in California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA). As a result, you are a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse under CANRA and must become familiar with your obligations and how to carry them out in compliance with other federal and state funding obligations.

CORA History and Overview

CORA has provided services to survivors of intimate partner abuse for nearly 40 years. Our programs include Crisis Intervention Services, including a 24-hour hotline, collaboration with law enforcement, emergency shelter options, and supportive counseling. Family Support Services provides mental health therapy, supportive/transitional housing, and a children’s program. CORA has robust legal services for survivors of domestic violence and provides educational workshops about the dynamics of domestic violence and healthy relationship skills.

CORA is strengths-based, collaborative, accessible, and client-centered. CORA believes that everyone deserves to be treated with respect in their intimate relationships. We provide safety, support and healing to individuals who experience abuse in an intimate relationship and educate the community to break the cycle of domestic violence. Regardless of a survivor’s race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or culture, we save lives and provide an opportunity to begin again.

CORA inspires work of the highest caliber by fostering staff engagement through transparency and inclusion in agency decisions wherever possible. We strive to ensure our policies and communications reflect an appreciation of the impact of social inequities, historical and current, and actively promote healthy relationships amongst staff by demonstrating mutual respect in all our communications.

CORA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We seek diversity with respect to race, color, age, sex, (including breastfeeding and medical conditions related to breastfeeding), religion (including religious dress or grooming practices), national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic characteristics and information, ancestry, marital status, family status, political belief, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), medical condition, military, or veteran status or any other category or status protected by Federal, State or other applicable laws.

All applicants are welcome. Individuals who are bilingual, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community and/or survivors of domestic violence are strongly encouraged to apply. The position will remain open until filled.