DV Community Advocate

THE SALVATION ARMY 

DV COMMUNITY ADVOCATE

Join a team where you can offer compassion, dignity, and sustainable opportunities for people in need in your local community!

Use your financial, advocate, and social services skills as a DV Community Advocate! 

The Salvation Army is seeking a DV Community Advocate to work with adult survivors of intimate partner abuse on a survivor-centered empowerment model. This role helps adult survivors by assisting in re-housing while delivering financial assistance and housing-focused case management services. Responsibilities include conducting outreach and engagement efforts to develop strong and collaborative relationships with system-based partners, respond to crisis calls to provide support, and support in mobile-related manner for any advocacy needed.

The Salvation Army is an inspiring place to work. With offices in every major US city and over 120 countries around the globe, it’s a place where people can invest in people on every level. In the Northwest region of the US, we serve people with food to shelter opportunities and almost everything in between. We are committed to being an efficient and effective network of local offices that make up a huge western region team. In other words, we’re committed to being big and small at the same time. That makes us a seriously great place to work. As one of the most impactful social service organizations in the world, we hire people who constantly seek new ways to keep us moving forward. We welcome you on finding your place to offer opportunities for people in need!

The DV Community Advocate works closely with other members of the DV team. Whether performing screenings of potential clients, conducting in-person intake interviews, or coordinating referral services this position will receive supervision from the DV Director.

This position is full-time and non-exempt and located in Seattle, Washington. 

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Perform screenings of potential clients and conduct in-person intake interviews and assessments.
2. Handle client and agency data in a confidential and secure manner.
3. On an empowerment model, provide rapid rehousing, including financial assistance for move-in costs, rent, utilities, and other needs with follow-up housing-focused case management to maintain client safety and housing stability.
4. Provide regular “mobile advocacy” services by meeting with and accompanying clients to a variety of locations such as rental housing opportunities, landlord meetings, and appointments with other social service providers.
5. Respond to crisis calls by providing support, safety planning, information, and referrals to resources.
6. Coordinate services with referral partners to ensure clients’ immediate basic needs are met: such as food, clothing, toiletries, medication, transportation, and shelter.
7. Arrange necessary contacts, letters, or communications with other agencies or individuals to assist client attainment of goals and access to resources.
8. Provide crisis intervention and institute security procedures should a critical or threatening situation arise and identify and report on workplace health and safety risks, accidents, incidents, injuries and property damage.
9. Work closely with the DV Director and DV Community advocacy team on all matters related to DV Programs team goals, tasks and initiatives, safety, and related matters.
10. Attend meetings, trainings and other group events connected with our region’s ongoing efforts to end DV, SA, CSE, and human trafficking, as directed.
11. Conduct outreach and engagement efforts to develop strong collaborative relationships with system-based partners and referral agencies, and participate in multidisciplinary efforts to enhance survivor safety, wellbeing, and housing stability.
12. Maintain accurate program records, files, outcome reports, databases and statistics to satisfy strict reporting deadlines.
13. Work cooperatively with other Salvation Army programs and personnel.
14. Participate in trainings, conferences, classes, and related opportunities to meet Washington State requirements for DV/SA/CSE service providers and to continue professional growth and development.
15. Respectfully represent The Salvation Army’s programs to the community and referral agencies.
16. Other duties as assigned by the Director of Domestic Violence Programs.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

1. B.A. in social work or related field or equivalent relevant experience.
2. Experience and/or education in the field of gender-based violence with knowledge of the local systems, agencies and resources relevant to those populations.
3. Experience providing direct services to persons experiencing homelessness with experience in rapid-rehousing, landlord/tenant negotiation or other relevant negotiation/mediation experience highly desired.
4. Experience providing direct services to diverse populations in a culturally and linguistically responsive manner by welcoming and celebrating staff and clients from a variety of racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds and with varied religious beliefs, lifestyles, sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.
5. Ability to understand and articulate how institutionalized racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism and other oppressions have led to profound inequities in all major indicators of human wellness in the USA, including access to health, education, employment, housing and other resources.
6. Experience in multi-disciplinary approaches to case planning including outreach, networking and co-advocating with other agencies and systems to facilitate client access to housing, financial, medical, legal, educational, and other resources.
7. Demonstrated ability to work well independently and as part of a team environment, and to assist and support in the development of team decisions and program policies.
   
   8. Effective English language communications ability in verbal and written (both machine-produced and handwritten) forms.
8. Basic mathematical skills (addition, subtraction, division, multiplication & percentages).
9. Intermediate level computer skills, meaning strong proficiency in internet and email, word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
10. Keyboard skills which allow an error-adjusted rate of at least 40 words per minute.
11. Strong crisis intervention skills with ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks under stressful conditions.
12. Ability to exercise mature and sound judgment in problem-solving and the decision-making process.
13. Ability to present material effectively in written and oral form.
14. Strong computer, organizational and record-keeping skills.
15. Adherence to the NASW social work code of ethics including the scrupulous avoidance of self-dealing and conflict of interest situations.
    
    17. Ability to successfully complete Salvation Army child safety training and to be approved through the background/reference check procedure. Successful completion of periodic retraining and re-approvals is required for continued employment.
16. Ability and willingness to understand and fully comply with mandatory reporting requirements and laws pertaining to vulnerable adults and children. (Training on this will be provided in-house)
17. Ability to respect and maintain the confidentiality of agency and client information, in compliance with applicable law and Salvation Army policies and procedures.
18. Willingness to abide by Salvation Army’s drug and alcohol policy.
19. Documentation of CPR, First Aid, and blood borne pathogens certification within 90 days of employment. (This training will be provided in-house)
20. Flexibility to work overtime on occasion.
21. Ability and willingness to drive one’s own vehicle and Salvation Army vehicles as necessary to meet with and/or accompany clients to meet landlords, view rental properties, and attend to related matters at various locations throughout Seattle and King County.
22. Must possess a valid WA State driver’s license and pass The Salvation Army internal agency driving test (Training provided in-house)
23. Must be able to pass a Motor Vehicle Driving Record (MVR) check in adherence with The Salvation Army’s MVR Check policy.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit, walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or continuous basis
  • Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead.
  • Ability to operate telephone and a TTY
  • Ability to operate a desktop or laptop computer
  • Ability to lift 25 lbs
  • Ability to access and produce information from a computer
  • Ability to understand written information
  • Ability to operate an automobile
  • Ability to safely follow instructions pertaining to the use and storage of all workplace chemicals.
  • Ability to properly operate safety and security systems, which may include alarms, automated gates, door locks and key card systems.
  • Ability to rapidly travel over uneven surfaces, up and down steps, stairs and ramps as necessary to perform duties of the position.

The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this classification. It is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory, or all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job. Management has the right to add to, revise, or delete information in this description.

The Salvation Army will comply with all governmental orders and any contractual obligations relative to COVID-19 safety measures, including mandatory vaccination of staff, if required. The Salvation Army will consider requests for exemptions from any such requirements on either religious or medical grounds.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. The Salvation Army is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified job applicants, job candidates, and employees with disabilities to ensure they enjoy equal access to all employment opportunities and benefits of employment as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. EEO is the Law.

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.