To provide support, referrals, information and advocacy services to women and their children. To work to safeguard the lives of women and children who have experienced violence in their homes. To educate the community served by the program on the problem and to develop outreach to enhance the accessibility of the program.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responds to contacts made by women, assessing their situations, making informed referrals and intake decisions. Explains shelter functions, goals, regulations to incoming women and children and ensures compliance.
- Completes formal intakes with women upon their arrival. Develops a file for each woman and family. Provides individual supportive counseling sessions with women in shelter on an as needed basis.
- Familiarizes self with resources in Middlesex and New London Counties for the women and their children, makes appropriate referrals and maintains current resource listings. Advocates for women within the legal, welfare, housing and medical systems. Acts as a liaison between sheltered women and agencies in the community.
- Facilitates women’s house meetings and/or support groups within the residence and with other departments of the Community Health Center and the Non Violence Alliance. Shares on-call duties with other staff members, either in supportive telephone on-call or direct intervention on-call.
- Attends supervision meetings with the Shelter Manager to develop house policy, review program and resident files. Meets in supervision with the Shelter Manager to discuss individual duties and to review individual performance.
- Works with other groups (CCADV, SACS, DCF, etc) in conjunction with Component Director to educated the public, improve services offered, and to advocate for the rights of battered women and their children. Attends Adult Advocate meetings held by CCADV contingent on scheduled hours.
- Assists in training of volunteers, provides community education and outreach throughout Middlesex and New London counties.
- Complies with agency annual mandatory training requirements, i.e. Working Safely, EOC, etc.
- Responsible for the hotline calls on an as needed basis
- Other duties as assigned
- QUALIFICATIONS
- Comprehensive working knowledge of the dynamics of domestic violence.
- Commitment to working with women and children severely affected by domestic violence, and a capacity to develop an overall plan for their safety and the preservation of their right to self-determination.
- Effective oral and written communication.
- Certification as a battered women’s counselor, as approved by CCADV.
- CHC requires as a condition of employment current American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer and AED (CPR/FPR/AED) certification. The only acceptable alternative is current American Heart Association BLS/AED for Healthcare Providers certification.
- Knowledge of community resources.
- Employees must have a current driver’s license with a clean driving record at time of hire and throughout employment.
- PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT
- May required rapid physical response, though work is primarily sedentary.
- Because of safety and security threats, this is a stressful position.
- Requires stair climbing.