Crisis Services Specialist

Description

About YWCA South Hampton Roads

YWCA is the oldest and largest multicultural women’s organization in the world. YWCA South Hampton Roads (YWCA SHR) is dedicated to the fullness of its mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Serving approximately 8,000 individuals each year, YWCA SHR is a source of strength, courage and empowerment for women and families facing crisis. We are a community catalyst for meaningful change and the advocate for shaping vital impact through quality services responding to the critical needs of survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence. YWCA SHR works across racial, gender, religious and social lines with organizations-partners in all sectors to educate about disparities, advocate for change and provide resources and tools to dismantle oppressive systems.

YWCA SHR is in the midst of a rapid transformation from a well-established direct service provider for women and families facing crisis to an organization working at the intersection of eliminating racism, empowering women and standing up for social justice, helping families and strengthening our community.

About the Position

Under general supervision of the Crisis Services Manager provides crisis intervention counseling, support services and advocacy to YWCA SHR clients.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Respond to crisis accompaniment requests and provide appropriate services based on the SART model protocol.
• Respond to referrals from the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance statewide hotline.
• Provide in-person and telephone crisis intervention counseling and advocacy services, including safety planning and suicidal assessments to clients.
• Respond to crisis situations involving program participants.
• Maintain client case records within electronic case management, scheduling software, and any data/grant management software as required by the agency and in accordance with ethical guidelines, policy, and procedures.
• Collect statistical data and other information needed for grant reporting.
• Maintain client confidentiality as outlined in the YWCA SHR policy and procedures.
• Adhere to the YWCA SHR’s Mandated Reporter Policy in collaboration with law enforcement, forensic and medical personnel, and other allied professionals.
• Prepare and deliver in-service programs and training for agency volunteers, new staff, and community partners on topics related to the mission of the YWCA.
• Pursue on-going training and education regarding interpersonal violence; trauma-informed counseling techniques, community resources, and other related topics.
• Attend staff meetings and client case reviews and scheduled in-service training as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience

• 60 hours of higher education in human services field required, Bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice or related human services field preferred.
• Direct service experience working with clients affected by trauma, sexual violence and domestic violence is preferred.

Other Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age
• Must complete the training programs of YWCA SHR
• Must complete a successful background check

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrate knowledge of interpersonal violence and a strong commitment to ending violence against women, men, and children.
• Demonstrate the ability to work well with people of various ethnic, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• The ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities and respond to participants in a professional and reassuring manner.
• Demonstrate the ability to act as an advocate on behalf of clients with a working knowledge of legal, medical and social service systems.
• Demonstrate the ability to function as a part of a team with co-workers.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrate the ability to maintain a calm and supportive demeanor at all times.
• Must complete the training program of the YWCA.
• It requires a willingness to work and travel alone.
• Must have an excellent driving record and have a valid driver's license; certificate of insurance from an insurance carrier licensed in the State of Virginia
• Successfully pass a background check.

CORE VALUES:

The Crisis Services Specialist is expected to model the YWCA- SHR Core Values:

• Compassion
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Ownership
• Responsibility
• Empowerment

WORKING CONDITIONS:    Work is performed in a typical office environment with a high standard of confidentiality. Two six-hour shifts are available: 6:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. This is a part-time position with the possibility of working past your scheduled time as needed, not to exceed 29 hours per week. While employees may have a primary or preferred shift, flexibility to work other shifts as needed is expected to support program operations.

Mandatory company meetings and trainings may extend beyond the regularly scheduled work hours. Occasional nights and weekends may be required to support organizational events. Due to the program’s 24/7 operations, this position also follows a rotating holiday schedule to ensure adequate coverage and continuity of services.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through the use of the telephone and personal contact as normally defined by the ability to see, read, talk, hear, handle or feel objects and controls. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to: Frequently walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and talks or hears.
• Often required to stand and sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, squat or crawl.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 20-25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderately loud.
• Physical capability to effectively use and operate various items of office related equipment, such as but not limited to, a personal computer, calculator, copier, and fax machine.

COMPENSATION:  This is a non-exempt, part-time position paying $18.00 per hour, with scheduled hours not to exceed 29 hours per week.

START TIMEFRAME: Position will be open until filled. Interested applicants are requested to submit cover letter and resume to job posting at www.ywca-shr.org

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) DISCLOSURE: We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and any other status protected by applicable local, state or federal law.? 

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS: YWCA SHR is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  ADA requires YWCA SHR to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.  Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations. 

SUBSTANCE USE AND WORKPLACE SAFETY POLICY: It is the policy of YWCA South Hampton Roads to maintain a safe and healthy workplace that is free of the effects of alcohol and drug abuse.  Employees, volunteers, and interns of YWCA South Hampton Roads are prohibited from the use, sale, dispensing, distribution, possession, manufacture, or being under the influence of drugs that are illegal under any federal, state or local law.