Victim Advocate Counselor

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in counseling, social work, sociology, psychology, women's/gender studies or a related field; or any equivalent combination of related training and experience. Applicants within six months of meeting the minimum education/experience requirement may be considered for trainee status. This position will be based out of Gainesville Police Department. 

A Valid Florida Driver License is required and a Motor Vehicle Record that meets the requirements of Alachua County policy #6-7; Motor Vehicle Records will be reviewed prior to employment.   If, in the past 24-month period, the applicants Motor Vehicle Record has more than three (3) moving traffic infractions or three (3) or more at fault motor vehicle accidents (or combination of both and /or a conviction/pending charge for driving under the influence) or is in violation of any standard mandated by Federal or State Law or Regulation, the minimum qualifications are not met for the position.

Successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required. 
This is a grant funded position. There are no rights to permanent employment.

Position Summary

This is responsible counseling work assisting rape, sexual violence/assault and crime victims for the Department of Community Support Services, Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center.
An employee assigned to this classification contacts and assists victims of rape, sexual violence/assault and violent crimes through police interviews, medical examinations and criminal justice proceedings.

Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports and observation of the results obtained.

Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

This is an emergency essential classification.  Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.

Exudes a positive customer service focus.
 Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with core values including:  integrity, honesty, respect, diversity, innovation, accountability and communication.
 Expedites victim's claims through public assistance programs, criminal justice activities and emergency intervention services.

Coordinates necessary emergency services such as, food, clothing, shelter, transportation and medical needs, to eligible victims of rape, sexual violence/assault and crime.

Provides support to rape, sexual violence/assault and crime victims by physically accompanying them through the judicial process.

Informs victims of F.S.960, Victim Assistance.

Assists rape, sexual violence/assault and crime victims with preparing victim impact statements.

Provides follow-up assistance, like information and referral to clients.

Provides short-term counseling sessions with clients face to face and by telephone.

Develops community education and media presentations to increase the public understanding and awareness of the problems and needs of rape, sexual violence/assault and crime victims.

Documents data on rape, sexual violence/assault and crime victims for statistical purposes.

Encourages the reporting of crimes by the promotion of services available to rape, sexual violence/assault and crime victims.

Provides information about rape, sexual violence/assault and crime victim's programs to law enforcement officers.

Attends training to remain current of trends and skills required for effective job performance.

Responsible for case status updates, opening and maintaining files, documenting statistics, planning program events for the public, answering telephone calls, acting as liaison with local agencies and assisting clients as much as possible.

Transports clients to related engagements on an as-needed basis.

Drives a County and/or personal vehicle regularly to respond to crisis calls 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week; drives to offsite locations to conduct training and/or participate in outreach events.

Provides outreach to rape, sexual violence/assault and crime victims on a 24-hour, on-call basis, at crime scenes, hospitals or wherever needed.

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: The examples listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.


KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Considerable knowledge of the policies and procedures of victimology counseling and assistance programs.

Considerable knowledge of community assistance programs and agencies for rape, sexual violence/assault and crime victims.

Knowledge of the criminal justice system especially as it relates to rape, sexual violence/assault and crime victims.

Ability to counsel rape, sexual violence/assault and crime victims effectively and determine routes for referral and assistance.

Ability to relate and to react to the needs of clients.

Ability to facilitate support groups for adults and child victims.

Ability to maintain effective working relationships with clients and community organizations.

Ability to make public presentations before community organizations about the program.

Ability to respond to various clients and agencies with little advanced warning.

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 regularly required to sit, talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach and to be mobile.

Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, and distance 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future.BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance  
• Employee Life Insurance  
• Florida Retirement System  
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance  
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Computer Purchase Program

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits click here.

You may also view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding benefits. 

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement.  A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows: 

1. New Years Day  
2. Martin Luther King Day  
3. Memorial Day  
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day  
6. Labor Day  
7. Veterans' Day  
8. Thanksgiving Day  
9. Friday following Thanksgiving  
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)  
11. Christmas Day  
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)  
13. 2 Floating Holidays  (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF – International Association of FirefightersPay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave – Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-2.

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-3 *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.

$47,860.80 Annually