Children's Victims Advocate - FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Children's Victims Advocate

FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES

OPEN: NOVEMBER 18, 2016

CLOSING: DECEMBER 16, 2016 @ 3:00 P.M.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Red Lake Children's Advocate is responsible for providing advocacy services to child victims and their families when sexual abuse and/or serious physical abuse has been alleged to the children and families being served by the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). Reports to Director of Family/Children Services, full-time position w/benefits, salary; DOQ.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain strict standards of confidentiality;

• Make initial contact with the family once an interview is scheduled to answer any preliminary questions they may have;

• Establish contact with and provide support for victims and families at the multidisciplinary team interview;

• Provide crisis intervention for victims and families referred to them by law enforcement on those cases that do not involve a Child Protective Service (CPS) worker;

• Educate non-offending caregiver(s) about sexual abuse or serious physical abuse and the various systems that may become involved with their family;

• Perform a safety assessment of the family and develop and recommend a safety plan for the child victim and family;

• Answer any questions related to the investigative process and provide feedback to the assigned Child Protective Service worker and/or law enforcement officer;

• Coordinate with other advocates that may be working with the child and family, i.e. Guardian ad Litem volunteer;

• Maintain contact with the victim and family throughout the investigation and prosecution when requested by the family or the law enforcement officer;

• Assist the family in accessing services recommended by the team;

• Attend the Child Medical Exam if requested by the family or the law enforcement officer assigned to work with the family

• Attend court proceedings with the child and family if requested by the family or the law enforcement officer assigned to work with the family;

• Be available as a witness in court as required;

• Facilitate a support group for child victims and the non-offending caregiver

• Receive referrals and information on all child sexual abuse and extreme physical abuse cases from law enforcement and the Family & Children's Services

• Prepares the case tracking and case review schedule;

• Maintain and update case records in agency database,

• Assist with obtaining prosecution outcomes and entering into database;

• Attend case review and follow through with any recommendations of the team that would require the services of the advocate and enter appropriate information into the database from case review;

• Remains current with professional literature on child abuse issues;

• Assists with community education and professional training on child abuse prevention;

• Other duties as may be assigned.

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Children's Victims Advocate – FAMILY & CHILDREN SERVICES (CONT.)

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• A Bachelor's Degree in a human service field is preferred.

• Previous experience in law enforcement, social work, mental health, and/ or experience as a trainer/educator is preferred.

• Knowledge, skill, and abilities for this position include but are not limited to the following:

• Ability to work as team player;

• Ability to work in a professional manner with members of many other agencies;

• Knowledge of the dynamics of families where abuse and/or neglect is occurring;

• Knowledge of the stages of child development;

• Knowledge of community resources;

• Skills in providing crisis intervention services to families;

• Ability to analyze and evaluate the outcomes related to the provision related to families who accept advocacy services as compared to family's who may not;

• Must have good oral and written communication skills;

• Must have good computer skills and ability to keep caseload up to date in agency's database,

TO APPLY: Applications and copies of certificates/diplomas are being accepted at the Government Center – Human Resources Department, P.O. Box 546, Red Lake, MN 56671 Phone (218) 679-1847.