Victim Services Representative I
County of Los Angeles See More Job Openings by This Employer- Full Time
- $43,713.84 - $58,848/year
- Los Angeles, CA
- Position/Program Information
- LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICETYPE OF RECRUITMENT:Open Competitive Job OpportunityEXAM NUMBERA1565HWhen to ApplyApplications will be accepted beginning Monday, January 27, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) before 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Friday, February 7, 2025.Who we areThe Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is dedicated to protecting and serving our community and safeguarding the rights of crime victims and the accused alike through an unrelenting pursuit of justice. That pursuit of justice will ensure that not just the result, but the process itself reflects the highest standards of fairness, impartiality, and integrity. This Office will seek to be a leader in bringing safety to our community while steadfastly upholding its legal and ethical obligations to each member of our community.
We are the largest prosecutorial office in the nation. Our office is comprised of nearly 1,000 attorneys, 300 investigators, and 800 support staff. With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation. As the largest employer in Southern California, over 112,000 employees in more than 36 departments provide vital public services as diverse as law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, cultural activities and many more.The Bureau of Victim Services provides essential support to crime victims and witnesses in Los Angeles County. Our Victim Services Representatives provide an array of services such as crisis intervention, emergency assistance, counseling referrals, and court escort and orientation, to help victims become survivors.Who we are looking forWe are looking for individuals with a passion for advocacy and strong empathy for others' experiences. Some aspects of this job are emotionally and mentally challenging. Our ideal candidate is someone who has developed effective coping and self-care skills that allow them to maintain their emotional well-being in their day-to-day interactions with victims and survivors of crime. - Essential Job Functions
- Be a voice for those in needAs a Victim Services Representative (VSR) you will have the opportunity to advocate for and make a difference in people's lives. You will receive continuous specialized training to assist children and elderly victims; victims with disabilities; and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, gang violence, homicide, and human trafficking. As part of your training, you will visit the County Coroner's Office; learn about the effects of mass victimization, crisis, and casualties; and closely interact with distraught families of victims and/or survivors of crime(s). You will work directly with victims and witnesses who have experienced physical, emotional, and psychological trauma related to various crimes. Additionally, you may discuss the details and be exposed to images and/or scenes related to traumatic crimes.When working with these victims and survivors, you will assist them in obtaining various government mandated services, and determine reimbursement eligibility for crime-related financial losses through the California Victim Compensation Board. In some cases our VSRs utilize professionally trained dogs to serve as companions to victims and witnesses, most of them children, when testifying during trials.The VSR I position is typically a one-year training position. After one year, you will have an opportunity to promote to the Victim Services Representative II position.For a detailed description of the duties and responsibilities of this job click here.
- Requirements
- Two years of experience working in a public or private community services agency providing clients with information about programs and services, obtaining personal information, and assisting them in preparing and completing applications.
-OR-- Completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units or more in an accredited college or university with at least 3 courses in fields related to social science (e.g., Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Child Development, or Human Services).
In addition to the requirements listed above, the ideal candidate will possess training and/or experience in the following areas:- Certification from a major victim service training agency (e.g., National Organization for Victim's Assistance (NOVA), California Crime Victims Assistance Association (CCVAA).
- Associate's degree or higher in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Child Development, or a closely related human services field.
- Experience assisting crime victims, witnesses, and/or survivors who have experienced physical, emotional, or psychological trauma (e.g., physical and sexual assault, domestic violence, murder, and child abuse).
- Experience obtaining participation from victims and witnesses in the prosecution of crimes and working with law enforcement.
To receive credit for your education, applicants must attach a legible copy of college degree or official college transcripts showing satisfactory completion of relevant coursework or qualifying degree obtained from an accredited college or university. Documentation may be submitted with your application or within 7 calendar days from the last day of filing. For a detailed description of acceptable documents and submission instructions, please click here. We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst."If you served in the military and were honorably discharged, you may qualify for Veteran's Credit. To receive this credit, please include a copy of your DD214 form for our review.License:A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to use an alternate method of transportation is required to perform job-related essential functions.Physical Expectations:Physical Class II – Light: This class includes positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.- Additional Information
- Our assessment process consists of two parts:Part I:A multiple choice and/or simulation assessment weighted at 60% assessing the following: Achievement, Professional Potential, Responsibility, Teamwork, and Following InstructionsMULTIPLE CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY APPLICANTS PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.Candidates must meet the selection requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on Part I in order to proceed to Part II of this examination.
Part II:A Training and Experience Evaluation weighted at 40% assessing the following:- Education and training in related human services areas
- Related experience in a public or private community services agency
- Experience assisting clients and/or victims
Applicants must meet the selection requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on each weighted exam part in order to be placed on the eligible list.SCORES CANNOT BE GIVEN OVER THE PHONE.NOTE: All notifications including invitation letters will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add tmcknight@da.lacounty.gov, exams@da.lacounty.gov, info@governmentjobs.com, talentcentral@shl.com, and donot-reply@amcatmail.com to your email contacts and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.
Transfer of Test Components:- Applicants who have taken identical components recently for other exams may have their responses automatically transferred to this examination.
- This examination contains test components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your test scores may be transferred.
Test Preparation
Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help you preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary.- An interactive, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/. Please click on "Find A Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit." Test preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section.
- Additional online practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practice-tests/. You can also access test preparation for the computerized portion of the test by going to http://www.shldirect.com/practice_tests.html.
Testing Accommodation
If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, you will be given the opportunity to make a request when completing your application. Please note, you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATIONThe names of candidates receiving a passing score in the examination will be placed on the eligible list for a period of twelve (12) months from the date the list is created.
Qualifying Background Check: Due to the nature of the assignment, all positions in the District Attorney's Office are subject to a thorough background check before final appointment is made. For detailed background information as it pertains to the District Attorney's Office, please click here.VACANCY INFORMATIONThe resulting eligible list for this examination will be used to fill vacancies located in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.AVAILABLE SHIFTAnyAPPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATIONApplications must be filed online via NEOGOV electronic submission ONLY. Applications submitted by US Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted. To apply for this examination, click on the "Apply" button located on this posting. Your application must be submitted electronically before 5:00 p.m., PT, on Friday, February 7, 2025.Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Selection Requirements as listed on this job posting. Provide any relevant job experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.lmportant Notes:Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to verification at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment. Utilizing verbiage from the Class Specifications and/or Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties will not be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and you may be disqualified.
Fair Chance:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act.ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD:All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record and will result in an automatic rejection of your application.
Department Contact Name: Exams Unit
Department Contact Number: (213) 257 - 2700
Department Contact Email: exams@da.lacounty.gov
Testing Accommodations Coordinator: TestingAccommodation@hr.lacounty.gov
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099
Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Employment Information
Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
Your Responsibilities:
1. Completing Your Application:
a. Before submission of the application, it is your responsibility to ensure that all information provided is correct and complete on the application. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.
b. List each payroll title separately for each job. Do not group your experience. Specify the beginning and ending dates for each job. If you are a Los Angeles County employee and have held multiple positions, do NOT list all of your time with the County under your present payroll title.
c. Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
d. To receive credit, include required documents (e.g., copy of your diploma, transcript, certificate, or license) as directed on the job posting. International degrees in a foreign language must be translated to English and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. Refer to the job posting for specific deadlines for supporting documentation.
2. Requirements on Job Posting:
a. Your application will only be accepted if it clearly shows you meet the requirements. The information you give will determine your eligibility and is subject to verification at any time.
b. You must be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment unless other age limits are stated on the job posting. The Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967, as amended, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age for any individual age 40 or older.
c. Experience is evaluated on the basis of a verifiable 40- hour week, unless specified otherwise. Prorated part-time experience may be acceptable.
3. Application Deadline: All job applications must be completed and submitted before the closing time on the last day of the filing period as indicated on the job posting unless other instructions are provided. Job postings with an open continuous filing period are subject to closure without prior notice. It is to your advantage to file your application early and not wait until the last allowable date and time as you will not be able to apply once the filing period has closed.
4. Change of Name or Address: To change personal information such as your name or address, log into your profile on www.governmentjobs.com and make the necessary change. This can be done at any time.
5. Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy:
a. It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. b. If you are an individual requesting reasonable accommodation(s) in the examination process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. The provision of accommodation(s) may be subject to verification, consistent with state and federal law. All accommodation-related information will remain confidential.
Disclaimer: The County of Los Angeles is not responsible or in any way liable for any computer hardware or software malfunction that may affect the employment application or the application selection process.
You assume all responsibility and risk for the use of this system and the Internet generally. This system and the information provided on it are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. No advice or information given by the County of Los Angeles or its respective employees shall modify the foregoing or create any warranty.
The County of Los Angeles expressly disclaims any warranty that the information on this system or on the Internet generally will be uninterruptible or error free or that any information, software or other material accessible from the system is free of viruses or other harmful components. You shall have no recourse against the County of Los Angeles as the system provider for any alleged or actual infringement of any proprietary rights a user may have in anything posted or retrieved on our system.
The County of Los Angeles shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of this system or with the delay or inability to use it (or any linked sites), or for any information obtained through this system, or otherwise arising out of the use of this system, the Internet generally or on any other basis.
NOTE: Your application is submitted using Secure Encryption to ensure the privacy of all information you transmit over the Internet.
By accepting the Use Disclaimer set forth herein, you agree to all of the above terms and further agree to use this Online Job Employment Application System only for the submission of bona fide employment applications to the County of Los Angeles. Any other use of this Online Job Employment Application System, including without limitation any copying, downloading, translating, decompiling, or reverse engineering of the system, data, or related software, shall be a violation of the Use Disclaimer.
Test Preparation: Study Guides and other resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. An interactive system for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/. Additional resources may be listed on the job posting.
Veteran’s Credit: In all open competitive examinations, a veteran’s credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examinations will be added to the final passing grade of an honorably discharged veteran who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under any of the following conditions: During a declared war; -or- During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; -or- During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; -or- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010 the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; -or- In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal or expeditionary medal has been authorized and awarded. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti qualifies for credit.
A campaign medal holder or Gulf War veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980 (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty.
This also applies to the spouse of such person who, while engaged in such service was wounded, disabled or crippled and thereby permanently prevented from engaging in any remunerative occupation, and also to the widow or widower of any such person who died or was killed while in such service. A DD214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility for Veterans preference. Applicants must submit the documentation for each open competitive exam to qualify for veteran’s credit. More information available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide-for-hr-professionals/
Accreditation Information: Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies that are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). More information is available at: http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf and http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105_PPG_123_AC E_Resource_Guide.pdf
Background Check: The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.
Career Planning: Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at https://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov/#/.
Benefit Information: Depending on the position, the successful candidate will enroll in a contributory defined benefit pension plan if the candidate is a “new member” of the County’s defined benefit plan (LACERA) on or after January 1, 2013 (first employed by the County on or after December 1, 2012) – unless she or he established reciprocity with another public retirement system in which she or he was a member before January 1, 2013. It should be noted that County employees do not pay into Social Security, but do pay the Medical Hospital Insurance Tax portion of Social Security at a rate of 1.45%. The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has reciprocal agreements with several public retirement systems in California.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: All positions are open to qualified men and women. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons with disabilities who believe they need reasonable accommodation, or help in order to apply for a position, may contact the ADA/Personnel Services for Disabled Persons Coordinator. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. The County will attempt to meet reasonable accommodation requests whenever possible.
Equal Employment Opportunity: It is the policy of the County of Los Angeles to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. All positions are open to qualified men and women pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The County will comply with all of its obligations under State and Federal laws regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to applicants.
Los Angeles County Child Support Compliance Program: In an effort to improve compliance with court ordered child, family and spousal support obligations, certain employment and identification information (i.e., name, address, Social Security number and date of hire) is regularly reported to the State Directory of New Hires which may assist in locating persons who owe these obligations. Family Code Section 17512 permits under certain circumstances for additional employment and identifying information to be requested. Applicants will not be disqualified from employment based on this information.
Social Security Act of 2004: Section 419 (c) of Public Law 108-203, the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, requires State and local government employers to disclose the effect of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset Provision to employees hired on or after January 1, 2005, in jobs not covered by Social Security. The County of Los Angeles does not participate in the Social Security System. All newly hired County of Los Angeles employees must sign a statement (Form SSA-1945) prior to the start of employment indicating that they are aware of a possible reduction in their future Social Security benefit entitlement. For more information on Social Security and about each provision, you may visit the website www.socialsecurity.gov, or call toll free 1-800-772- 1213. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the TTY number 1-800-325-0778 or contact a local Social Security office.
Employment Eligibility Information: Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States. Immigration law provides that all persons hired after November 6, 1986, are required to present original documents to the County, within three (3) business days of hiring, which show satisfactory proof of 1) identity and 2) U.S. employment eligibility.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8 commencing with Section 12900 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) the Regulations of the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Division 4, Sections 7285.0 through 8504) and other applicable laws prohibit employment discrimination based on an applicant's protected characteristics, including race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, childbirth, and other characteristics.
COVID-19 VACCINATION: Some County workforce members may be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Successful candidates for those positions/classifications may be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process. Candidates should not present proof of vaccination until instructed to do so by the hiring department.
Updated February 2024
- $43,713.84 - $58,848/year