Victim Advocate

Under general supervision, initially in a training capacity, to assess and coordinate the service needs of crime victims/witnesses to meet the clients' material, emotional, and informational needs; and to represent the Department in public presentations, community groups, and committees.

• Conducts client interviews after they have experienced a violent and traumatic crime (at a safe location, outside of the office, if necessary) to assess clients' needs and promptly take appropriate action;

• Assists clients in completing required applications; aids in resolving inconsistencies or omissions of required information; makes contacts on behalf of clients;

• Arranges emergency assistance and provides follow-up counseling to assure victims' immediate needs are met; refers clients to counseling resources and other support groups, as needed;

• Provides crisis intervention, psychoeducation, response, and emotional support to victims of crime, including coping strategies and grounding techniques to promote wellness and recovery;

• Maintains clear and concise case notes, documenting all contacts, correspondence, and pertinent information, including grant-required documentation;

• Establishes and maintains working relationships with law enforcement and other community-based resource agencies and coordinates with partner agencies to provide outreach services;

• Communicates with caregivers, family members, or other parties of interest to secure or disseminate information;

• Incorporates information from relevant Federal, State, and local laws, policies, and procedures to develop and practice timely, accurate filing management while maintaining a large caseload;

• Assists clients in the preparation of victim impact statements and by providing notification of their case status and disposition;

• Explains the criminal justice system/court process in lay terms to clients;

• Accompanies clients to court hearings and provides emotional support to clients during trials in court;

• Attends trainings, conferences, hearings, workshops, and meetings;

• Compiles electronic records; submits mandated reports or other correspondence;

• Attends mandatory training sessions and workshops;

• May be required to assist with the response to a mass victimization event that may have resulted in injuries and/or deaths;

• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required*;

• Performs other related duties, as required.

• Must successfully complete required in-house and entry-level victim/witness advocacy training provided through the State of California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) within one (1) year of appointment. If the CalOES training is not available within the first year of employment, the employee must successfully complete the first training available, or vacate the position.

• Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work.  If driving, possession of a valid California driver’s license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.

• *As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help.  A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

• Methods of counseling and interacting effectively with diverse individuals in need and/or under great emotional stress;

• Interviewing techniques to elicit personal information;

• General goals of public assistance programs;

• Methods of organizing and compiling documents/files;

• Common computer systems and applications; 

• Record keeping, case management, and report writing techniques;

• English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

• Interview effectively to elicit personal information and assess clients' needs;

• Develop and maintain the confidence and cooperation of individuals from diverse circumstances and ethnic backgrounds;

• Maintain professional ethics and personal boundaries;

• Develop and maintain the confidence and cooperation of traumatized individuals from diverse circumstances and ethnic backgrounds;

• Interview crime victims/witnesses, which may involve graphic accounts of brutal crimes, assess their needs, and refer clients to appropriate community agencies;

• Provide trauma informed and culturally responsive services to crime victims and victims of mass violence;

• Learn, understand, and communicate to clients the criminal justice process, penal codes, and basic sentencing structure;

• Adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines, laws, and regulations;

• Understand and utilize trauma-informed care principles in client care and interviewing;

• Refer clients to relevant community and State resources, as needed;

• Review and evaluate data, weighing alternatives and determining the appropriate course of action;

• Learn and interpret relevant laws, policies, and procedures;

• Research, develop, and use community resources;

• Communicate effectively , both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures;

• Prepare and maintain clear, concise, and accurate correspondence, reports, records, and other written materials;

• Work independently under stressful conditions; 

• Maintain sound judgment;

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, and representatives of other agencies.