Job description
Counselor/Advocate for our Non-Residential program who will provide comprehensive crisis intervention and self empowerment counseling in an individual and group setting. In addition, providing counseling on breaking the cycle of violence, promoting positive self esteem/motivation to Women, Children and Youth, who have been exposed to domestic violence in the home and economic empowerment services as a way to counter economic abuse.
The Counselor/Advocate is also responsible for providing direct services in the form of comprehensive case assessment, case management. In addition to advocacy and accompaniment through the criminal justice system, social welfare, housing issues, immigration, and other related systems; ensuring that all participants’ social needs are identified and addressed.
Essential Functions:
Conduct initial needs assessments on all clients and their children to identify needs and goals; and develop a service plan. Re-evaluate as necessary. This includes intake assessment.
Provide intensive case management services based on the program participant (s) needs/goals and their service plan.Including weekly (scheduled) case management sessions.
Provide personal support for the families including but not limited to translation and accompaniment services as it relates to public assistance, housing. School/education placement, health service, etc. Including assistance in the various unforeseen needs of the participant.
Provide information and referrals; advocacy and accompaniment to participants throughout the legal, immigration, social and human resources systems. This includes over the phone, in person and via written correspondence in a timely manner.
Assist participant with educational needs by advocating for tutoring services, school placement, parents/teacher/child involvement and medical services.
Stay abreast of changes in the area of entitlements and benefit resources and systems for information and referrals; advocacy and accompaniment as to secure needed services.
Develop service plans with measurable outcomes and services as identified by the program and funding source in a timely fashion. Including providing accurate information about participants’ outcomes and services.
Provide crisis counseling, develop individualized counseling and promote self esteem/motivation to participants. Including identifying and providing referrals to outside therapeutic services as needed.
Validate, support and encourage Strength Based Counseling with a focus on personal wellness and independence as identified, and implement according to the participants counseling plan.
Work with age appropriate clients to promote positive relationships around the issues of conflict resolution, separation, and diversity issues (including cultural, religious, and sexual orientation issues), etc.
Facilitate weekly, monthly and/or bi-monthly age appropriate bi-lingual support groups.
Work collaboratively with staff and other service providers on a consistent basis to ensure the highest quality service delivery.
In conjunction with team members adhere to mandated reporting requirements as they relate to such issues as child abuse/neglect, suicide/homicide concerns, etc.
Attend and participate in regularly scheduled agency and program meeting including supervision sessions, case conferences, agency-wide staff meetings, team meetings, individual service plans, inter-disciplinary meetings, etc.
Conduct community outreach and /or educational workshops on a monthly basis, or as needed by program.
Represent VIP at conferences, community meetings and special events; including Promoting VIP services at all public functions.
Capacity building in all programs of the agency – each staff member will demonstrate competency with incorporating financial literacy in the performance of their responsibilities.
Provide VIP Hotline coverage as needed, this includes but is not limited to on-call evening/weekend coverage.
Qualifications:
BSW or BA required, MSW preferred
Fully Bilingual Required (English/Spanish – verbal and written).
Must have a minimum of three (3) years counseling experience in the area of domestic violence, women and children issues, or related field.
Must be knowledgeable in working with diverse communities, particularly Latino and low income population and deliver culturally competent services.
Strong verbal, written, communication and documenting skills.
Must be well organized, assertive, work independently and collectively, while maintaining a flexible schedule. Incl. on-call schedule to respond to emergencies, nights and weekends.
Must have the ability to operate office equipment such as computers, copy machine, fax machine, phone systems, etc. with strong internet and software skills; incl. Microsoft Office and client database.
Must be able to exercise good judgment and sensitivity at all times.
Must ensure agency, program, and client confidentiality at all times.
How to Apply:
Qualified candidates may respond to the following opportunities by submitting a resume with cover letter including salary requirements. Submissions should be emailed to resumes@vipmujeres.org or faxed to (212)410-9117.
NO CALLS PLEASE**