Domestic Violence Counselor

Description

The Domestic Violence Counselor is responsible for providing advocacy, referrals, counseling and crisis intervention services to families to enable the family return to independent living. It includes the intake, assessment, service plan development, as well as direct intervention and coordination of ancillary services, both on and off site. The incumbent will have a thorough knowledge of issues revolving around families with domestic violence issues, and develop strategies which help to resolve and meet family needs.

Reporting Relationships: The Domestic Violence Counselor report to the Supervisor of Family Services.

Position Summary: The Domestic Violence Counselor is responsible for providing advocacy, referrals, counseling and crisis intervention services to families to enable the family return to independent living. It includes the intake, assessment, service plan development, as well as direct intervention and coordination of ancillary services, both on and off site. The incumbent will have a thorough knowledge of issues revolving around families with domestic violence issues, and develop strategies which help to resolve and meet family needs.

Nature and Scope: This position challenges one to provide high quality social services assistance to clients who may be in crisis and/or resistant to being helped. The Domestic Violence Counselor must be able to evaluate each client’s strengths and weaknesses and with the client, develop a service plan that will best serve their needs. With some clients, the Domestic Violence Counselor must first work to stabilize the family unit, addressing such problems as substance abuse, poor money management skills, poor housekeeping skills, or lack of parenting skills before appropriate permanent housing can be assessed.

In consultation with the Supervisor of Family Services, the Domestic Violence Counselor will conduct individual counseling sessions with any client and/or their children who may exhibit signs of stress including but not limited to depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, etc. He / She will conduct a thorough assessment and make an appropriate referral for long term psychotherapy as needed.

Under the general supervision of the Supervisor of Family Services, Domestic Violence Counselors are expected to perform the following duties and responsibilities.

• Responsible for:
  Individual, family and group crisis intervention, advocacy and referral.
• Interviews clients to evaluate and individualized their immediate needs and gather background information for development of a psycho-social assessment and referrals.
• Provides on going psycho-social assessment and evaluation as a basis for developing appropriate referrals, treatment planning, and other interventions.
• Provides specific, ongoing information, counseling and advocacy services to effect appropriate referrals.
• Develops mutually realized goals for clients to enable improved independent living.
• Development of curriculums & facilitation of workshops and psycho-educational groups.
• Serves as liaison to appropriate support service agencies and programs (Health facilities, Board of Education, etc.)
• Coordinate and ensure the provision of on and off-site client services to meet the psychological, medical, educational and concrete needs of resident families.
• Maintains up-to-date confidential records on clients.
• Develops community-based and/or knowledge in a particular case management specialty, (housing, employment, OMH, DOH, BOE, etc.)
• Completes daily and monthly activities reports
• Conducts work related functions with staff, clients and others, in a professional manner.
• Complies with AAPCI policies and procedures.
• Maintains professional growth and responsibilities.

Performs other related duties as may be requested.

Minimal

Qualifications:


Degree Requirements: Master’s Degree in an appropriate social service field (Social Work, Psychology, or similar field) and (2) years’ experience, or Bachelor’s Degree with (4) years’ experience. At least two (2) years of appropriate social work experience, as well as…