SAS Volunteer

CRISIS CENTER OF TAMPA BAY

POSITION DESCRIPTION - Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Volunteer

Position Details

Job Status: Volunteer, Unpaid

Reports to: Lead Advocate

Department: Sexual Assault Services

Position Summary

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay brings help, hope and healing to people facing serious life challenges or trauma resulting from sexual assault or abuse, domestic violence, financial distress, substance abuse, medical emergency, suicidal thoughts, emotional or situational problems.

The Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Volunteer provides crisis intervention, emotional support, and advocates for survivors of sexual assault. Victim Advocate Volunteer will provide crisis intervention, emotional support, resources and community referrals. Victim Advocate Volunteer reports to the Lead Advocate and in his/her absence the Manager of Advocacy.

Strategic/Transformational Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional customer service as an advocate to clients who experienced trauma from sexual assault or abuse in a safe, courteous and professional manner.
• Participate in the performance quality improvement (PQI) process and uses data to improve client services and outcomes.

Transactional/Administrative Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive victim services to all clients requesting advocacy.
• Respond to sexual assault exams 24/7, when scheduled, within 1 hours' notice.
• Commit to volunteering for four on-call shifts a month
• Empower clients with developing a safety plan and provide information and referral as needed for resources
• Coordinate services for survivors with law enforcement, medical staff, and other systems
• Provide community outreach to increase awareness and access to services with an emphasis on minority and underserved populations.
• Attend volunteer meetings on a quarterly basis and one on one supervision as needed with the Lead Advocate
• Have knowledge of State of Florida Laws and Statutes and policies affecting victims' rights.
• Maintain updated information for Hillsborough County resources.
• Have knowledge of and comply with the policies and procedures of the Crisis Center and all partnering agencies.
• Complete all training required by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence within the designated time period.

Required Competencies

• Cooperation/Teamwork- Works toward win/win solutions. Deals with conflict collaboratively. Discusses root causes underlying the problem. Develops effective working relationships.
• Engaging Communication- Relates to people in an open, honest, sincere manner. Treats people with respect. Is friendly and approachable. Listens attentively to others. Communicates ideas clearly. Communicates appropriately with leadership and coworkers.
• Customer Service (Internal & External)- Recognizes and attends to important details with accuracy and efficiency. Treats customers courteously. Responds to customer requests in a timely manner. Elicits feedback from customers to monitor their satisfaction. Considers both short and long-term interests of the customer in making service decisions. Proactively identifies customer needs. Takes responsibility to resolve customer complaints. Takes business or personal risks to serve customers' long-term interests. Creates strategies to help the organization serve customers more effectively.
• Adaptability- Adapts readily to changes. Works effectively under stress. Needs minimal supervision. Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Is reliable, dependable and results oriented. Maintains productivity and composure under pressure. Effectively prioritizes work and establishes clear goals and plans.
• Problem Solving- Views problems as opportunities to create new solutions. Anticipates potential problems and analyzes alternative solutions.
• Judgment- Gathers sufficient input before making decisions. Sees interrelatedness between issues. Considers alternative solutions. Makes appropriate and timely decisions.
• Valuing & Fostering Diversity- Demonstrates respect for individual differences and establishing a climate where all people can be comfortable and productive through sensitivity, empathy, and acceptance of cultural, racial, mental health, and socio-economic diversity.
• Self-Management- Takes responsibility for one's behavior and well-being; Works effectively under stress and adapting one's style to changing situations; Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and needs minimal supervision; Exhibits a professional demeanor.

Additional Requirements

• Background check required
• Must possess reliable transportation and a valid Florida Driver's license.
• Complete 30-hour Advocacy Core Training through the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Physical Requirement: Employee must be at to sit, climb or balance, hear, use hands, taste/smell, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, stand, walk, talk, and reach with hands and arms.

Working Conditions: Duties are performed primarily in an office environment.

Travel: Occasional

Hours: Services available 365 days a year 24-hours a day. Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Volunteers may be required to be available on-call during holidays, evenings, and/or weekends; and during hurricanes and other times of disasters/critical incidents

This job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of this position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.

CCTB is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action for our applicants and employees. It is our policy to apply recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, and professional development practices without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or certain classifications based on genetic information, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Updated May 2024