Client Support Advocate

The Organization: SAVE’s mission is to strengthen every individual and family we serve with the knowledge and support needed to break the cycle of domestic violence and build healthier lives. In pursuit of this mission, SAVE provides a comprehensive range of direct services to people experiencing domestic violence from immediate crisis intervention to long-term supportive services. 

SAVE offers competitive benefits and a fun and stimulating work environment.  We are focused on continually improving our survivor- centered, trauma- informed work and meeting the needs of the diverse communities we serve.

The Position: The Client Support Advocate staffs the front desk at our Empowerment Center and is the first contact for survivors and others as they walk through our doors. The advocate is responsible for ensuring that everyone feels welcome, safe and supported.  The advocate performs a wide variety of tasks, both with survivors and in support of the programs and activities of the Empowerment Center. The advocate is part of our Crisis Response team and assists with the delivery of all of our immediate crisis response services.

The Ideal Candidate: Strong candidates for this position will demonstrate the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, crisis services environment.  The right candidate will be warm and outgoing and enjoy interacting with the public. The advocate must have the ability to demonstrate empathy and compassion even in difficult circumstances. The advocate must be able to juggle multiple tasks and demonstrate skill in prioritization and organization.  They must enjoy working independently as well as being part of a larger team.

Previous experience in a non-profit, direct services organization is strongly desired.  Fluency in a second language (in addition to English) common to our client population is required for this position.

Primary Duties:

• Welcome survivors and other visitors to SAVE’s Empowerment Center.
• Assess immediate needs of walk-in survivors and assist them to connect with the appropriate staff.
• Provide walk-in survivors with emergency food, clothing and other necessities.
• Work closely with other members of the Crisis Response team to ensure that crisis services are delivered effectively in keeping with SAVE’s values.
• Provide information and referrals to survivors calling the business line and route them to the crisis line as appropriate.
• Respond appropriately to calls from the general public.
• Maintain a safe and secure environment in the lobby and entry, ensuring survivor privacy and confidentiality at all times.
• Ensure that spaces for clients (lobby, meeting rooms, client kitchen) are welcoming, clean and well-maintained.
• Support the delivery of client services by stocking and maintaining the client kitchen, organizing and distributing hygiene supplies, maintaining distribution systems and documentation for client transportation and other resources.
• Assist with the scheduling of groups, workshops and client appointments by maintaining related calendars, schedules and room reservations.
• Manage food and office supply orders for Empowerment Center and safe house.
• Provide administrative support to Empowerment Center staff (i.e., receiving and distributing mail, managing petty cash, assisting with projects, accepting/recording in kind and monetary donations, managing postal meter).

Secondary duties: 

• Attend staff meetings, team meetings and trainings as scheduled or assigned by supervisor.
• Complete timesheets, client data and service documentation in a timely and accurate manner.
• Other duties may be assigned by your supervisor as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience

• Two years of front desk or client services experience in a domestic violence or other social service agency.
• Completion of 40-hour domestic violence training.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:           

• Ability to work effectively, cooperatively, and respectfully with staff, volunteers, clients, and community members regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, partner status, faith, age, socio-economic status, gender identification, and physical or mental ability.
• Strict adherence to organization’s confidentiality and privacy policies, and the ability to recognize sensitive issues and act accordingly.
• Demonstrate a high level of compassion and sensitivity to victims, their children, and the issue of domestic violence.
• Ability to work in a crisis-oriented environment.
• Ability to adapt to a variety of environments or work demands.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and organize in a fast-paced environment, both independently and as a part of a team.
• Impeccable attention to detail, including ability to self-monitor work to ensure accuracy.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Valid CA driver’s license and current automobile insurance.
• Excellent computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher. Experience with a client services data base preferred.
• Open to coaching, instruction, and guidance.
• Commitment to the mission and values of SAVE.

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy: By October 31, 2021, SAVE expects all eligible employees, interns and on-site volunteers to either (a) establish that they have been fully vaccinated; or (b) obtain an approved exemption as an accommodation.

Applicants with Disabilities: Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process.  Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this position. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to remain in a stationary position; move, traverse; sit; operate, activate, use, prepare, and position; perform repetitive motion, data entry; ascend/descend, work atop, traverse; position self (to), move; communicate, detect, discern, convey, and express oneself, exchange information; understand and distinguish speech and/or other sounds.  The employee must occasionally move, transport, position, put/remove, or install up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to the weather conditions prevalent at the time.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

Equal Employment Opportunity: As an equal opportunity employer, SAVE supports equal opportunity for employment and advancement free of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age, sex (includes sexual harassment) pregnancy (childbirth or related medical conditions), marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), mental or physical disability (includes HIV and AIDS), political affiliation/opinion, Veteran's status, or request for family medical leave. SAVE is committed to ensuring that the work environment of SAVE employees are free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.