Employment Opportunities

• Emergency Shelter Guest Advocate

Family Services Advocate

Full-time, 40-hours per week/ Exempt

DOVE, Inc. (Domestic Violence Ended) was founded in 1978 by a Violence Against Women Task Force of the Quincy Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women. Over the past 30+ years, DOVE, Inc. has grown into a multi-service organization providing crisis intervention, supportive counseling services, adult and teen dating violence hotlines, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, community outreach and education, and children's programming for survivors who have been abused, emotionally, physically and/or sexually and their children. DOVE, Inc., the only domestic violence shelter in Norfolk County and on the South Shore, serves women and children from throughout Massachusetts and occasionally from out of state.

The Family Services Advocate is part of DOVE's team of advocates responsible for the coordination of services for individual and families receiving services through DOVE's Emergency shelter program and our Community-based Services Program. Through internal and external collaboration, the Family Services Advocate works with survivors and their children to ensure the family's needs are met. The Family Services Advocate directly provides crisis intervention, comprehensive risk/safety assessments and planning, individual domestic violence counseling, individual and family case management, and systems advocacy. The Family Services Advocate also participates in the on-call rotation. This position reports to the Director of Programs and Services.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide emotional support, advocacy and case management to assigned guests residing in the shelter and clients receiving services through community-based services.
• Complete Individual/Family Needs Assessment with each assigned client entering the shelter or community-based program.
• Complete Comprehensive Parent Interviews/Child Intakes for each assigned child entering the shelter.
• Coordinate internal and external services options for client families.
• Work collaboratively with victim service providers, child protection services, and other service providers to ensure coordination of services for clients.
• Provide clients with resource materials and service referrals.
• On occasion, transport and provide guests with accompaniment and advocacy at meetings and appointments.
• Facilitate weekly support groups as assigned.
• Attend and participate in weekly case review meetings and supervision sessions.
• Complete forms and reports as required by the organization and funders.
• Assist Director of Programs and Services with ongoing development/evaluation of program effectiveness.
• Participate regularly and represent DOVE at local, regional and state meetings as requested by the Director of Programs and Services or Executive Director.
• Supervise social work intern(s).
• Participate in regular On-Call rotation.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field required plus two years experience, MSW preferred.
• Bilingual/bicultural (Portuguese, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Vietnamese, and English) strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated crisis intervention, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge of child protection services, the criminal justice system, and of trauma issues as they relate to victims/survivors of violence and their families.
• The ability and desire to work with diverse populations including non-English speaking families, the LGBT community, and individuals with histories of substance abuse and/or mental health challenges.
• Experience working with individuals and families impacted by abuse and/or trauma.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and basic computer skills.
• Ability to effectively multi-task.
• Must have valid MA driver's license, reliable transportation and willingness to travel within DOVE's service area.
• Must be committed to DOVE's mission, philosophy, and guiding principles.

Work Schedule: Exempt position, 40 hours/week, generally Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. The Family Services Advocate will be required to work at other times to conduct groups, provide on-call coverage or attend training/meetings; this may include occasional evening and weekend hours.

Benefits include health insurance, vacation, holiday, and sick time, consistent with DOVE personnel policy.

To apply for this position, please email resume and cover letter to:
Sue Chandler, Executive Director
sue.chandler@doveinc.info.

Posted 7/2/10

Emergency Shelter Guest Advocate

Emergency Shelter Guest Advocates provide crisis prevention/ intervention, intakes, safety planning, emotional support, advocacy and basic needs to shelter guests and hotline callers. Emergency Shelter Guest Advocates report to the Emergency Shelter Coordinator.

Responsibilities include:

• Answer business and hotline telephones. Respond to crisis calls with appropriate intervention. Provide referrals and complete intake process with callers seeking emergency shelter.
• Work in conjunction with other staff to coordinate provision services and resources to meet guests' needs.
• Greet new guests and orient them to shelter and program. Prepare guest rooms and offer resources and support.
• Ensure the shelter is welcoming, responsive and supportive of the experiences and needs of all guests.
• Provide appropriate referrals to community services and provide information on the use of these services.
• Provide crisis prevention/intervention and supportive listening to guests and callers.
• Ensure the safety and security of guests by appropriately monitoring the activities in the shelter, performing safety checks and reporting all problems or concerns appropriately in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate and complete forms and documentation as required by agency and funders.
• Coordinate and involve guests in the daily maintenance and cleanliness of the shelter.
• Distribute supplies and resources. Assist in the upkeep of food pantry, linen supply area, and clothing donations room. Sort and store donations.
• Attend and participate in regularly scheduled individual supervision, monthly staff meetings and ongoing professional development, staff meetings and trainings.
• Staff is expected to be awake and alert at all times.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field required or 3-5 years experience working in a residential setting.
• Bilingual (Portuguese, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese and English) preferred.
• The ability and desire to work with diverse populations including non-English speaking families, the LGBT community, and individuals with histories of substance abuse and/or mental health challenges.
• Demonstrated crisis intervention, problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge of child protection services and the criminal justice system.
• Knowledge of trauma issues as they relate to victims/ survivors of violence and their families.
• Experience working with individuals and families impacted by abuse.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to effectively multi-task.
• Must be committed to DOVE's mission, philosophy and guiding principles.

This is a part-time position offering one to four 8-hour shifts per week. Available shifts include day (8am-4pm), evening (4pm-midnight) and overnight (midnight to 8 am). All shifts are awake.

To apply for this position, please email resume and cover letter to:
Sue Chandler, Executive Director
sue.chandler@doveinc.info.

Posted 5/10