Job Openings

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The HAVEN Client Services Advocate is responsible for providing direct services to support our clients throughout HAVEN’s service area of Rockingham & Strafford Counties.

RESPONSIBILITIES CLIENT SERVICES:
• Answer the agency’s 24-hour crisis line and provide direct services to walk-in clients during office hours.
• Provide clients with appropriate resources and referrals to other agencies.
• Accompany clients at hospitals, legal settings, child advocacy centers and police stations, during office hours.
• Coordinate follow-up services.
• Assist with Support Groups and other Client Service Programs as needed.
• Provide staff backup for night and weekend coverage on a rotating basis with other staff.
• Participate in office closure or holiday direct coverage shifts on a rotating basis, as needed.

OTHER
• Maintain communication and coordination with other HAVEN departments.
• Supervise and evaluate interns, as needed.
• Assist in special projects and assignments as required for the growth and operations of the agency.
• Attend staff meetings, trainings and professional development as assigned by the Manager of Client Services.
• Participate in regular supervision meetings, client services team meetings and full staff meetings.
• Participate in the outreach efforts of the agency.
• Maintain a work environment that is inclusive, respectful, and welcoming.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Valid driver’s license, automobile insurance, and ability to travel throughout Rockingham and Strafford County required.

EDUCATION: Associate degree and/or two years of relevant experience required. Crisis center advocacy experience preferred. Must complete 30-hour advocate training prior to provision of direct services.

SKILLS: Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to maintain agency required confidentiality and deal appropriately with sensitive matters. Highly organized with attention to detail. Crisis intervention and advocacy skills preferred.

KNOWLEDGE: Understanding of issues relating to sexual and domestic violence. Knowledge of local community resources. Experience in operating computers utilizing Excel, Microsoft Outlook/Teams, and client tracking database.

TRAITS: Flexible schedule, compassionate, dedicated, able to maintain healthy boundaries, passionate about the issue of sexual and domestic violence, professional, culturally sensitive and a team player.
Physical and psychological demands:
The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:
• Must be physically and mentally capable of performing multiple tasks (such as phone calls, computer work, attending meetings) under stressful situations and able to consistently function well in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be capable of using a visual display terminal with keyboard, repetitively use wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
From Haven’s inception, Diversity & Inclusion have always been key to our success. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds, who share a passion for improving people’s lives. Diversity not only includes race and gender identity, but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion and many other parts of one’s identity. All of our employee’s points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion relate to and are inextricably linked with all aspects of HAVEN’s mission to end violence and change lives and how we aim to do this vital work. A commitment to issues of DEI positions HAVEN to improve the quality of the experience for our staff, volunteers, clients and community.

STATUS OF POSITION
40 HOURS PER WEEK – Rochester/Portsmouth, NH
NON-EXEMPT Salaried – Benefits Eligible
REPORTS to Manager of Client Services

This position will be a vital addition to the HAVEN supportive direct client services program, providing trauma-informed, empowering, non-judgmental, compassionate, and culturally sensitive therapeutic counselling and advocacy for individuals impacted by interpersonal violence from a social justice and equity rooted framework. The position will also provide guidance to direct service staff for peer support and processing vicarious trauma.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Develop individualized trauma informed, victim centered and culturally sensitive therapeutic short term treatment plans that support self-sufficiency and refer out to a higher level of care as appropriate.
• Maintain positive therapeutic rapport with clients, providing coaching and feedback to clients to promote healthy coping mechanisms, boundaries, and empowerment.
• Conduct outreach with external mental health partners and community resources to facilitate referrals and multi-disciplinary team approach for care and treatment of clients as appropriate.
• Provide client services, including coverage of the agency’s 24-hour hotline, providing services to walk-in’s during office hours and other responsibilities as needed.
• Effectively assess and manage crisis situations to ensure the safety and well-being of clients and staff in a calm and competent manner.
• Address behavioral health concerns through evidence-based interventions and experience in techniques to help clients modify negative thoughts and behaviors.
• Conduct both individual and group counseling sessions to address client needs, as well as the facilitation of support groups.
• Balance scheduled client appointments, ongoing case management and real time unscheduled client needs that arise during the provision of crisis services.
• Deliver ongoing training and presentations internally within the organization to assist direct service providers in strategies and techniques for best practice in advocacy of survivors.
• Provide guidance to direct service staff for peer support and processing vicarious trauma.
• Function as a resource to the rest of the team on mental health related advocacy and assist in the various components of the client services program.

QUALIFICATIONS
Education - Master’s degree required from accredited institution in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Social Work, Psychology or related field required.
NH Licensure is preferred in Clinical Mental Health Counselling or Clinical Social Work but will consider pre-license candidates.
Skills/Knowledge - Familiarity with working in a strength based, trauma informed environment.
Knowledge of the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence and experience with individuals impacted.
Understanding of professional boundaries and ability to set appropriate limits.
Strong verbal and written communication
Ability to work as both an effective team member and independently.
Knowledge of appropriate community resources and ability to work collaboratively with them to provide appropriate wrap around services and referrals.
Experience with individuals experiencing domestic/sexual violence, homelessness, mental illness, co-occurring disorders, and the civil/criminal justice system.
Possess strong computer (Word/Excel), leadership, organizational and time management skills.
From Haven’s inception, Diversity & Inclusion have always been key to our success. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds, who share a passion for improving people’s lives. Diversity not only includes race and gender identity, but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion and many other parts of one’s identity. All of our employee’s points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion relate to and are inextricably linked with all aspects of HAVEN’s mission to end violence and change lives and how we aim to do this vital work. A commitment to issues of DEI positions HAVEN to improve the quality of the experience for our staff, volunteers, clients and community.
Must complete 30-hour advocate training prior to provision of direct service. The position will be based out of both our Rochester and Portsmouth locations.

STATUS OF POSITION
FULL-TIME EXEMPT Salary- Benefits Eligible