Domestic Violence Counselor and Advocate

Lutheran Settlement House (LSH) is part of a movement rooted in radical compassion and focused on making lasting, meaningful change in people’s lives and in our community. The voices of our clients guide our work, telling us what supports they need and what needs to change in our city. Our staff shares deeply held values that make us a welcoming, responsive, and reliable safe haven for some of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable populations. We accompany our clients in times of crisis, we are catalysts for building community, and we joyfully celebrate the strength of those we serve. If this sounds like you, if you’re looking for a workplace where you can live out your values and a workplace that values your growth and development, we invite you to apply.

Scope of the position:

Under the supervision of the Community Engagement Supervisor, the Domestic Violence Counselor and Advocate is primarily responsible for providing individual and group counseling, educational services, hotline counseling, and advocacy services for domestic violence victims and their families in underserved communities. This advocate will primarily focus on providing services to male victims/survivors of domestic violence and providing education to the community and allied professionals on supporting male victims. This position will also be tasked with developing and implementing community outreach and engagement strategies with community partners. This position is hybrid with three days onsite and two days work from home but is subject to change depending on community events. Some weekend and evening hours might be required.

Functions and Duties:

Counseling Responsibilities:

• Provides individual counseling, case management, advocacy, accompaniment and referral services to domestic violence victims and their families.
• Advocates with institutions, agencies, or government systems on behalf of domestic violence victims and their families.
• Provides quality client services and maintains client record accurately in accordance with agency standards.
• Maintains updated and accurate resource and referral system on domestic violence, drug and alcohol, mental health, and other health-related issues.
• Provides coverage on the hotline and during walk-in hours as needed.

Community Engagement Responsibilities:

• Design and facilitate interactive, structured, and skill-based workshops and trainings for professionals and community members.
• Design and disseminate outreach materials to communities and professionals to increase the number of Philadelphians who are knowledgeable about domestic violence and maintain collaborative partnerships to increase engagement.
• Develop online tools to increase the reach of LSH’s community education initiatives, including the use of webinars and social media.
• Support the development of the Masculinity Action Project by co-facilitating sessions, participating in internal meetings, and outreach events for the program.

Other Responsibilities:

• Participates in team/staff meetings, in-service and volunteer trainings, and other LSH/BDVP functions as may be required.
• Meets regularly with supervisor to review program activity, services issues, and other program matters. This includes a routine review of service documentation and other program information to assure compliance with program standards and agency service goals.
• Assists with annual evaluation of the BDVP programs and services and participates in the development of new program concepts.

Qualifications:

• As a federally funded position, we require an Associate’s or Bachelor's degree in either social services or a related field with some experience in direct service and/or advocacy.
• The individual is expected to demonstrate understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, knowledge of community resources, and sensitivity to the needs of domestic violence victims and their families.
• The individual is expected to present good-listening skills, demonstrate effective problem-solving skills, and must be able to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• The ideal candidate must be comfortable facilitating meetings and workshops.
• Experience with visual design and use of design programs, such as Canva and PowerPoint, is a plus.
• Must be able to work flexible and evening hours.
• Completion of a state mandated 40-hour domestic violence training and 5 hours of double staffing is required and can be completed upon hiring.
• Actively participates in required trainings and supervision in accordance with program and agency guidelines.
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred.

LSH is committed to creating an inclusive experience for all. Regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or identity, we firmly believe that we serve our communities best when everyone feels free to be their most authentic self.

We value diversity and are committed to promoting it! We are an equal opportunity employer and applicants from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

·      Our benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as agency-funded life and disability insurances.

·      We offer 8-weeks paid parental leave for staff (eligible after one year of service) who give birth, adopt, or foster a new child in their home.

·      Our paid time off package includes an annual 3-4 weeks of vacation, 12 days of paid sick time, and 5 personal days to use at your discretion.

·      We observe 16 organization-wide holidays, and an early close on Fridays during the Summer.

·      Our 401k retirement savings program offers a 1% match, and we offer pre-tax flexible spending accounts for health, travel, and dependent care.

·      We value growth and learning, and offer trainings and conference participation whenever possible. We value the voices of our staff, and we offer mini-grants for staff to pilot new ideas in their work.

·      We are offer flexibility for classes, internship possibilities within our organization, and the availability for social work licensure supervision.

·      We understand that employees are people first and foremost, and are committed to an overall supportive and flexible organizational culture.

·      Our work is critical but we know it’s not easy, so we aim to infuse joy wherever possible. Whether we are offering free yoga and exercise classes, ending all-staff meetings with Karaoke or Bingo, or committing steadfast to a snack-based meeting culture – we aim to balance the weight of our work with laughter and levity as often as we can.