Domestic Violence Counselor

Lutheran Settlement House 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 Position:

Under the supervision of the Manager of Counseling Services, the DV Counselor/Advocate is primarily responsible for providing individual and group counseling and advocacy services for domestic violence survivors and their families. A remote-work option (i.e., 3 days/week in-person at our Fishtown location and 2 days remote) is available after completion of the first 90-days of employment. Occasionally, onsite days may replace remote work, and occasional early evening or weekend hours may be required for LSH’s Bilingual Domestic Violence Program’s functions and programming.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provides individual counseling, case management, advocacy, and referral services to domestic violence survivors and their families.
• Provides quality client services and maintains client records accurately in accordance with agency standards.
• Facilitates or co-facilitates group counseling for domestic violence survivors and their families, remotely, onsite and in community settings.
• Advocates with institutions, agencies, or systems on behalf of domestic violence survivors and their families to support individuals and impact greater systemic change at local and state levels.
• Participates in the development of partnerships and outreach on the impact of domestic violence on marginalized communities, especially LGBTQIA+ and immigrant communities.
• Provides scheduled hotline coverage and walk-in crisis counseling support to survivors.
• Participates in team/staff meetings, in-service and volunteer trainings, and other team activities.
• Meets regularly with supervisor to review program activity, services issues, and support needed.
• Other related duties needed to further the mission, vision, and values of the program and agency-at-large.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications & Experience:

• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred but not required.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in the field of human services, social work, or related field is preferred.
• One year of relevant experience in counseling, case management, certified caregiving, or education, may be substituted for each year of education.
• Ideal candidates will possess good listening skills, effective problem-solving skills, and be knowledgeable (or willing to learn) about community resources.
• We warmly welcome applicants who have connections to the queer community in Philadelphia and/or experience counseling queer and trans survivors.
• Ideal candidates will be able to work with a diverse group of individuals, will have strong communication skills (oral and written), and demonstrate a clear commitment to best practice in client care.
• Paid on-the-job training is provided, including a state-mandated 40-hour domestic violence training and 5 hours of double staffing within the BDVP program. Once completed, staff are expected to demonstrate a strong understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, knowledge of community resources, and sensitivity to the needs of domestic violence victims and their families.

Lutheran Settlement House 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 embrace Queerness as a core aspect of our mission and political values. We strive always to honor, respect, and remain accountable to our queer and trans staff, clients, and community members. We value our diversity and are committed to promoting it! We are an equal opportunity employer and applicants from all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Our benefits include low cost medical, free 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.