JOB OPPORTUNITY: Victim Services Worker – Burnaby/New Westminster

Victim Services Worker – Burnaby/New Westminster Competition #11-21

DO YOU WANT A MEANINGFUL CAREER, HELPING OTHERS? JOIN US!

ABOUT FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER VANCOUVER (FSGV)

We are a community-based, not-for profit organization with approximately 80 social services programs and 420 employees across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. We provide counselling and other essential services to the most vulnerable people in our communities. For over 90 years, we’ve inspired and supported those who need help reaching their full potential. We work to ensure children are nurtured, youth find optimism, adults feel empowered, and parents make choices that build strong families.

Our values are:  • Innovation  • Integrity  • Diversity  • Optimism  • Excellence

We provide a supportive workplace for our staff and professional, effective services for our clients, including counselling, therapy, advocacy, education and community services.

Here’s what we can do together:

This part-time position (21 hours per week) reports to the Manager of Victim Services. The Program provides specialized services to adult victims of violence in intimate relationships, sexual assault and criminal harassment; adult survivors of child abuse (both physical and sexual); and non-offending family members.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

To ensure that specialized services are appropriate to the nature of the victimization of the clients and to their subsequent level of involvement with the criminal justice system; to lessen the impact of crime and trauma on victims and assist in their recovery; to ensure that survivors are effectively supported through the justice process and to help survivors cope with the effects of the crimes committed against them.  In addition, support is provided to non-offending family members and friends who are close to the immediate victim.

What you bring:

• S.W. or relevant B.A. plus two years related work experience
• Experience and familiarity with the justice system and social services
• Knowledge of Provincial Policy on Violence Against Women in Relationships
• Knowledge of Crime Victim Assistance Program
• Knowledge of dynamics of violence in intimate relationships, sexual assault, criminal harassment and sexual/physical abuse in childhood
• Knowledge of crisis intervention and support skills
• Ability to work independently and on a team
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with justice system personnel and other victim service and community programs
• Understanding of paralegal or legal issues
• Understanding of cross-cultural and equity issues
• Computer skills
• Possess valid BC driver’s licence and have access to a vehicle
• Second language is an asset

Your key contributions:

1. Emotional Support and Crisis Response: Provide short-term emotional support specific to victims’ unique concerns and needs.  Provide crisis response service during regular program hours.  Support victims who report to police and those who choose not to report to police.  Provide support to victims throughout their participation in the justice process.  Promote and support victims’ needs and rights in the justice system and in the community.

2. Information: Provide case-specific information and general information about the justice system and the Victims of Crime Act.  Provide other information as required, such as:  information on criminal justice system principles/functions and process, definition of arrest rights of the accused, investigation status, roles of criminal justice system representatives, levels of court/court procedures, updates on court case progress, court orders/probation/post-sentencing, dynamics of abuse, etc.  Provide crime prevention and safety planning information in order to help victims stay safe.

3. Practical Assistance: Assist victims in completing forms such as Crime Victim Assistance applications and victim impact statements.  Assist with safety planning, including facilitating appropriate access to safety devices such as personal alarms for high-risk victims.

4. Court and After Court Support: Provide victims with information about criminal court process and specific court result information as the case proceeds through the criminal justice process.  Provide witness orientation and act as liaison with Crown counsel.  Provide other court-related support as needed such as debriefing reactions to case outcomes.  Inform client of alternative options, explain provincial and federal corrections systems and the role of parole boards; inform clients of their rights to access information on the status of the offender’s sentence, access and provide information about the corrections system regarding offender applying for parole; provide assistance with verbal communications, written submissions and/or in-person attendance at the parole hearing; prepare clients for eventual release of the offender.

5. Accompaniment: Facilitate accompaniment and/or transportation to police, Crown counsel, court, community services or hospital in cases of serious crime and/or where victims are particularly vulnerable.

6. Referrals and Community Liaison: Refer to appropriate resources when needed, such as                counselling resources, job training, legal aid, medical services, as well as local, provincial and community-based resources for victims of crime. Advocate with other services as appropriate and needed. Maintain contact and network with other service providers as appropriate around specific cases and/or general issues, liaise and share general and specific information with other Victim Service programs.  Participate on the Victim Services Coordinating Committee as required; sit on community committees as appropriate.

7. Public Education: As time allows, provide education programs on issues of criminal victimization, victim services and prevention.

8. Protective Measures: Work with other professionals in the community to continue to create and support a coordinated community response to facilitate the safety of victims at high risk of violence.

9. Administration: Meet administrative expectations of agency and program, including file and record-keeping, data collection and submission of statistics.

10. Supervision: Participate in individual and team supervision as required.  Examine one’s work from an understanding of a power analysis.

What we offer you:

FSGV provides a comprehensive compensation package, with pension and generous extended health benefits for our regular staff. FSGV supports career development and training for staff to reach their potential, offering mentorship and professional advancement in a supportive environment. We recognize the importance of work-life balance, wellness and a safe, inclusive and welcoming workplace that values diversity and respect for all.

Work Hours: Part-time based on 21 hours per week 

Salary: $1,084.86 bi-weekly (GS9, Step 1), with a competitive benefits package and pension

Location: New Westminster, BC

How to apply:

If this describes you, please submit your application to us through our website.

https://fsgv.ca/careers/?gnk=job&gni=8a7883a8770d194f01773bdf3d56745a&gns=Work+In+Non+Profits 

Only short listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. Thank you for your interest. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the communities we so proudly serve, while encompassing the principles of equity, inclusion and diversity. We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, people of all gender expressions and sexual orientations including queer, trans, and two-spirit people. In our words and actions, we recognize the challenges for those facing inequalities, while acknowledging our privilege, as we continuously strive to remove bias and reduce barriers that individuals may experience in the hiring and job-seeking process. We invite feedback from all applicants who apply for roles with the Agency.

If you require a disability-related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please email your resume and cover letter (indicating the competition number #11-21 in email subject line) outlining your interest and relevant experience to your contact information to for follow-up. **if you are an internal candidate, please indicate “Internal Candidate” in the Comments section at the bottom of the online application**