City of Tampa

This is a specialized professional position responsible for providing advocacy and support services and coordinating assistance to citizens who have been victimized by criminal acts in the community. The victim advocate works within the Criminal Investigations Division of Tampa Police Department.

The employee in this class is responsible for performing tasks of average difficulty assisting victims of crimes by providing information about their legal rights, available community resources, and referrals to assistance organizations. Under general supervision, the employee acts as a liaison between law enforcement and the victims to best identify needs and share communication. Tact and courtesy are required, as the position often requires significant interaction during difficult situations. Work is reviewed through conferences, oral and written reports, and observation of results obtained.

Provide victim advocacy services to victims of crimes; provide advocacy services to surviving family members of suicides and homicides.

Provides crisis intervention, offers emotional support, and referrals to appropriate community resources. Conducts assessment of victims’ needs and safety.

Assist victims in the navigating the aftermath of crime and provide information to victims and survivors about their legal rights, next steps in the criminal justice system, and available resources and services.

Work on an on-call capacity and respond to crime scenes, hospitals, or other locations as needed; collaborates with law enforcement detectives and officers to provide case updates to victims as needed.

Develop materials to distribute to victims for referral and assistance services.

Establish partnerships with organizations in the region that provide or facilitate victims' services and coordinate referrals with relevant assistance organizations; work closely with the State Attorney's Office to ensure a seamless transition of cases; assist with compiling records for case management.

Participates in meetings and committees as the City representative.

Maintains strict confidentiality of all sensitive information.

Perform other related duties as required.

Working knowledge of: principles and processes of emotional and mental support; social service referral systems; community resources and ability to make appropriate referrals; best practices related to victim advocacy and trauma-informed approach; Tampa Police policies, procedures, and services offered to the community.

Some knowledge of: criminal justice process, victims’ rights and victim compensation benefits is helpful; coordinating and adjusting actions in relation to other's actions; identifying complex problems and providing referral solutions.

Ability to: communicate well and have interpersonal skills in order to interact professionally and effectively with agency personnel, external partner organizations, and victims you serve; empathize, actively listen, and build rapport with diverse individuals; maintain reports, correspondence, and other case information; ability to interact with both internal and external personnel in a manner that helps create a culture of privacy and non-judgement; be accurate, detail-oriented, and organized; influence others through explanation of facts, policies, and practices; problem-solve, think and respond quickly in crises; work within the constraints of both the Tampa Police guidelines and short timelines; work independently with general supervision; work in a high-stress environment.

Participate in the State of Florida Office of Attorney General Victim Services Practitioner Designation course within the first (6) months of employment; must obtain and maintain the designation and continue in-service education on victim services to enhance professional skills and knowledge in the field.

Mobility— mostly sedentary, indoors, occasional standing and walking; Lifting/Carrying—occasional 20 pounds or less; Dexterity — frequent handling, reaching, grasping, overhead reaching, pushing, pulling, kneeling, crawling and use of hands; Hearing/Talking — frequent hearing and speaking normal speech and speaking loudly over equipment noise; occasional hearing/talking on a radio; Visual —frequent use of good overall vision, at normal or corrected to normal acuity; frequent use of depth perception and peripheral vision; occasional reading and close-up work; very frequent use of computer, attention to detail, transcription/proofreading; Environmental — frequent indoors, outdoors, exposure to varied weather conditions; Emotional/Psychological — frequent concentration and working and working independently; Special Requirements — working overtime, weekends, nights, holidays and/or emergency call-back; occasional travel.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university with a major in counseling, psychology, social work, criminal justice, or a related field and two (2) years of practical experience in counseling, social work,/human services, criminal justice, domestic violence, crisis intervention, or a field that has worked with victims of crime.

An equivalent combination of education (not less than possession of a high school diploma/GED), training and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job-related competencies noted above.

Possession of a valid driver’s license required.

Evaluation of education and experience. Drug testing is included in all pre-employment processing.

Employees may be required to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed. During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.