Smart Victim Support Worker (Relief)

Surrey Mobile Assault Response Team (SMART) Victim Support Worker

Surrey Women’s Centre is CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF VICTIM by providing a wide range of Crisis, Court and Counselling services to women and girls who experience domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and other forms of gender-based violence.

Job description

Victim Support Workers support women and girls who have experienced physical and/or sexualized violence to increase their safety by providing crisis intervention and support including assistance accessing and navigating key medical, legal and social services.

Services are also available for non-offending family members and other witnesses.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide crisis intervention, emotional support and practical assistance to
• women and girls accessing the Surrey Women’s Centre 24-hour Crisis Line,
• and, where resources permit, on an emergency drop-in basis.
• Establish supportive confidential relationships with recent victims of
• domestic violence including criminal harassment, sexual assault, human
• trafficking, child and elder abuse
• Conduct risk assessments and develop safety plans
• Coordinate immediate access to basic emergency resources including food,
• shelter, clothing and transportation
• Provide comprehensive information about medical and legal reporting
• options; ensuring women and girls understand their legal rights and
• remedies
• Assist with, and support women to, understand alternative reporting options
• including Third Party and Bad Date Reporting
• Identify, understand and address the immediate needs of women and girls at
• increased risk for violence
• Provide assistance with Victim Impact Statements, Crime Victim Assistance
• applications, income assistance, housing and other related applications and
• forms
• Regularly support the Surrey Mobile Assault Response Team (SMART) to
• ensure 24/7 emergency mobile response coverage
• Provide accompaniment and/or transportation to RCMP, Crown Counsel,
• court and related medical appointments
• Provide intensive support to criminal court witnesses throughout the
• criminal court process from charge approval through case disposition
• Provide case specific updates, court orientation and preparation to witnesses
• and non-offending family members
• Maintain positive relationships with all key medical, legal and social service
• stakeholders
• Promote and advocate the interests of women and girls
• Enter and submit accurate up-to-date service delivery statistics and reports
• Other related duties as assigned
• Key Deliverables
• Respond to all incoming referrals, callers and drop-ins
• Submit all client documentation by the end of each shift
• Maintain all agency and program policies and procedures as outlined in the
• applicable Policies and Procedures manuals and/or handbooks
• Submit monthly reports that assist in the identification of trends and
• highlight the needs of women and girls to increase their safety and/or
• increase their access to key medical, legal and social services

Experience and Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in a relevant field and/or a minimum of two
• years’ experience providing emotional and practical support to victims of
• gender-based violence.
• Demonstrated knowledge of working within a feminist, trauma-informed,
• harm-reduction perspective.
• Extensive knowledge of community resources and services available to
• victims.
• Working knowledge of relevant provincial protocols related to domestic
• violence
• Demonstrated knowledge of Provincial and Supreme court proceedings,
• terminology, and processes
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Conversational skills in Punjabi is an asset.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse clientele, including marginalized
• women who are experiencing multiple barriers.
• Ability to speak Punjabi fluently will be considered an asset for this position.

Deal Breakers:

• Valid driver's license
• Covid-19 vaccination
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check
• Are you able to commit with the minimum shift requirements?( 4 hospital shifts, 4 van shifts per month at minimum. Once fully trained, you will be expected to do some weekend and/or commit to doing the 12:00 am - 9:30 am shifts.)
• During the onboarding process, you will be required to provide some daytime availability for training.

We strongly encourage applications from and prioritize hiring people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, including folks with lived experience, Indigenous people, racialized people and LGBTQQIA2S+ folks. We encourage, though don’t require, folks of these identities to indicate this on their cover letter.

Job Type: Relief

***Ability to speak Punjabi and/or Hindi fluently is an asset for this position.

*** There is a three-month probationary period for this position.

Job Type: Casual

Pay: $25.83 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Morning shift
• Night shift
• Weekends as needed

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Surrey, BC: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• Are you fully vaccinated against Covid-19?
• Do you have a valid driver's licence with no restrictions?
• During the onboarding process, you will be required to provide some daytime availability for training. We can be flexible on the days we offer the training but it would be required for new SMART staff to commit to some daytime hours in the beginning. Can you confirm that you are able to meet this requirement?
• Are you able to commit with the minimum shift requirements? ( 4 hospital shifts, 4 van shifts per month at minimum. Once fully trained, you will be expected to do some weekend and/or commit to doing the 12:00 am - 9:30 am shifts.)

Experience:

• Family Services Occupations: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person