Victim Assistance Specialist

Pay Range: $24.81/hr. - $27.91/hr.

Job Posting Closing on: Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Workdays & Hours: Grant Funded full-time position working 40 hours per week;

Benefits for this position include: 11 Paid Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Pension Plan, Professional Development Opportunities, and much more.

The City of Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing large cities in the U.S. Our employees serve the needs of nearly 1,000,000 residents, promoting our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability.

A Grant Funded Full-time Victim Assistant Specialist (Bilingual) position is available with The City of Fort Worth Police Department – Victim Assistance Section. This position will contribute to the City’s strategic goals, mission and vision, providing crisis intervention services and assistance to citizens who are victims of crime in order to protect victim’s rights and prevent further injury or escalation; works within the criminal justice system as an advocate to secure services for victims of crime. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice or a related field.
• Two (2) years related experience working with crime victims in a social services setting.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, bilingual skills (Spanish) and prior experience working with victims of Family Violence;
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Word, Excel);
• Knowledge of intervention and victimology;
• Knowledge of victim services and the needs of victims of crime;
• Teamwork, communication, innovation, adaptability and decision making,
• Leading the development and implementation of standard operating procedures;
• Organizing, conducting and coordinating;
• Relationship and team building.

The Victim Assistant Specialist job responsibilities include:

• Reads police reports to identify crime victims; reaches out to them by mail, phone or field visit; and enters information into victim assistance database.
• Provides crisis intervention with crime victims, refers them to appropriate community resources.
• Compile statistics on crime victims; assesses needs of crime victims; makes community presentations on crime victims’ compensation and crime victims’ rights; informs victims about the criminal justice system, and legal options.
• Assists victims of crime in completing application for Crime Victims’ Compensation, as set by the Texas Attorney General’s office.
• Magistrates Emergency Protective Order notifications.
• Makes presentations and provides training to citizen groups, Police rookies, and Police volunteer groups regarding the Victim Assistance Program.
• Serves as a liaison between the Police Department and Office of Attorney General when processing Crime Victim Compensation applications.
• May translate statements or documents for victims, law enforcement officials and citizens.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Adheres to assigned work schedule as outlined in the Department and City attendance policies and procedures; ensures all behaviors comply with the City’s Personnel Rules and Regulations.

Working Conditions

Applicants for this position must pass a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility.  Due to CJIS requirements related to system access, the following will result in being disqualified for this position:  Felony Convictions, Felony Deferred Adjudication, Class A Misdemeanor Conviction, Class B Misdemeanor Convictions in the last 10 years, Class A Misdemeanor Deferred Adjudication, Class B Misdemeanor Deferred Adjudication in the last 10 years, an Open Arrest for Any Criminal Offense (Felony or Misdemeanor), and ALL Family Violence Convictions regardless of class.

Final candidates selected for hire in the Police Department will be subject to a criminal background, drug screen, polygraph examination and fingerprint check. Applicants must not have used marijuana during the previous two (2) years, nor illegally used any controlled substances within the last five (5) years.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically require touching, talking, hearing, seeing, grasping, standing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, walking and repetitive motions.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.  Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.  Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

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Last updated on Aug 14, 2024