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General Statement of Duties

Provides and coordinates professional counseling, community resources, transportation and medical services for victims and secondary victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault at the Rape Crisis Program.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class is responsible for training, scheduling and supervising volunteers who respond to the rape crisis calls, and providing direct counseling services and court advocacy for all rape crisis clients. Work involves participating in community education, providing training, collaborating with other human services professionals and maintaining confidential records. Work is characterized by a high level of case management with victims of sexual assault or abuse and their families on an individual basis. The employee also shares the crisis response cell phone with other staff and volunteers. Work requires an understanding of community resources. Sound professional judgment and initiative are required in the performance of duties. Work is performed under the supervision of the Rape Crisis Program Director and is evaluated through conferences, reports and client/family feedback.

Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Duties and Tasks

• Provides individual, short-term crisis counseling primarily for victims and secondary victims of sexual assault. Clients are also referred for therapy within the program.
• Coordinates direct services to families of child and adolescent victims in conjunction with counselors and through volunteers and other agencies involved.
• Provides support and information for parents and significant others of victims or secondary victims.
• Provides emotional support during and after a crisis.
• Creates and maintains accurate program records for individual victims assisted, to include statistics, crimes and services delivered.
• Facilitates community education programs and acts as lead in presenting professional trainings.
• Presents “Touching Rules” programs to children as well as developing and implementing sexual assault prevention programs.
• Shares crisis response cell phone with other program staff and volunteers.
• Collaborates with other human services, law enforcement and court personnel involved in each case.
• Serves as advocate in the criminal justice system for victims of sexual assault.
• Talks with victims to provide information that will assist them in understanding their role in investigation and prosecution processes and their rights as crime victims.
• Helps victims navigate the legal system; keeps them informed of the progress of their case; communicates and collaborates with the other parties involved such as social worker, detective, assistant district attorney, etc.
• Accompanies victims or arranges volunteer accompaniment to proceedings.
• Listens and provides support to help victims express and address their emotional reactions to the legal process; encourages and suggests constructive action such as counseling, support group, and/or other resources.
• Assists victims with filing claims for expenses incurred with Victims’ Compensation Fund.
• Works closely with department staff and community organizations to assist victims and share relevant information; facilitates and/or attends monthly meetings of Carteret County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART); keeps staff counselors apprised of legal developments on individual cases, changes in laws, statutes and sentencing guidelines and changes in local law enforcement and court personnel and policies.
• Maintains department files; keeps program statistics and records; collects research data and updates notebook of registered sex offenders living in the County.
• Develops and maintains a network of resources in the various community resources.
• Trains, schedules and supervises volunteers who carry the rape crisis cell phone.

Additional Duties
Performs related duties as required.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines
Knowledges, Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the emotional and psychological impact of rape/sexual assault of both adult and child victims, male and female.
• Thorough knowledge of clinical practices and effective techniques relating to child victims and families (primary and secondary) of sexual abuse.
• Considerable knowledge of the criminal justice system process and procedures.
• Considerable skill in clinical intervention with adult rape crisis victims and secondary victims.
• Considerable knowledge of and demonstrated skill in supervising work of volunteers.
• Considerable knowledge of community resource agencies, services provided, and the professional network to assist clients.
• Demonstrated skill in accurately assessing needs of clients during crisis, to determine options and make referrals as appropriate.
• Ability to remain calm and rational under high stress situations that may evoke strong emotional reactions.
• Ability to train and manage volunteer advocates.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, various social, health, medical, etc. agencies, criminal justice system, and personnel in the County, peers, supervisor and the general public.
• Ability to express ideas, concepts, and plans effectively, both in oral and written forms.

Physical Requirements

• Work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force.
• Work regularly requires speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires sitting and repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crawling, crouching, tasting and smelling, pushing, pulling, reaching with hands and arms and lifting.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, work has no exposure to environmental conditions.
• Work occasionally requires exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Desirable Education and Experience
Graduation from a two-year college with a degree in counseling, social work, human services or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Special Requirements
Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license upon hire.

Carteret County
2024

Pay Grade: 64
FLSA: Non-Exempt