Victim Services Specialist (Probation Counselor II)

Company: Fairfax County Government
Location: Fairfax
Posted on: October 20, 2024

Job Description:

Job Announcement
The Fairfax County Police Department's Victim Services Division (VSD) is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Victim Services Specialist to join our team. As part of the Major Crimes Bureau, VSD plays a critical role in ensuring crime victims receive the support, advocacy, and resources they need. This position reports to the Director of Victim Services and will be based at one of our eight district police stations or the Fairfax County Public Safety Headquarters.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive emotional, physical, financial, and practical support to victims of violent crimes and their families.
• Offer crisis counseling and intervention in collaboration with law enforcement.
• Serve as a vital liaison, guiding victims through the criminal justice system and connecting them to essential services.
• Respond to crime scenes during evenings, weekends, and holidays, offering immediate crisis support and follow-up care.
• Maintain ongoing communication with victims and witnesses throughout investigations, prosecutions, and judicial proceedings.
• Stay informed of community resources to ensure effective assistance for victims.
  Ideal Candidate:
  
• Passionate about advocating for victims of crime and empowering them through crisis.
• Thrives in fast-paced, high-pressure situations with the ability to provide critical support in emergencies.
• Possesses excellent communication, crisis intervention, and problem-solving skills.
• Has a working knowledge of the criminal justice system and community resources.
  Why Join Us? This is more than just a job-it's a chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by violent crime. As a Victim Services Specialist, you'll be a crucial part of a committed team working to provide hope, healing, and justice for crime victims in Fairfax County.
  
  Position may be underfilled as a Victim Services Specialist I (Probation Counselor I) (S20); the Underfill Requirements are stated below in the Employment Standards section.
  
  Join us in making a difference in the lives of crime victims by providing essential support and guidance. Apply today to become a vital part of our dedicated team at the Fairfax County Police Department.
  Illustrative Duties
  (The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)
  
  Victims Services

• Provides supportive services to victims and witnesses of crime involved in the criminal justice system including emotional support, financial assistance, counseling, and victim agency referrals;
• Maintains on-going contact/communication with victims and witnesses during investigation and judicial proceedings, and provides notifications of investigative activity or case developments as needed;
• Provides court accompaniment to crime victim and witnesses for all court proceedings in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations, General District and Circuit Courts;
• Reduces delays in bringing cases to court by assisting in determining availability of victims and witnesses;
• Responds to call-outs to crime scenes and other locations to provide immediate crisis intervention and support, refers clients to related supportive services and agencies;
• Operates a county vehicle to provide the effective delivery of services to victims and witnesses including transporting victims and witnesses to court hearings, commonwealth's attorneys meetings and other court related appointments;
• Provides assistance by administering and providing services designed to enhance coordination among agencies operating within the criminal justice system;
• Works with and assists the officers and detectives within their district station assignment or the criminal investigations bureau with the proper victim services and referrals;
• Encourage citizen awareness and participation through public information and education.
  Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
  (The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
  
  • Knowledge of casework supervision practices and procedures;
  • Knowledge of the principles of psychology and sociology;
  • Knowledge of current social and economic conditions;
  • Ability to use technology to enter and retrieve information;
  • Ability to interpret laws, rules, and regulations related to probation work and victim services;
  • Ability to interview and counsel clients;
  • Ability to prepare complete case records and reports;
  • Ability to develop effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.
    Employment Standards
    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
    Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
    Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in social/behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or education plus two years of professional experience in probation work, social work, criminal justice, juvenile justice, education, or counseling. A master's degree in the disciplines above may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
    
    UNDERFILL REQUIREMENTS:
    This position may be underfilled as a Victim Services Specialist I (Probation Counselor I) (Grade S20; 55,789.55 - $92,981.62). The employment standards for the Victim Services Specialist I (Probation Counselor I) are: Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to") Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in social/behavioral sciences, law enforcement, or education.
    
    Applicants hired at the Victim Services Specialist I (Probation Counselor I) will be non-competitively promoted to the Victim Services Specialist II (Probation Counselor II) level upon successful completion of an underfill agreement.
    
    Note: Underfill candidates must be able to meet the minimum qualifications of the Code Compliance Investigator II within two years of the job announcement's closing date.
    
    PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
    • Master's degree in a related field.
    • Three years of professional work experience working in the victim services field directly working with victims of crime.
    • Must live within 30 miles of the county line and be available for on-call response and be in route to a callback assignment within 30 minutes of notification.
    • Must be available to work evening hours and some weekends to meet the needs of crime victims.
    • Ideal candidate will have extensive experience working in a court system environment.
      CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
      Driver's License (Required)
      
      NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
      The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, credit check, driving record check and polygraph exam to the satisfaction of the employer.
      PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
      Ability to drive an automobile; ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment and to sit for long periods. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
      
      SELECTION PROCEDURE:
      Panel interview; may include exercise.
      
      The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.
      
      Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
      
      Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.
      
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Keywords: Fairfax County Government, Ellicott City , Victim Services Specialist (Probation Counselor II), Other , Fairfax, Maryland