VOLUNTEER ADVOCATE JOB DESCRIPTION

1. Volunteer advocates are on call during the week between the hours of 5 PM and 9 AM the next morning.  On weekend duty shifts, the advocate is on call from 9 AM until 9 AM the next morning.

2. Advocates are to be available by telephone during their entire on-call shift.  The advocate picks up the hotline bag by 5 PM and returns it by noon on weeknight shifts.  If the shift is on Friday or Saturday, it is the responsibility of the incoming advocate to call the hotline advocate the night before and arrange to pick-up the hotline.  This will eliminate any confusion due to the 9 AM shift change over.

3. The on-call advocate will respond to all emotional support and/or crisis calls received on the HOTLINE or other sources, and will provide immediate crisis intervention and/or transport clients, if they choose, to the police, Shelter, or a medical provider.  Advocates may not go to the home of a client or to any other place where there is danger of the abuser appearing.  Advocates may NOT disclose their own personal phone numbers or addresses to clients.  Advocates may pick up or meet with clients in a safe, neutral location such as a friend’s house, store, motel, restaurant, police station, hospital, etc.

4. After taking a crisis call, the advocate will phone the ATVP office and leave a message on the answering machine or call the back-up person.  The advocate should call their back-up when leaving to meet a client and upon return.  Advocates will then complete all relevant forms contained in the hotline bag, and bring in these forms within 24 hours of the incident.  The advocate will also come in (or call) the office the next morning to discuss their shift, any calls, and to help determine what follow-up needs to occur.

5. Back-up advocates and staff are available by phone or beeper to assist the primary advocate during their shift.  They will help evaluate situations, answer questions, and respond to other incoming calls should the primary advocate already be occupied with a client.

6. After completion of the initial 40 hour formal advocate training, advocates will attend monthly advocate meetings and training opportunities to total 30 hours of additional training per year.

7. Advocates may volunteer for activities in addition to or other than on-call HOTLINE shift.  These include: office assistance; child advocacy; transport and handling of donations; public education; presentations; and fundraising.

The following advocate contract is incorporated as part of the job description:

8. I will keep the concerns of the client foremost at all times.

9. I promise that under no circumstances will I disclose any information regarding clients to anyone other than ATVP staff without the client’s written consent.

10. I will sign up for a minimum of two on-call shifts per month.  If I am unable to be on-call once signed up, I will notify the office staff immediately and attempt to find my own replacement.

11. I may be terminated for any of the following reasons:

I. Revealing confidential information;
ii. Use of alcohol and/or drugs while on call;
iii. Failure to meet acceptable standards of performance as a support advocate;
iv. Committing any acts of sexual, physical, or emotional violence upon another individual.