Waukegan, IL – Lake County – Sr. Victim Specialist

SALARY: $64,000.00 Annually
LOCATION: Waukegan, IL
JOB TYPE: Full-Time
JOB NUMBER: 02019
DEPARTMENT: State’s Attorney

General Description

Are you looking for a challenging role within an organization that provides rewarding compensation, an excellent benefit package and career growth opportunities? If so, Lake County Government is the place for you. Comprised of nearly 3,000 employees, it is our goal to positively serve the residents of Lake County while working with a purpose. We believe our employees should take pride in the work they accomplish while truly respecting a collaborative work environment.

Performs work of considerable difficulty in providing special direct services to victims and witnesses involved in the criminal justice system. Advises and makes policy decisions to ensure full compliance with the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act (725 ILCS 120) and the procedures and mandates of the State’s Attorney’s Office. Regularly exercises discretion, independent judgment, and professional skill in assessing, and then serving, the needs of victims by responding effectively to the emotional, physical, and financial aftermath of victimization. Understands the commonalities across the victim categories and uses that understanding to assess problems and provide citizens with a linking network to other community agencies. Represents the State’s Attorney in daily interactions with victims, witnesses, members of the public and community agencies and serves as a confidential employee. Provides victim services training to staff and community agencies. Maintains close contact with the assistant state’s attorneys and the investigators handling the underlying criminal case. Reports to the Chief of Gun Violence Prevention Victim Services.

Essential Functions

The primary function of the coordinator/victim advocate is to serve as the contact point for the victim/witness throughout the criminal justice process and to deliver a wide variety of services including the following:

• Follows and implements the procedures described in the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act (725 ILCS 120).
• Prepares and maintains a record of contacts with victims and assesses individual situations in meetings with attorneys in the Criminal and Civil Divisions.
• Counsels the victim/witness on the criminal process and what the witness should expect in court.
• Keeps the victim/witness informed of changes in court dates, procedures, reasons for postponements, and delays.
• Assesses the service needs of the victim/witness and makes the appropriate social service referrals to existing community agencies.
• Assists victims in sensitive cases to minimize the re-traumatization effect of court appearances and assists the child victim/witness in her/her special needs prior to and during the court proceedings.
• Informs the assistant state’s attorneys as to the witness’ availability and alerts them to the especially disgruntled witness and acts as an advocate for the legitimately aggrieved witness who may be too timid or inarticulate to complain.
• Assists in the preparation of the victim impact statement.
• Assists in the expeditious return of any stolen or other personal property held by law enforcement authorities for evidentiary or other purposes.
• Provides orientation and referral to the Victim Compensation Program.
• Provides victim services training for staff and community agencies.
• Assists in the guiding and training of less experienced coordinators/victim advocates.
• Engages in grantsmanship activities including writing grant applications and renewals and fiscal reporting.

Knowledge Skills Abilities and Education Required

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required:

• Extensive knowledge of the techniques of effective interviewing, counseling, crisis intervention and case management.
• Extensive knowledge of community resources and social agencies.
• Extensive knowledge of the criminal justice system and court procedures.
• Extensive knowledge of The Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act (725 ILCS 120).
• Extensive understanding of social and economic problems such as alcoholism, unemployment, marital and family disruption and mental illness.
• Extensive knowledge of suicide assessment and emergency response.
• Extensive knowledge in a field of victim services specialization including but not limited to: domestic violence, sexual abuse, elder abuse, juvenile delinquency, juvenile neglect, special populations, emergency response, crisis intervention, suicide assessment, grief process.
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies.
• Ability to analyze problems and develop effective solutions.
• Ability to handle difficult situations firmly, courteously, tactfully, and impartially.
• Ability to secure the cooperation of others in difficult situations.
• Ability to interview effectively and evaluate information obtained.
• Ability to speak and write clearly and concisely.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions and write correspondence.
• Ability to communicate effectively with residents, co-workers, and the public both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to communicate with people of various socioeconomic and racial backgrounds.
• Ability to work successfully with minors and adults under trying circumstances.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with co-workers, court officials and community agencies.
• Ability to perform arithmetic calculations.
• Ability to solve problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or schedule form.
• Ability to attend to details, and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to observe situations analytically and objectively and to record them clearly and completely.
• Ability to train less experienced coordinator/victim advocates and lead in their work.
• Ability to provide victim services training for staff and community agencies.
• Ability to maintain confidential material.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to use a computer. Good knowledge of PC operations and software (word processing, spreadsheet, database, Internet) as needed to perform duties is required.

Competency

To perform the job successfully, an individual must demonstrate the following competencies:

• Analytical – Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data; uses intuition and experience to complement data; designs workflows and procedures.
• Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions.
• Oral Communication – Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; participates in meetings.
• Written Communication – Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
• Change Management – Develops workable implementation plans; communicates changes effectively.
• Quality Management – Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization’s goals and values.
• Strategic Thinking – Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Judgment – Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in the decision-making process; makes timely decisions.
• Planning/Organizing – Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently.
• Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
• Quantity – Meets productivity standards; completes work in timely manner; strives to increase productivity; works quickly.
• Safety and Security – Observes safety and security procedures; uses equipment and materials properly.
• Adaptability – Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Attendance/Punctuality – Is consistently at work and on time.
• Dependability – Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; and keeps commitments.
• Initiative – Seeks increased responsibilities; takes independent action.

Education and/or Other Requirements

• Completion of a master’s degree in counseling, social work, criminal justice, or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree in counseling, social work, criminal justice, or related field and six years of experience in counseling, criminal justice, or related field.
• Master’s in Social Work preferred.
• Training or education in a victim services specialization.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends when necessary.
• Bi-lingual Spanish is a plus.

Supplemental Information

Physiological Factors

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Psychological Factors

The psychological demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Ability to effectively and professionally handle and respond to verbally abusive individuals or disparaging conduct.
• Ability to maintain pleasant working relationships.
• Ability to operate under continuous pressure.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.

Reasonable accommodations may be made in order to perform the essential functions. This job description describes a general category of jobs. In order to meet the needs of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, employees may be assigned other duties, in addition to or in lieu of those described above, and any duties are subject to change at any time.

Lake County offers a competitive salary and benefits package. We also offer flexible working hours and a comprehensive wellness and training program.  Visit our Prospective Employee page to get additional information on why you should work for Lake County!

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background screening and drug testing.

Lake County is committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (EOE).