Court and Support Navigator

The Central Alberta Regional Victim Serving Society (CARVSS) provides a broad range of services under the Victims of Crime and Public Safety Act and Regulation, in partnership with the Government of Alberta (GoA), the Alberta RCMP, specialized and community-based victim serving organizations, municipalities, and other local agencies. CARVSS assists victims of crime and tragic circumstances throughout the criminal justice process by providing the core services of information, support, and referrals. Also, CARVSS supports communities by providing resources and support to people undergoing loss and tragic circumstances.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Regional Operations, the Court and Support Navigator provides front-line services to victims of crime and tragic circumstances in cooperation with police agency partners including police-based support, Victims Assistance Program support, court navigation support, case management, education, and advocacy. The Court and Support Navigator provides information, referrals, and support to victims under the Victims of Crime and Public Safety Act and Regulation, and the Victims of Crime Protocol.

Court and Support Navigators are an integral part of the front-line services team and work to ensure victims of crime and tragic circumstances ("victims") are supported in a timely and effective manner.

Duties of this position include:

Integral member of the front-line services team:

• Work effectively with team members to execute the RVSS's mission, mandate, and service delivery goals.
• Contribute to team meetings and discussions; provide advice, interpretation, and input into operational policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and comply with all governing legislation, regulations, industry standards, and codes, and organizational policies (e.g., Victims of Crime Protocol and Roles and Responsibilities documents), and procedures of the RVSS and partner agencies (e.g., RCMP, GoA, etc.), as applicable.
• Raise concerns and issues of clients and partners to their Assistant Director of Operations; resolve problems by analyzing and advising on policies, procedures, and technology aimed at improving service delivery.
• Provide ongoing leadership, mentorship, and guidance to new front-line team members and volunteer advocates.

Provision of Information, Support and Referrals to Victims:

• Provide immediate emotional and practical support to victims to mitigate trauma, which may include referrals to professional counselling services such as psychologists and social workers. (Navigators may provide general emotional support, but do not provide counselling for victims).
• Support victims of crime in navigating the criminal justice system.
• Provide information on the rights and responsibilities of victims in the criminal justice system (e.g., court attendance, Restitution, Victim Impact Statements and Community Impact statements).
• Provide referrals to appropriate community and government support services.
• Follow up with clients not involved in the criminal justice system to ensure that they are aware of available supports and services.

Police-Based Support:

• Support RCMP response by helping individuals referred to Victim Services mitigate immediate distress (e.g., acknowledgement of circumstances, active listening, identifying support systems, etc.).
• Provide in-person support during crisis situations (on-scene, virtually, or at an approved service delivery location).
• Provide ongoing trauma-informed support to victims during the investigative process (e.g., Clare's Law disclosure).

Victims Assistance Program (VAP) Support:

• Provide information to victims on services available through the Victims Assistance Program including:
• • Emergency Assistance and Support;
  • Crisis Counselling and Transitional Counselling Services;
  • Court Attendance Reimbursement;
  • Funeral Expense Reimbursement;
  • Serious Injury Supports and Services; and,
  • Third Option.
• Assist with application process and facilitate referrals to VAP caseworkers.
• Facilitate e-transfer and pre-paid debit card deployment, and complete reporting requirements.

Court Navigation Support:

• Provide navigation support to victims of crime before, during and after court proceedings.
• Provide information to victims on the court process (e.g., court dates, schedule changes and outcomes).
• Work with Crown Prosecutors and other agencies to educate, assist, and support victims during the criminal court process.
• Facilitate court orientation, court accompaniment and related support requests (e.g., testimonial aids).
• Educate victims on the applying for the Restitution and Restitution Recovery Program process, including application requirements.
• Educate victims on Victim Impact Statements and Community Impact Statements and facilitate submission to the courts, if required.

Case Management:

• Conduct needs assessments with assigned caseload of victims.
• Support and record victim safety plans, (as developed by the RCMP), with an awareness of local resources and supports.
• Ensure all interactions with victims are fully and accurately documented.
• Follow-up with victims, as required, to ensure awareness of next steps.
• Maintain adequate and accurate statistical data for ongoing program evaluation.
• Update and maintain victim files in the Case Management System.

Education and Advocacy:

• Engage in community outreach activities to assist the RVSS in building a strong network of partner agencies for full spectrum supports for victims.
• • Compile a list of local supporting partner agencies to build referral networks.
  • Engage in strategic partnership development and professional relationship building with community stakeholders and support agencies (in collaboration with their CPSS team).
• Act as an advocate for victims to major criminal justice partners on behalf of clients, including but not limited to, Crown prosecution services, police agencies, Municipal and Indigenous Victim Services Units, and other community agencies (e.g., cultural protocols, remote testimony etc.).
• Educate and engage partner agencies in the RVSS victim services referral processes.
• Participate in and provide support for events/activities including workshops, general operations or administration, interagency meetings, community awareness activities, etc.
• Pursue continual learning by participating in educational opportunities, such as in-services and training programs (internal and external).
• Maintain functional knowledge of provincial legislation and processes.
• Be helpful, respectful, approachable and team oriented, building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Volunteer Coordination and Supervision:

• Facilitate recruitment, retention, and training of Volunteer Advocates (in cooperation with the Assistant Director of Operations, Director of Regional Operations, and Human Resources Business Partner).
• Facilitate volunteer retention by ensuring adequate support and training for volunteers is available, offering advice and information to volunteers, and ensuring volunteers are kept on task and motivated.
• Support and facilitate volunteer recognition program, including participation in volunteer appreciation activities.
• Ensure that the Assistant Director of Operations is aware of any concerns or challenges that have been identified by volunteers in relation to the volunteer experience (recruitment, onboarding, training, performance, engagement, recognition).
• Provide excellent leadership to Volunteer Advocates through development and coaching, performance evaluation and feedback, health and wellness, safety, issues resolution and succession planning.
• Ensure appropriate scheduling of Volunteer Advocates, ensuring that vacancies are filled appropriately.
• Ensure Volunteer Advocates are demonstrating appropriate levels of client services and documentation (i.e., in case management system).
• Liaise between Volunteer Advocates and the CPSS, as required.

Education:

• Minimum of 2 years of post-secondary education in Health, Human Services, Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences, Community Services or a related field from a recognized post-secondary institution (degree or diploma).

and

• Minimum of 2 years related client service experience, preferably with individuals who have experience with crisis/trauma.
• Must have a balanced combination of educational, life and work experience related to the job description.
• Note: Equivalencies of a combination of education and directly related experience may be considered to meet the minimum requirements.
  

Assets:

• Understanding of the Criminal Justice System.
• Professional deportment and demeanor.
• Ability to work collaboratively with community-based victim serving organizations, justice system partners, and other stakeholders.
• Must be tolerant, non-judgmental with a high degree of compassion and empathy towards individuals from diverse communities and backgrounds, including those who may have experienced significant trauma (e.g., addictions, abuse etc.).
• Ability to maintain confidentiality while managing private and sensitive client information.
• Highly adaptable and can work effectively under pressure and in stressful situations.
• Knowledge of community resources within Service Delivery Region.
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to handle sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy.
• Strong leadership, conflict resolution and people management skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent organizational, time management and prioritization skills.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve results in the context of a respectful, inclusive, and service-minded style.
• Computer literacy, including effective working skills of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook required.
• Ability to speak languages other than English including Alberta Indigenous Languages is an asset.

Additional Requirements:

• Enhanced criminal record check for vulnerable sector is required (current and clear, completed within 90 days of hire date).
• RCMP Enhanced Reliability Security Clearance is required.
• Valid class 5 driver's license (or provincial equivalent).
• This position may be required to work non-traditional work hours including the ability to respond to crisis/trauma incidents evenings/weekends, and/or participate as a staff member/team lead of the on-call crisis response schedule.
• The following training must be completed prior to commencement of duties. Please identify on your application if you have completed any of the following:
• • CPR/First Aid Certification
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • ASIST
  • Online Victim Services Training (AVS-100 or equivalent)

The Central Alberta Victim Serving Society's service delivery region includes the following RCMP Detachment areas:
- Bashaw
- Beaumont
- Blackfalds
- Breton
- Camrose (rural)
- Devon
- Fort Saskatchewan
- Innisfail
- Leduc
- Maskwacis*
- Morinville
- Parkland (Spruce Grove & Stony Plain)
- Ponoka
- Rimbey
- Rocky Mountain House
- St. Albert
- Stettler
- Sylvan Lake
- Thorsby
- Wetaskiwin

* PLEASE NOTE:

*This posting is for a position located in Maskwacis, Alberta. Remote or hybrid work options are not available.

* The vacancy does not have a closing date; applications will be reviewed as received until the position is filled.

Travel will be required for work location, critical incident response and/or callouts.

This is a frontline position that will provide in-person services at approved service delivery locations. While each Court and Support Navigator will normally have a primary work location at a Victim Services Unit (e.g., RCMP Detachment location), travel to other services delivery locations including those in other communities may be required in order to provide optimal service (based on victim needs, location hours, cover-off for absences, etc.).

Due to the nature of this role, remote or hybrid work options are not available.

Pay rate of $29.00 to $34.66 per hour (37.5 expected hours of work per week), plus a Health and Dental benefits package, RRSP/TFSA shared contribution savings plan, paid time off.

The Central Alberta Regional Victim Serving Society is committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment where everyone can reach their full potential. We encourage all qualified persons to apply. Applicants will be assessed according to the qualifications outlined in the position posting to ensure a fulsome and diverse team that is representative of the Albertans we serve and support.