METRO CENTERS FOR COMMUNITY ADVOCACY

 MEDICAL ADVOCATE JOB DESCRIPTION

St. Charles Parish, St. John Parish, St. James Parish

ACCOUNTABILITY:  Medical Advocacy Coordinator and Program Director

COMPENSATION:  $50.00/per shift (each shift is for 24 hours)

POLICY

All MCCA Medical Advocates are expected to work as a team to accomplish whichever tasks are necessary to meet the needs of the survivors we serve.  MCCA uses a Trauma Informed Care Model of advocacy. This means treating all members of the program (survivors, employees, and supervisors) with respect and compassion.

We are a multi-racial, multi-ethnic program, which means that we serve clients from a variety of backgrounds (i.e., different cultures, classes, races, and sexual orientation).  It is important to be respectful of those differences.  Racist, homophobic, and culturally insensitive comments will not be tolerated at this program.  By agreeing to become a Medical Advocate at MCCA, you are agreeing to this policy.

GENERAL

To advocate on behalf of survivors of sexual assault and their caregivers.  To help survivors deal with the effects of sexual assault perpetrated on them.  To provide information to the community about sexual assault and ways in which the community can respond more effectively to survivor needs.

Medical Advocates provide the essential service of giving emotional support, facts, and resources to survivors of sexual assault who arrive at the hospital.  Medical Advocates are knowledgeable and resourceful in providing information and referrals for individual cases that may include shelter, safety, counseling, and crisis intervention support for survivors and their loved ones while supporting the nurses and doctors on staff.  This requires additional training at Metro.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBLITIES

1. Participate in required Medical Advocacy Training.
2. Be on call for a minimum of one 24-hour shift once a month.
3. Immediately respond to any call for medical advocacy during your scheduled on call shift.
4. Arrive at the identified hospital within 60 minutes of the phone call.
5. Provide hospital accompaniment for survivors of sexual assault.
6. Complete required paperwork and submit within 24 business hours.
7. Provide survivors with emotional support, facts, and resources.
8. Participate in required Medical Advocacy Meetings.
9. Fulfill the scheduled shifts you committed to cover.
10. Utilizing the program and community resources, help survivors meet their needs.
11. Advocate for the survivors individually and as a group using systems intervention to obtain needed community services.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish rapport with survivors and talk with them to assess their emotional and practical needs. Develop a plan of action including follow up Advocacy if appropriate.
• Advocate for survivors in a variety of systems including written and verbal presentations of survivors’ needs, background, or emotional state.
• Make appropriate referrals for survivors.
• Complete all paperwork accurately.
• Offer follow up with all survivors.
• Complete reports as requested.
• Abide by MCCA policies and procedures.
• Be sensitive to all LGBTQ and multi-cultural, multi-racial, and language/customs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Crisis intervention or family and adult counseling experience helpful.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Automobile liability coverage, valid driver’s license.
• Agree to abide by the standards and the ethical practices required by our funding sources.
• Good communication skills (verbal and written).
• Experience in working with diverse populations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of our survivors/location/information.

Anyone interested may contact Darlene Santana at 504-304-1373 or apply on Job Indeed