Senior Victim Services Specialist - Claims Unit

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office seeks a Senior Victim Services Specialist to support the Division of Victim Services - Claims Unit in Riverside.

The Senior Victim Services Specialist provides a wide variety of complex and specialized trauma informed supportive services to the victims, derivative victims and witnesses of crimes; coordinates the role of victims and witnesses through client advocacy with respect to the courts, law enforcement and related agencies; serves as a principal advisor and mentor to Victim Services Specialist staff and volunteers; ensures alignment and compliance with statutory provisions such as PC13835 and Marsy's Law; executes additional duties as mandated by legal requirements and organization needs; performs other related duties as required.

The most competitive candidates will possess experience providing direct service to victims performing supportive or crisis intervention counseling, and advising clients of available programs, services, and resources in a public or private social service or criminal justice agency ; senior-level position experience in an office setting; e xperience in determining eligibility, researching, and applying statutes and regulations; experience in reading and comprehending crime codes / penal codes to apply guidelines, rules, and policies of the California Victim Compensation Board; and experience working with state entities / programs.

Bilingual skills are preferred, but not required.

The Senior Victim Services Specialist is the advanced journey level classification in the Victim Services series and reports to a supervisory or manager level position.

Under supervision, delivers a comprehensive range of trauma-informed support services to individuals impacted by severe violent offenses, including primary victims, secondary victims and witnesses.

Facilitates victim / witness participation in the criminal justice process through ongoing advocacy and case management.

Incumbents serve as a team lead in their assigned unit and are subject to rotations in work assignments.

The Senior Victim Services Specialist is distinguished from the Victim Services Specialist in that the former performs complex assignments, program development, project management, providing guidance, leadership, and mentorship to Victim Services Specialists.

The Senior Victim Services Specialist position requires handling intricate tasks to meet the distinct needs of victims, witnesses and their families as they navigate the criminal justice system.

While the Victim Services Supervisor provides operational guidance, oversight and support in developing service and referral plans, the Senior level is primarily responsible for providing ongoing case management services while independently managing crisis interventions and conducting assessments.

The Senior Victims Services Specialist may also take on roles in specialized programs such as the Mass Casualty Crisis Response Team, Collaborative Courts, S.T.O.R.I.E.S., as appropriate based on the organization needs of the Division.

Meet the Team!

The District Attorney of Riverside County , as the public prosecutor acting on behalf of the People, vigorously enforces the law, pursues the truth, protects those victimized by crime, exonerates the innocent, and safeguards the rights of all to ensure that justice is done on behalf of our community.

The office's staff of over 700 is comprised of prosecuting attorneys, sworn investigators, victim-witness advocates, paralegals, investigative technicians, forensic analysts, and a wide range of information technology and supporting staff all committed to excellence and integrity in public service.

We are, and we seek to maintain, a diverse workforce to match a diverse county.

• Engage in research and development of training, outreach and program materials on behalf of the division; carry out the planning and development of projects.
• Carry out presentations and trainings internally and to members of the public including but not limited to law enforcement agencies, community-based organizations and others; f oster collaboration and alignment; engage cross-functional teams to build consensus and drive initiatives by clearly communicating objectives and aligning efforts with organizational goals; p resent ideas persuasively to internal and external stakeholders, addressing concerns and demonstrating the value of proposed actions to secure support.
• Assist in the orientation, training, and mentorship of Victim Services staff, volunteers and interns ; prepare training schedules and maintain training records; create and / or update victim templates; provide guidance and leadership in the solution of the most complex cases.
• I nspire cooperation and motivate peers by demonstrating expertise, credibility and a collaborative approach, even in the absence of direct authority; offer regular coaching and constructive feedback to mentees, fostering their professional growth and enhancing their skill sets; de monstrate effective leadership, problem-solving and communication skills, setting a high standard for mentees to emulate.
• Deliver crisis intervention services for crime victims and witnesses, employing robust de-escalation techniques, integrating suicide awareness and prevention strategies, empathy skills, and trauma-informed practices to effectively support individuals in distress; d emonstrate strong ethical standards and integrity in all interactions and decision-making processes, ensuring confidentiality, fairness, and respect for the rights and dignity of victims and witnesses.
• Assist and collaborate with collateral agencies such as law enforcement, courts, social services, and community-based organizations to deliver essential services that support victims in their recovery and address the impact of crime; participate in and effectively contribute to multi-disciplinary committees, meetings and community outreach activities.
• Provide essential direct services as mandated by California Penal Code 13835.5 to initiate safety planning, identify and mitigate physical and psychological barriers to safety, explore options, develop and assist with action plans, and manage a complex caseload ensuring all victim needs are met; facilitate crime scene cleanup, protective relocation or shelter, document replacement, property return, funeral and burial arrangements, intervention with creditors, landlords, schools, and employers, application assistance for the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) programs, and restitution; respond to victims' needs with resource and referral assistance to ensure immediate and long-term service needs are met.
• Identify victims with a history of trauma or poly-victimization and conduct comprehensive assessments to identify risk impacts of past traumas, enabling tailored interventions aimed at fostering resilience and reducing risks; develop and implement complex service and referral plans, monitor victim progress and conduct case evaluations to assess danger and risk of lethality; determine the appropriate types of services needed throughout the life of a case, leveraging safety resources from law enforcement and statewide victim programs.
• Establish and cultivate rapport with victims and witnesses of crime; provide counseling, crisis intervention and case management services to support victim healing, which may include advocacy, education, referral, counseling, mediation, crisis intervention, and stabilization; remain proficient in navigating community-led services and state victim service programs to ensure comprehensive knowledge and maximize resource referral support for victims.
• Provide victims with detailed information about the CalVCB program, including program services available, eligibility criteria, required documentation, and covered expenses; assist and guide victims through the entire process from application completion to submission, and through the appeal process as necessary.

When assigned to the CalVCB Claims Unit, process applications and assist with quality assurance of claims.

OPTION I Education : Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in psychology, sociology, social welfare, social / human services, criminal justice, or a closely related field to the assignment.

Experience : One year as a Victim Services Specialist with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office or an equivalent position in a public or private social service or criminal justice agency providing services to crime victims and witnesses.

OPTION IIEducation : Graduation form an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in psychology, sociology, social welfare, social / human services, criminal justice, or a closely related field to the assignment.

Experience : Three years providing case management, supportive or crisis intervention counseling, and advising clients of available programs, services and resources in a public or private social service or criminal justice agency.

ALL OPTIONSLicense : Possession of a valid driver's license is required.

Knowledge of : The laws and procedures of criminal justice agencies as they affect the responsibilities and rights of victims and witnesses of crimes; public agency and community resources and their functions; interviewing and counseling techniques.

Ability to : Lead and direct the work of volunteer staff; mentor Victim Services Specialist staff; prepare statistical and narrative reports; maintain effective working relationships with others; provide psychological and emotional support to reduce trauma associated with being a victim or witness of a crime; communicate effectively in oral and written form; promote specific program projects through the use of effective presentations.

Contact Information

For more information regarding the position, please contact the recruiter Letisia Jimenez at (951) 955-5787 or via email at ltjimenez@rivco.org .