SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION RESPONSE VICTIM ADVOCATE (SAPR VA)

Summary

THIS IS AN INDIANA NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION This position is in the Excepted Service under the authority of Title V, P.L. 114-328, Sections 932 and 1084 (FY17 NDAA) This position is part of the IN Joint Forces HQ TAG, Indiana National Guard under Position Description Number PD# T5922000. If you would like the complete list of duties, please contact the POC of this announcement.

Duties

Perform essential victim service, advocacy, and support duties; provide a non-clinical response that is trauma-informed, gender-responsive, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented, and without prejudice to adult victims of sexual assault. Apply basic strategies for skilled communication, including developing rapport and actively listening, to provide initial victim advocacy services and crisis intervention support for adult victims of sexual assault. Accept official reports of sexual assault by assisting the victim in completing the official Department of Defense (DoD) forms as applicable, taking sensitive care of handling personally identifiable information when it is disclosed. Demonstrate expertise in offering comprehensive guidance to victims on reporting options, explaining exceptions and limitations for each, and ensuring understanding of the eligibility criteria for Special Victims’ Counsel. Perform a series of complex assessments using trauma-informed approaches for all reports of adult sexual assault. Implement mandatory standardized risk screening protocols to address immediate risk and safety concerns and apply strategies to develop tailored interventions that address the needs of individual victims. Value and prioritize confidentiality and informed consent standards when advising the victim on the purpose of any information shared, ensuring to advise the victim on the protections and exceptions to confidentiality for all covered communications. Independently prepare and submit to the SARC the “Victim Advocate Recommendations to the Commander” package within 24 hours of all Unrestricted Reports being filed. Inform victims of the resources available to report instances of sexual assault related retaliation, reprisal, ostracism, maltreatment, sexual harassment, or to request a transfer. Provide each victim tailored comprehensive referrals to on-installation and off-installation resources to include victim advocacy, legal, and medical/mental healthcare. Develop and maintain ongoing working relationships with available military and civilian resources to aid with the process of providing a warm hand-off telephonically, virtually, or in-person, with the victim’s consent and preference, as applicable. Develop detailed case management plans with short and long-term goals and objectives and engage in ongoing support activities tailored to the victim’s needs. Collaborate closely with victims to develop and adapt safety plans and needs assessments to prioritize and address potential risks and vulnerabilities, applying trauma-informed best practices and understanding the importance of informed consent. Collaborate and partner, as a member, with the sexual assault CMG members and the High-Risk Response Team to address and mitigate identified risks, safety concerns, and coordinate support services. Ethically and collaboratively support and assist victims in identifying strategies that promote self-determination while addressing presenting risk factors to support continuous victim care and safety. Safeguard the interests, rights, and privacy of victims who lack the capacity to make informed decisions independently during and after the course of the professional relationship. Collaborate with victims to assess their readiness for case closure and develop a comprehensive closure plan, inclusive of completing a final safety assessment, applying transition strategies, and providing resources for continued care or needs. Assist the SARC in the management and maintenance of case files in Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database, ensuring compliance with legal, privacy, and organizational policies and victim advocacy professional standards within timeframes. Employ complex trauma-informed practices to provide tailored emotional support, ensuring victims feel respected, heard, and understood. Provide culturally informed services that empower marginalized individuals and adapt support strategies to align with the cultural, social, and personal contexts of each victim.

Qualifications and evaluation

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Education

To receive credit for Education, you must provide transcripts or documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position. In addition to meeting Individual Occupational Requirements in section, "Qualifications" above, you may combine education with specialized experience to meet the length of experience requirement for GS-11. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the line of work. For the GS-11 level: To qualify on education alone applicant must have one of the following: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-7, GS-09, and GS-11 including for combination of education and specialized experience.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application / Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link:

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: 1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year) of employment and duties performed. Resume submitted is limited to a length to 2 pages and the present longform Federal resume is not accepted. Each applicant must fully substantiate in their resume -in their own words- that they meet 100% of the minimum requirements and specialized experience listed above in detail; otherwise, the applicant may be considered unqualified for this position. Do NOT copy and paste from the vacancy announcement, position description or others' resumes. 2. Other supporting documents if required and/or applicable: DD-214, SF-50, SF-15, any other Veterans Preference documents, Transcripts, etc... *If your resume includes a personal photograph, you will not be considered for the position. Applicants claiming Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible must submit the following documentation: Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self Certification Checklist (DD 3145-3) Termination SF-50 Separation stating that the applicant has Priority Placement Eligibility Notice of Separation confirming of eligibility. Applicants claiming Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement must submit the following documentation: Military Reserve and Technician Disability PPP Self Certification Checklist (DD 3145-2) Termination SF-50 Separation stating that the applicant has Priority Placement Eligibility Notice of Separation confirming of eligibility. Applicant claiming Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Employees must submit the following documentation: DoD Retained Grade Self Certification Checklist (DD 3145-1) SF-50 effecting the placement in retained grade status Copy of the notification letter the employee received (RIF or classification downgrade) Applicants claiming Priority Placement Program, Military Spouse Preference must submit the following documentation: DoD Military Spouse Preference Self Certification Checklist (DD 3145-4) Sponsor's PCS Orders Proof of Military member's current active duty status- Marriage Certificate

Additional information

***NOTE*** Indefinite Appointments are TEMPORARY in nature, but eligible to receive benefits. You must select YES to the Temporary Position question within the Assessment Questionnaire to be considered for this job announcement. Superior Qualifications and Special Needs Pay-setting Authority may be considered for this position. Contact the INNG HR Office for information about this policy. TAG is final approval authority for incentive programs (applicable to new Federal employees or those with a 90-day break in service). This must be approved prior to your appointment date. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx). This announcement follows the Fair Chance Act (FCA). The FCA prohibits specific inquiries regarding an applicant's criminal or credit background prior to the hiring agency making a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. If applicant suspects a violation to FCA for their application, the applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days to the date of alleged non-compliance. To complete the complaint, applicant must send an email to donald.a.heichel.civ@army.mil with the following information: Name of the applicant. A copy of the vacancy announcement and/or vacancy announcement number. Name of the individual(s) who allegedly violated the Fair Chance Act. A description of the violation. Supporting documentation (e.g., emails), if applicable. Exemptions to FCA implementation that may apply: Position requires a determination of eligibility for access to classified information. Is a dual-status military technician position in which an applicant or employee is subject to a determination of eligibility for acceptance or retention in the armed forces, in connection with concurrent military membership. For DSR Annuitant Applicants: In accordance with Section 9902(g) of Title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.), annuitants reemployed in the DoD will receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They will not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or redetermined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired in accordance with Section 8336(d)(1) or Section 8414(b)(1)(A) of Title 5, U.S.C.) appointed to the DoD may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate.