Refugee Support Casework Coordinator (Merseyside) Refugee Support Casework Coordinator (Merseyside) Salary band 2b Job reference number Area / department North West England/ Refugee Services Region / division RSRFL Work location Merseyside Reports to Project Co-ordinator Contract (12 months fixed term) full-time Last updated 26/10/2016 Scale and scope of role Direct reports Budgetary responsibility / accountability No staff, but line management of volunteers 0 Indirect reports 0 Accountability for other resources Reach and impact Reporting to the service manager refugee support, supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Merseyside through the crisis of displacement. Providing signposting to local support services and casework support for those recently granted refugee status to access mainstream services, and those still on the asylum system. Context The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies. We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives. Within the UK, the British Red Cross operates through about 3500 staff and over 30,000 volunteers. Geographically, the UK is organised into 20 areas, which are grouped into three regions. The British Red Cross has a long tradition of providing practical and emotional assistance to vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees. Our trained volunteers provide much needed support to thousands of people every year, helping them to access local services and adjust to life in a new country. The Red Cross s services include: Providing practical/emotional help to vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees Offering orientation services to help refugees adapt to life in the UK Providing emergency support for arrivals Providing emergency provisions for those in crisis Job description and person specification 1
Overall purpose of the role We have refugee support services in Lancashire, Merseyside and in Greater Manchester. The refugee support service in Merseyside is well established in Liverpool but as new dispersal areas in the Mersey City Region become live we are starting to see increasing need for our work in St Helens, Knowsley, Sefton, Halton and The Wirral. The purpose of this role is to increase the capacity of the team in general, dealing with and responding to enquiries from vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers in the Merseyside area. In particular, this role will coordinate and manage the outreach casework provision for refugees and asylum seekers at our drop-in services as well as overseeing ongoing follow-up casework appointments for more complex cases. The role will also include recruiting, inducting and training a team of casework volunteers as appropriate. Main responsibilities and duties To complete service user initial assessments which will involve identifying beneficiaries needs, strengths and risks (if any), and also agreeing with them on the work plan. Develop support plans that promote independence, empower and give self confidence To manage referrals into the service, complete assessments and assign volunteers as appropriate To undertake casework, as appropriate, providing information, signposting and advice for service users regarding their rights, entitlements and needs relating to their circumstances (e.g. accessing asylum support, legal advice, benefits, housing, social services support, welfare rights, education, training, employment) Support volunteers in addressing the needs of individual beneficiaries recognising the need for sensitivity, gender and cultural awareness To liaise with statutory authorities, voluntary groups and other refugee agencies as appropriate on behalf our service users in order that their needs are met To refer service users to other Red Cross staff and to outside agencies as appropriate for specialist help with issues outside the remit of the post To ensure service delivery to agreed policies, guidelines and standards To recruit and induct volunteers and provide direct line management, supervision and support. This will be in line with the policies and procedures of the British Red Cross and include volunteer training, development and appraisal To ensure volunteers delivering the service are aware of health and safety regulations for the service and their own safety Job description and person specification 2
To ensure confidentiality in relation to all aspects of the service, including service user records To maintain accurate and up-to-date records, files, case notes, correspondence etc and to gather statistics to monitor and evaluate the service providing reports as required Promote refugee/asylum seeker issues with sensitivity and cultural awareness throughout Liverpool To contribute to the training of volunteers and other Red Cross staff To attend courses, conferences and meetings relevant to the post To be self-administering using IT equipment as necessary On occasion to work out-of-hours, or stay away from home overnight to attend meetings and/or conferences To undertake any other relevant duties within the overall scope of this post as may be required from time to time by the service manager or senior services manager To do all of the above in accordance with the Fundamental Principles and the Equal Opportunity policy of the British Red Cross To be a member of the Area Refugee Services Team of the British Red Cross. To promote the British Red Cross Merseyside Refugee Support to service users and referring agencies. You will be responsible for the duties detailed in your job description and may also carry out such other duties as are reasonably required of you. Job description and person specification 3
Person specification Requirements Skills > Communication and networking skills and the ability to publicise and promote the refugee project ** > Good listening skills, with the ability to show empathy and sensitivity when dealing with distressed individuals** > Ability to collate & interpret a range of management information, including statistical information & user feedback > Ability to plan, and to manage own workload effectively** > IT literate: experience of using e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet and database packages Knowledge (including education and training) > Good standard of general education, to A level or equivalent with at least GCSE standard (or equivalent) Maths and English** > OISC level 1 competency or equivalent (desirable) > An understanding of and commitment to refugees, asylum seekers, and their communities** > Good working knowledge of legislation relevant to the delivery of refugee services Experience > Experience of project coordination** > Experience of working in partnership within the voluntary and statutory sector > Experience of maintaining effective working relationships > Experience of direct work supporting refugees and asylum seekers, preferably within in the voluntary sector ** > Experience of conducting casework interviews and assessments, preferably within the voluntary sector ** Job description and person specification 4
> Experience of recruiting and managing volunteers > Experience of working with interpreters Competencies > Excellent communication skills, including report writing and verbal presentations/ delivering training ** > Inclusive communication style > Sensitivity when dealing with people in distress** > Analysis, decision making and problem solving, including the ability to think strategically and laterally ** > Organisational skills > Ability to manage own time and workload and flexibility to respond to and prioritise a range of competing demands ** > Managing and developing volunteers > Being an effective team player and bringing passion, creativity, and a positive attitude in the team dynamics Behaviours > The ability to uphold the Red Cross s Fundamental Principles and act with integrity and in accordance with the Society s values and obligations > Ability to work as part of a team and also on own initiative ** > Ability to deal with issues in a diplomatic, professional and confidential manner both verbally and in writing ** > Ensure equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices and promote diversity > Recognise and value the contribution of others > Give feedback and support with the ability to receive constructive feedback ** > Ability to work under pressure & produce accurate work ** Job description and person specification 5
Additional requirements > Experience of working with, and the ability to communicate with, people from different cultural backgrounds, particularly refugees and asylum seekers ** > Ensure anti-discriminatory practice and promote diversity. NB All disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria, denoted by **, will be short-listed for interview in line with our commitment under the two-tick symbol scheme. Job description and person specification 6