Casework Coordinator

**Job Title:** Casework Coordinator - Refugee Support Specialist

**Job Summary:**

We are seeking a highly skilled and compassionate Casework Coordinator to join our team at the Watford & Three Rivers Refugee Partnership. As a key member of our staff, you will play a vital role in providing specialist information, advice, and advocacy support to asylum seekers and refugees in our community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload of clients who require specialist advice and support, ensuring that cases are progressed effectively, including detailed record-keeping.
• Work effectively with the Committee, Office Manager, and caseworker volunteers to ensure issues are resolved, including the running of regular Case Review meetings and managing the minutes and case records.
• Offer support and guidance, including training where appropriate, to volunteer Caseworkers and Befrienders.
• Implement our safeguarding policies, coordinating with our Safeguarding Lead.
• Take a lead role in weekly Drop-In sessions on Tuesdays 11am – 1pm.
• Manage a referral phone line.
• Process enquiries about WTRRP, take referrals for clients, and contribute to regular referral intake meetings, offering triage support and signposting.
• Create links and work effectively with public sector agencies to ensure our clients can access all entitled support in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Create effective referral relationships within the refugee sector and wider charity sector to ensure our clients have access to high-quality and effective support through specialist agencies and services.

Requirements:

• Be able to work on your own initiative and independently, with good organisational skills and IT knowledge.
• Be a team-worker with good communication skills, and should have experience of casework and of working alongside volunteers.
• Have an understanding of safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.
• Have a good understanding of the issues affecting asylum seekers, refugees, and people seeking Leave to Remain and the barriers they face.
• Experience in relation to the benefit system, be able to keep up with law changes as they take place and the impact of these changes on our clients.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience of advocating on behalf of vulnerable client groups to ensure that they get fair access to services, including a knowledge of housing options available and the mechanisms that can be used to advocate effectively on behalf of clients.
• Experience of working with people from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, and/or skill in languages.
• OISC Level 1 (or higher) qualification or are willing to study for this in the future.

Proposed Terms of Employment:

• Salary: £27,000-£33,000 depending on experience and qualification.
• Duration of contract: two years, extendable.
• 37 hours per week. Occasional evening and weekend work for committee and volunteer support meetings.
• Place of work: WTRRP office, hybrid and outreach which may include appointments in the community.
• Holiday entitlement: 20 days plus bank holidays including the days between Christmas and New Year.