Care Co-ordinator/Project Manager- NRPF, Refugee& Migrant Outreach

Job summary

TheRole

As a Borough of Sanctuary, the successful operation of refugee resettlement programmes alongside other humanitarian responses to alleviate destitution and homelessness, is of upmost importance to Islington. With 500 Ukrainian refugees welcomed to Islington, 40 Afghan households resettled, two large-scale asylum continency hotels operational in the borough, and ongoing social care responsibilities to people with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), the NRPF Refugee and Migrant Service is making available a Care Coordinator and Project Manager position to work directly with asylum seekers and strengthen our service-wide response to meeting needs.

The Care Co-ordinator and project Manager will split their time between providing direct health navigation support to individuals living in asylum contingency hotels, as part of the wider multi-disciplinary casework team, providing expert advice to the entire NRPF, Refugee and Migrant service, and developing a strategic approach to reducing health inequalities amongst those supported by the service.

The role will be situated at the Islington Council offices (222 Upper Street) and in the community, with the option to work remotely where possible. The role holder will receive daily management from the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant team and fortnightly supervision from the Asylum Seeker LCS Lead

Main duties of the job

We are seeking to appoint a Care Co-ordinator and Project Manager for NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Outreach to address local health inequalities, understand barriers to accessing services and develop strategies for more effective engagement with underrepresented.

The role requires a highly motivated and enthusiastic individualwho is able to work both at a policy and strategic level to advise services andprovide hands on casework support to individuals as part of amulti-disciplinary casework team. The post holder will work alongside otherNRPF, Refugee and Migrant Caseworkers in a team committed to challengingdiscrimination, racism and inequality through an inclusive, informed andempowering approach for all residents.

About us

AboutIslington GP Federation

Islington GP Federation (IGPF) is agrowing organisation representing 31 practices; we have established ourselvesas a leader in new ways of working, including running Islingtons extendedaccess primary care services (I: HUB) as well as supporting the IslingtonPrimary Care Networks (PCNs). Our current range of services includes theExtended Access Service, I: HUB, Community Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT),Integrated Community Gynaecology, practice-based pharmacists and a range ofpractice support mechanisms.

IGPF works very closely with a rangeof partners including the regional commissioning group, NHS England, HealthyLondon Partnership, Public Health, local hospitals such as UCLH and theWhittington Health and the London Borough of Islington.

IGPF is the host organisation for the Primary Care Network (PCN) workforceand the Islington Training Hub and has been working for over two years tocreate training and development programmes that meet the needs of staff workingin primary and community care settings.IGPF runs four Islington GP practices, one on a GMS contract,two on APMS contracts and one on a caretaking contract.

Job description

Job responsibilities

TheRole

As a Borough of Sanctuary, the successfuloperation of refugee resettlement programmes alongside other humanitarian responsesto alleviate destitution and homelessness, is of upmost importance toIslington. With 500 Ukrainian refugees welcomed to Islington, 40 Afghanhouseholds resettled, two large-scale asylum continency hotels operational inthe borough, and ongoing social care responsibilities to people with norecourse to public funds (NRPF), the NRPF Refugee and Migrant Service is makingavailable a Care Coordinator and Project Manager position to work directly with asylum seekers and strengthenour service-wide response to meeting needs.

The Care Co-ordinator and Project Manager will split theirtime between providing direct health navigation support to individuals livingin asylum contingency hotels, as part of the wider multi-disciplinary caseworkteam, providing expert advice to the entire NRPF, Refugee and Migrant service,and developing a strategic approach to reducing health inequalities amongstthose supported by the service.

The role will be situated at theIslington Council offices (222 Upper Street) and in the community, with theoption to work remotely where possible. The role holder will receive dailymanagement from the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant team and fortnightly supervisionfrom the Asylum Seeker LCS Lead.

TheSuccessful Candidate

We are seeking to appointaCare Co-ordinator and Project Manager for NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Outreach to address local health inequalities, understand barriers toaccessing services and develop strategies for more effective engagement with underrepresented.

This new post created byIslington Council and the NCL ICB and hosted by Islington GP Federation, willbe based within the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service, the post holder will:

Deliverhealth-related casework support to asylum seekers living in asylum contingencyhotels, alongside Islington Councils Asylum Contingency Hotels team. Provideexpert casework input and advocacy into high risk or complex cases acrossAfghan Resettlement, Homes for Ukraine and NRPF teams. Buildtrust in the health and social care system for new and established refugee andmigrant communities in Islington through engagement and information provision. Gatherinsights into barriers to accessing services and help advocate for action tosupport the improved wellbeing for asylum seekers, refugees, and people withNRPF. Enableeffective communication between agencies to maximise existing referral andassessment pathways, whilst identifying where there are gaps in provision. Attendevents, workshops and meetings within in the community and at the asylum hotelsto share learning and contribute to the overall casework response beingdelivered.

The role requires a highly motivated and enthusiastic individualwho is able to work both at a policy and strategic level to advise services andprovide hands on casework support to individuals as part of amulti-disciplinary casework team. The post holder will work alongside otherNRPF, Refugee and Migrant Caseworkers in a team committed to challengingdiscrimination, racism and inequality through an inclusive, informed andempowering approach for all residents.

AboutIslington GP Federation

Islington GP Federation (IGPF) is agrowing organisation representing 31 practices; we have established ourselvesas a leader in new ways of working, including running Islingtons extendedaccess primary care services (I: HUB) as well as supporting the IslingtonPrimary Care Networks (PCNs). Our current range of services includes theExtended Access Service, I: HUB, Community Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT),Integrated Community Gynaecology, practice-based pharmacists and a range ofpractice support mechanisms.

IGPF works very closely with a rangeof partners including the regional commissioning group, NHS England, HealthyLondon Partnership, Public Health, local hospitals such as UCLH and theWhittington Health and the London Borough of Islington.

IGPF is the host organisation for the Primary Care Network (PCN) workforceand the Islington Training Hub and has been working for over two years tocreate training and development programmes that meet the needs of staff workingin primary and community care settings.IGPF runs four Islington GP practices, one on a GMS contract,two on APMS contracts and one on a caretaking contract.

Keyworking relationships

Asylum seekers, refugees and migrants inIslington who are referred to or supported by the NRPF, Refugee and MigrantService. Health Watch Islington, to help ensure accessto health and care services. Outreach Health Service (South Islington) - aprimary care led service based in the Asylum Seeker hotels providing holistichealthcare assessments to residents. C&I Mental Health Trust TalkingTherapies Service a fast-track service for residents with immediate metalhealth care needs

Internalrelationships

The NRPF Refugee and Migrant Service,delivering resettlement services and other humanitarian housing responses inIslington. Adult Social Care and Mental Health Servicesin Islington, responsible for meeting care and support needs of residents. The Homes and Neighbourhoods department,meeting the housing needs of people who are homeless or at risk ofhomelessness.

Externalrelationships

The Home Office and the Home Officessubcontracted partners responsible for asylum contingency hotels and asylumdispersal accommodation in Islington. VCS organisations commissioned by the NRPF,Refugee and Migrant Service to deliver integration and wellbeing support inIslington. Islingtons 31 GP practices including linkswith clinical and non-clinical staff in the 5 primary care networks (PCNs)

JobResponsibilities

Main Responsibilities

The post holder will share information and advice to help people livingin asylum contingency hotels to access Health and Social Care services inIslington, this includes helping to facilitate the following:

The direct delivery of health navigationsupport to people living in asylum accommodation or in accommodation providedby the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service.

Assisting people to navigate the healthsystem, effectively prioritising a caseload, and ensuring that residents arereceiving the highest level of care.

Informed referrals for Care Act assessments(physical and mental health needs) that enable colleagues to allocate andrespond to referrals efficiently.

Effective coordination of occupational therapyand disability support services and services for people with learningdifficulties alongside other social care interventions.

Attendance at events and workshops in thecommunity and at the asylum contingency hotel, with complex casework supportprovided when necessary.

Assist the South Islington PCN Asylum SeekerLCS Healthcare Service in clinical navigation; assist the C&I TalkingTherapies service to facilitate and deliver group sessions and workshops onrelevant health related themes.

The post holder will work collaboratively with the rest of theNRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service to:

Assist the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Serviceto resolve complex medical cases ensuring secondary care is accessed and risksfor individuals monitored and well managed, with health-related group sessionsrun to improve understanding and engagement. Attend team meetings for the AfghanResettlement, Homes for Ukraine and NRPF teams to provide expertise in healthand health service navigation. Build working partnerships with schools andCAMHS provision to ensure psychological and emotional support is delivered forchildren and young people from a migrant and refugee background, including forSpecial Educational Needs (SEN) children. Build working partnerships with NHSorganisations and social care services to facilitate health-related caseworkinterventions across the service. Engage with the people who have livedexperience so that their views help shape service improvement.

Support the increased uptake of vaccinationsfor people new to Islington and other hard-to-reach groups.

Leadership and Governance Thepostholder is accountable to the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service and NCL andICB and will be required to evidence work undertaken to address healthinequalities and the outcomes achieved as a result. The post holder hasautonomy to use their experience and professional judgement to deliver new andinnovative approaches to existing challenges, they will make informedrecommendations about how identified issues can best be addressed.

Training and Support

It is expected that thepost holder will share learning from the project with partners and will helprun training or information sessions as appropriate / required.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

-Experience of working with asylum seekers and refugees or other marginalised groups to address and overcome health inequalities. -Experience building partnerships and relationships with local authorities, VCS organisations and the NHS to achieve demonstrable service improvements. -Experience of community engagement/outreach work within a diverse inner-city area to overcome barriers to integration for migrant groups or to improve access to statutory services. -Experience of working in the health and social care sector, able to leverage understanding of roles and responsibilities to achieve the requirements of this role.

Desirable

-Knowledge and understanding of primary care. -Applied knowledge and understanding of entitlement to welfare benefits, housing, education and employment support services.

Communication

Essential

-Concentration when preparing for meetings, training and report writing -Emotional Effort-e. g imparting unwelcome news to staff, stakeholders, residents, exposed to difficult/emotional meetings. -The work is often unpredictable, and the post holder may have to adapt to change in short time frames and be able to deliver revised outcomes . -Ability to deal in calm and confident manner to diffuse confrontational situations -Ability to travel across Islington sites and engage with diverse residents

Values and Behaviour

Essential

-Commitment to the values and principles of system working agreed across NCL/Islington -Ability to actively promote equality, diversity and inclusion within all areas of responsibility -Commitment to and focused on quality, promote high standards in all they do. -Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public -Consistently thinks about how their work can help and support clinicians and frontline staff deliver better outcomes for patients. -Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness. -Work well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others. -Consistently looks to improve what they do, look for successful tried and tested ways of working but also seeks out innovation. -Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same.

Skills and attributes

Essential

-Ability to make informed decisions that may affect outcomes for communities and patients, particularly around their own health and improving the health inequalities they face. -Applying understanding of relevant law and guidance to address inequalities faced by residents and to ensure that people are supported to access services to which they are entitled. -An ability to use co-production and community engagement approaches to share learning and gain evidence and understanding to improve services.

Desirable

-Ability to analyse and interrogate financial reports and statistical data to ensure correct use of tax-payer money and to identify where service improvements can be made.

Qualifications

Essential

Educated to degree level/or equivalent experience

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