Advocacy and Caseworker Coordinator

About us

Play for Progress is a Croydon-based charity that supports unaccompanied young people seeking asylum and promotes community resilience through trauma-informed creative engagement in the arts and education. We tap into the healing power of music, the arts, play, and creative therapies to build healthy and resilient relationships that support and amplify the voices of unaccompanied young people seeking asylum.

Our values

1) Kindness 2) Integrity 3) Respect 4) Responsibility 5) Courage

Purpose of the role

To provide support and care to the young people who are newly arrived in the country, through vital practical, emotional, casework and orientation support. Through advice, signposting and advocacy work ensuring that these young people can access the help and services they need.

This position is a PAYEE long- term position. Hours are flexible with the exception of weekly class times (Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-6.30pm). A reasonable spread of hours across the week is necessary so that casework can be responded to in a timely fashion.

Key responsibilities

• Support a number of young people who are in the PfP community, providing high quality holistic support for their transition to adulthood in conjunction with other PfP departments.
• Work alongside the Head of Creative Programmes and Safeguarding trustee to ensure all young people are safeguarded and any safeguarding issues managed in line with the safeguarding policy.
• Support young people in developing their skills and interests in education, vocation or hobbies, taking an active role in encouraging and supporting their ambitions.
• Oversee the active development of knowledge and understanding in areas relevant to the role and especially in the areas of asylum and refugee law, trafficking and supporting separated children and young people.
• Oversee the planning, preparation and participate in all meetings and events that are related to the support of the young people.
• Coordinate excellent working partnership with social workers, volunteers and other partners’ to provide trauma informed support for each young person.
• Develop and maintain excellent communication with all members of the team and all external partners and supporters.
• Carry out all administrative work required as part of the role such as month end reports, updating young people’s files and documenting meetings on time and in a consistent manner.

Personal qualities

• At least 2 years experience in casework preferably in the migrant sector
• Excellent communication skills with a particular emphasis on negotiation and representation
• Effective writing skills with the ability to draft correspondence and reports
• Ability to prioritise tasks, to identify and work to deadlines and to manage time effectively under own initiative
• Tactful and discreet approach to communication
• Ability to work well in a team
• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practise and equal opportunities