Casework Coordinator

This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a charity providing vital support to some of
the most deprived members of our community. The Watford and Three Rivers
Refugee Partnership (WTRRP) provides services to refugees, asylum-
seekers and other vulnerable migrants in our area, to improve their well-being and interaction with the local community and services. The Casework Coordinator role will focus on ensuring that asylum seekers and refugees engaging
within our service will receive specialist information, advice and advocacy support.
This role will provide support to clients dealing with key issues of
immigration, housing, welfare and health. You will work alongside a strong
established group of volunteers who currently provide a number of roles within the
organisation.

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. This includes 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.
• Implementation of 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.

Qualities and skills:
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. You will 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.