We are recruiting!
Notre Dame Refugee Centre is recruiting a part-time Outreach, Casework and Volunteer Support Lead
2 days per week (14 hours) Wednesday and Thursday
The role will be delivered over 2 days (Wednesday and Thursday) these days are non-negotiable
The salary is £32,000 p/a pro-rata
All applicants must have the ongoing right to work in the UK to be considered for this role.
The deadline for application is Friday September 4th at 1pm, with interviews to be held on Wednesday 9th September.
Please send an up-to-date CV plus a personal statement (of no more than 2 sides of A4) that address the 11 ‘required skills, abilities and knowledge’ criteria laid out in the job description below to the NDRC Director Georginaperry@notredamerc.org.uk. Please make the header on your email ‘Application for part-time role’.
We are looking for an exceptional Outreach, Casework and Volunteer Support Lead to help us connect refugees, people seeking asylum and vulnerable migrants to the advice and support they need. You will bring substantial experience of welfare advice, casework and advocacy, a strong knowledge of issues including benefits, debt, housing, homelessness, social care and safeguarding, together with the judgement to assess need, prioritise competing demands and manage complex or sensitive situations.
Our new colleague will know how to build trusted relationships, think creatively about outreach and take our services into communities that are underserved. Experience of recruiting, coordinating, supporting or supervising volunteers is important, as is the ability to maintain accurate records and case notes, manage your workload effectively and work confidently both independently and collaboratively.
You will share NDRC’s commitment to equality, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice and see the strengths and potential of the people we support.
If you are an experienced caseworker, adviser or community practitioner who brings these skills we would love to hear from you.
The Outreach, Casework and Volunteer Support Lead will take organisational ownership for reaching out to faith organisations, migrant/diaspora community centres and pan-London service providers to describe NDRC's offer and ensure that they know about our service and feel confident to refer people to our advice line/case workers. The post-holder will coordinate and deliver the weekly drop-in service for refugees and people seeking asylum at NDRC. They will organise and lead from the front, a strong team of volunteers who use their case work skills to provide practical advice, support and advocacy on issues that include welfare benefits, debt, homelessness, travel documentation and access to essential services.
The postholder will triage clients into the welfare casework service and alongside the volunteer casework team case deliver timely and accurate casework to support clients within the scope of the organisation. The postholder will support and supervise volunteers, and ensure that service users receive a welcoming, responsive and high-quality service.
Required Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
A strong understanding of the challenges faced by refugees, asylum seekers and marginalised migrant communities.
Demonstrable experience of delivering creative outreach approaches that engage underserved and hard to reach migrant communities.
Demonstrable experience of providing welfare advice, casework or advocacy support to vulnerable migrants in London.
Exceptional knowledge of casework delivery around issues such as benefits, debt, housing social care, safeguarding, housing and homelessness.
Ability to assess needs, prioritise casework and manage complex or sensitive situations effectively.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and work sensitively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Experience of recruiting, supporting, supervising or coordinating volunteers.
Ability to maintain accurate records and produce clear case notes.
Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
Commitment to equality, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice.
Ability to work collaboratively with partner agencies and make appropriate referrals.
Expected deliverables
The creation and updating of fliers in various languages that reflect the work of NDRC.
The creation and continuous updating of a mapping database to record places of worship, migrant/diaspora community centres and service providers such as NHS Trusts, Social Care across London.
Reaching out on a weekly basis through emails, calls and occasional visits to inform prospective partners of NDRC's offer, to send fliers that can be prominently displayed and to ensure that they know about our service and feel confident to refer people to our advice line/case workers.
Maintaining a clear and authoritative presence in the weekly NDRC drop-in, triaging clients to volunteer welfare advisors and taking on casework during these sessions where appropriate. Confidently assessing needs, prioritising casework and managing complex or sensitive situations effectively.
Actively leading the volunteer advice team in their weekly delivery of NDRC welfare casework (including issues such as benefits, debt, social care, safeguarding, housing and homelessness).
Ensuring that the process and outcomes of this casework are recorded accurately on Advice Pro by volunteer advisors.
Ensuring that client data is collected and managed accurately on NDRC’s E-form system.
Contacting and collaborating with partner agencies to make appropriate referrals.
Ensuring that NDRC volunteers and team are updated on external partnership development and referral routes.
Maintaining monthly oversight of volunteer case work on Advice Pro and feeding back to ensure compliance accuracy
Working with the Director to recruit and onboard skilled and motivated volunteers. Regularly assessing training needs and working in conjunction with the Director to deliver training and to manage volunteer capacity and capability.
Ongoing liaison with ESOL coordinator and language teachers through regular messaging and face to face communication, focused on developing NDRC's integration programme to reflect the needs of the NDRC community
Responsible for managing petty cash for volunteers and client support costs as appropriate - including monthly reconciliation.
Any other tasks and deliverables related to this role deemed necessary by the organisation.
