Future Foundations Refugee Youth Caseworker

About KLS’ Future Foundations education team 

Future Foundations is an education programme of Katherine Low Settlement. Since 2004, KLS’ Future Foundations education team of 10 part-time staff and over 100 volunteers, have supported young refugees and their families in Battersea and the London Borough of Wandsworth to thrive in their education. Through mentoring, family support, casework and homework clubs, we provide the tailored support each young person and their family (if they have one) needs to overcome the barriers to education they face at home and school. 

Key Objectives for this Role

Working under the supervision of the Senior Caseworker you will: 

Key Objectives and Details for this Role

Working with the Senior Caseworkers and Team Manager your role and responsibilities include: 

•       Support staff to liaise with young people and their families/carers to communicate information regarding our work

•       Provide information, support, advocacy and guidance to children and young people from refugee backgrounds (and their families/carers when available), to ensure that they are able to access their educational rights.  

•       Increase communication and understanding between young people, families, social services, schools and other professionals  

•       Develop relationships with schools and relevant agencies, in order to make and obtain referrals, and support refugee young people and their families access educational services.  

•       Empower young people and their parents to take control and be their own best advocates  

•        

Main duties and responsibilities:

·      Run 2 monthly evening drop in advice sessions at KLS youth club 

·      Run 2 monthly drop in advice sessions at Southfields Acadmey

·      Support refugee young people including unaccompanied asylum seeking young people (and their families/carers when available) to overcome barriers to access and thrive 

·      Identify and assess their needs and advocate with them for their rights and entitlements

·      Provide information and advice whilst working other agencies (e.g. social services, and mental health)  

·      Refer them to other agencies as appropriate.  

·      Make and follow up on internal and/or external referrals and signposting whenever relevant and according to adequate referral pathways, in response to the young people’s needs  

·      Liaise between young people (and with their parents/carers when available) with school, social services, other agencies and foster carers, to support young people holistically to overcome educational barriers

·      Work with Future Foundations to Learn team members to share casework information and advocacy needs and to develop the work of the whole team in supporting local refugee young people and families

·      Advocate on behalf of and/or represent young people by preparing reports and attending appeals or interviews or meetings with them

·      Be familiar with local schools and services. Work with professionals in complementary statutory and voluntary services in person, by phone or by email.  

·      Maintain accurate and detailed casework records, action plans and monitoring data and be self-administrating. Ensure information on our database is accurate/up-to-date

·      Compile data and case studies as requested by your line manager and in compliance with relevant funder requirements, ensuring reporting deadlines are met

·      Keep and maintain robust recording and monitoring systems

·      Respond to enquiries by telephone, e mail, referring on internally or externally organisations when necessary

·      Maintain excellent safeguarding practices

Teamwork and reporting

•       Work with Future Foundations team members to coordinate work, refer young people and/or parents/carers to our casework and advice team. 

•       Contribute to reports for trustees and funders and attend periodic meetings with funders

•       Communicate well with other teams within KLS to provide a high-quality service to our members

Other Duties 

•       Participate in regular supervision and annual appraisals; help to identify your own job related development and training needs.

•       Always work with anti-discriminatory, empowering practice, ensuring everyone is treated with dignity andrespect.

•       Adhere to Katherine Low Settlement’s code of confidentiality, safeguarding and equal opportunities policies. 

•       Undertake your role in a professional manner and maintain a high-quality standard of work in accordance with the aims, values and ethos of KLS.   

The above job description reflects the position at the time of writing; it is not intended to be a task list but indicates the general level of work involved. It is expected that duties will be reviewed and revised as required.