Senior Support Worker (Post: NT898)

Founded in 1951, the Refugee Council exists to support people who come to the UK in need of safety and speak out for compassion, fairness and kindness. We achieve this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of refugee community organisations, and working with allies across society to change government policy.

Our vision for refugees to be welcome to live safe and fulfilling lives contributing to the UK has never been more urgent and needed. Today 27 million refugees and 84 million displaced people around the world need of safety, dignity and welcome. We are determined to secure public and government support for safe routes for all people seeking safety, and a fair, effective and compassionate refugee protection system.

Now is an excellent time to join the Refugee Council. We recently launched our new strategy – you can read it hereOpens in a new window. It sets an ambitious new direction which will see us defend refugee protection in the UK against the Government’s corrosive plans with refugees and like-minded allies, united in our desire to create a just, fair and humane refugee protection system. It will also see us delivering direct services that improve people’s refugee protection journey through targeted advice and casework, and strengthening and connecting Refugee Community Organisations with other service providers and advocates.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Refugee Council supports separated children across England and part of our service is a team of staff based at the port of Dover, working 24/7 to provide a temporary safeguarding service for children arriving there, ensuring that their basic needs are met while they await transfer to the care of a local authority. The unit is reactive to the needs of clients, who may arrive at any time, and staff are expected to cover a variety of shifts.

The post holder will be part of the management team that delivers our services for children arriving at the Kent Intake Unit (Dover). They will provide line management to colleagues working in Dover, and will liaise with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that children’s safeguarding and other needs are met. This will include working on site at weekends on a rota system

The postholder is expected to:

• Work in the best interests of the child.
• Provide a quality service by meeting the physical and emotional needs of children and young people while they are in the unit.
• Effectively balance frontline service provision with management support and development within the unit.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the 'Apply' button.

Closing date: Sunday 10th December 2023.