Refugee Support Caseworker Volunteer
Location: Manchester
About the role
About the Team
Every year thousands of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants arrive in the UK with little support, money, or opportunities. Sometimes these people don't even have the means to find and contact their loved ones back home. It's our job to do what we can to help.
About the person
You need to have good interpersonal, diplomacy, communication and teamwork skills although full training will be given for any technical requirements. Also someone who is:
- Must have reasonable levels of written and spoken English
- Understanding of face-to-face client work and/or casework, demonstrating excellent communication and proven listening skills
- A good communicator and empathetic about the situation and needs of refugees
- Aware of conflict and migration issues and sensitive to cultural issues, including those relating to gender
- Personally resilient as you may need to deal with difficult or challenging situations
- Able to speak good English; plus knowledge of a foreign language would be useful (particularly one used in the current local refugee population)
- Able to use emotional support skills in a calm and responsible manner
- Able to keep the beneficiary at the heart of what you do, supporting the Red Cross to understand service user needs and the difference our role makes
- Willing to adhere to BRC Casework Good Practice Standards
- Able to work alone with minimum supervision as well as part of a team
- This role requires a criminal record check to the appropriate level
- Able to commit time and assist us (predominantly) between 9 -5, Monday to Friday.
- Understanding of GDPR regulations or willingness to learn.
Tasks included in this Role:
- Providing one to one support to beneficiaries
- Undertaking sensitive and comprehensive interviews with service users to assess their needs
- Agreeing a plan of action with the beneficiary
- Support the beneficiary to access other services, for example from the NHS, legal representatives and Social Services
- Offering onward referral to relevant bodies as appropriate
- Maintaining effective client records using our data capture system including communicating effectively with the Home Office case owner
- Identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding and protection issues with vulnerable clients, including children and vulnerable adults
- Working effectively with interpreters
What We Offer
- Access to relevant in-house training and development opportunities, including British Red Cross intranet site, e-learning facility and 'Fuse' (our online platform where you can access a range of engaging bite sized pieces of learning to support your personal development.
- A full induction, support and supervision throughout your volunteering period
- Valuable exposure to the work of the Red Cross in the UK and around the world
Young People and This Role
Here's a little bit more about us...
From hiring a wheelchair or dealing with loneliness, to adjusting to life in a new country - we're there when you need us. Our goal is to connect human kindness with human crisis.
Connecting human kindness with human crisis
The British Red Cross is one of the most recognised brands across the globe. We help millions of people in the UK and around the world to prepa... Read more