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Job description

Our vision in Islington is to be a welcoming place of safety and opportunity for all residents. We are proud to have a dedicated NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service to help prevent destitution, alleviate poverty, promote integration and operate cost-effective safeguarding interventions. The council is at the forefront of resettlement programmes in London and is committed to expanding efforts to help refugees fleeing conflict.

The Service is looking for a passionate and experienced caseworker with a strong interest in refugee resettlement to build the humanitarian response in Islington by:

• Delivering high-quality resettlement support to help people achieve social and economic integration in the UK through engagement, learning and empowerment
• Coordinating statutory and non-statutory partners in the delivery of intensive and targeted assistance to meet the needs of refugees
• Maximising resettlement funding to develop and improve the support offer from initial orientation to a person’s future independence

Summary of role

• Deliver Islington Council’s Refugee Resettlement Service in accordance with Home Office funding requirements and Islington’s own integration model that is focused on empowerment through economic self-sufficiency and the sustainability of future living arrangements
• Manage a caseload of families and individuals, from initial welcome in the UK and intensive support in the first year of arrival to the gradual reduction of assistance
• To support the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service to lead by example, both in our practice and as a team, to challenge discrimination, racism, and inequality

If you have the skills and experience to succeed in this complex and high-profile area of practice, we would love to hear from you.

The remit of the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service includes 1) statutory 'safety net' support to families and adults with no recourse to public funds at risk of homelessness 2) operation of national NRPF Network advice, guidance and data services 3) delivery of refugee resettlement programmes in Islington.

The team is an exemplar of best practice and works tirelessly to ensure front-line experience informs government policy and funding decisions.

Employees of the service must be champions of equality, working to remove barriers that refugees and migrants may face in accessing services whilst promoting social and economic integration to the greatest extent possible.

Closing date: Wednesday 7th June 2023 at 23:59

Provisional Interview date: Friday 23rd June 2023

For an informal discussion please contact Anca. Tudor | NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service Team Manager | Email: [email protected]
Pre-arrival planning and welcome

• To coordinate the arrival of new refugee families to Islington in partnership with the Home Office and other government agencies and lead on logistical arrangements to support this
• Assist in developing publicity materials to explain and promote refugee resettlement schemes in Islington and to encourage participation from the council and the community
• Ensure resettlement information is accurately maintained on council webpages and through other resources to help orientation, signposting and welcome.
• Agree required contribution from NHS, Council and Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) colleagues prior to arrival so that roles and responsibilities between services are clear, with a working group of nominated contacts maintained
• With support of council services, ensure that immediate welfare, health and educational needs are addressed through school enrolment, benefit applications, GP registration and all other reasonable assistance as required post arrival.
• Through your own knowledge and understanding of the integration process and related government instructions for local authorities, explain relevant processes and expectations in the first months of the scheme so these are understood and followed.
• Ensure all required safeguarding and suitability checks are completed and recorded as appropriate

Resettlement Casework

• Hold a resettlement caseload of families and individuals welcomed to Islington Council through government funded resettlement programmes and oversee the integration journey across different arrival cohorts
• Develop individual plans to monitor people’s progress towards agreed goals and positive outcomes in areas such as health, education, housing and employment
• Throughout the programme, assist people to effectively manage their finances and maintain their accommodation independent of council support, including identifying sustainable accommodation alternatives as needs or circumstances change
• Leverage the expertise of statutory, voluntary & community sector (VCS) and civil society partners to provide a holistic offer of support that addresses the complex needs of people who have faced significant upheaval and trauma in their lives
• Co-produce a range of activities, events and bespoke services as identified through casework practice and engagement Link people to wider community services and events, including facilitating the coming together of people with shared experiences where this helps to promote personal wellbeing and create a sense of belonging and safety
• Help identify and commission bespoke services to bolster the integration support offer and as evidenced by needs identified through casework practice
• Able to implement a project management approach to managing and improving Islington’s resettlement offer, so that teams and services can be effectively engaged in setting and achieving integration targets
• Ensure effective signposting to specialist services and other council departments where a person’s need falls outside of what can be provided through the resettlement service

Grant funding, monitoring and service development

• Complete government funding and monitoring returns, with all relevant database systems accurately maintained and reporting processes for changes of circumstances and safeguarding incidents followed
• Ensure expenditure related to resettlement is correctly recorded and coded across the different schemes, with all required payments administered in a timely manner for the benefit of Islington residents, accommodation providers and refugees.
• Actively contribute to the effective use of grant funding by: 1) the provision of bespoke responses related to ESOL, housing support, employment and other identified needs of those who are the beneficiaries of grant-funding; 2) developing the capacity of existing health, education and community-based services to meet new demand and to achieve an inclusive approach to integration where everyone benefits equally
• Maintain accurate summaries of casework activity and referrals made, and present these clearly to internal and external stakeholders
• Through attention to detail and the important task of capturing outcomes for those assisted, help build the evidence base to document successes of the programme and where improvements can be made
• Work in partnership with key stakeholders including other local authorities, health, police, Home Office, other government agencies and the community sector to foster refugee self-sufficiency and integration
• To undertake training related to the area of migration and human rights, as required, and work with other departments to help reduce barriers to accessing services, for example by attending and presenting at Team Meetings
• To ensure that the development of the service is informed by the views and feedback of those welcomed