Placement - Refugee Support Caseworker (Sheffield)

at  British Red Cross Volunteer

We hope to provide our placement students with an insight into the daily internal workings of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation. The student will have access to relevant in-house training and development opportunities during their placement. There also may be ad hoc opportunities to get involved in other areas of work where appropriate. You will be responsible for achieving specific work objectives, agreed with you, in a set length of time within one of the various departments across the UK. As you are recruited to support or complete particular objectives, you will have a real responsibility and place in the department, bringing some of your skills and experience to the role; you will also have the chance to develop workplace skills. Do you want to make a difference to the lives of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants? You could help them to draw on their own strengths to cope with crisis and to rebuild their lives. The British Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We enable vulnerable people at home and overseas to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their own communities and when the crisis is over, we help people recover and move on with their lives. Placement Volunteers at the British Red Cross are highly valued for the skills and energy they bring. We aim to provide our placement volunteers with an insight into the daily workings of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation. The successful candidate will have access to relevant in-house training and development opportunities during their placement. There may be some ad hoc opportunities to get involved in other areas of activity. Your role as a placement volunteer will help make a great contribution to the work of the British Red Cross. You will take responsibility for achieving specific objectives that are agreed with you within one of the various departments across the UK. You will have a real responsibility and place in the department, bringing some of your skills and experience to the role; you will also have the chance to develop workplace skills. While we don’t offer voluntary internships, we are happy for you to describe yourself as an intern on your CV, if you feel that would be helpful. PLEASE STATE YOUR EDUCATION, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE IN YOUR APPLICATION. HOURS: This placement will be over 21 hours per week; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tuesday and Thursday will be in the Sheffield office. The role will involve outreach support in Sheffield City Centre on alternate Wednesdays with some remote working. The volunteering hours are negotiable to balance your needs and what can be achieved in the role. Bursary Scheme The British Red Cross offers a bursary scheme to those placement volunteers from low-income households. Eligibility will be determined through a separate application process open to all short-listed candidates. All British Red Cross volunteers are entitled to out-of-pocket reasonable expenses. For this scheme we are defining low-income households as: - Inside London: Living with family or partner £25,000 or under. Living independently £22.500 or under - Outside London: Living with family or partner £18,500 or under. Living independently £16,500 or under Young People and this role Our placement volunteer opportunities are open to people at different stages of their career, aged 15 or above. Whether you’re student, a recent graduate or someone with more experience looking for a career change, we would be happy to hear from you. Anyone can volunteer with the Red Cross from the age of 15. An individual risk assessment, parental consent and safeguarding considerations will be required for those aged 15 – 17. Due to the nature of the activities specific to this placement opportunity you need to be 18 years or older. Diversity We welcome applications from people of different backgrounds, experience and circumstances. We seek to ensure that our organisation and our services are relevant and accessible to all, with equality, diversity and fairness at the core of what we do. We invite applications from individuals regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or political belief and are committed to promoting fair participation and equality of opportunity for all of our applicants. The British Red Cross is committed to being inclusive, with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences – including disabled and ethnic minority candidates. We value fresh perspectives and insights gained by involving and welcoming people from the widest possible diversity of background, culture and experience. This is to contribute to the breadth of experience we need to respond to people in crisis. Our Casework volunteers work one-to-one with refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants at a time which many will find difficult and distressing. We help to make sure people have choices and opportunities available to them to move forward with their lives in a new country. Diversity is something we celebrate. We want you to be able to bring your authentic self to the Red Cross and feel that you belong. We want to create an inclusive environment, and promote and spread the power of kindness.
Why we want you: The casework placement volunteer will work one-to-one with vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees to help them access suitable services. It will include but not limited to, undertaking sensitive and comprehensive interviews with service users to assess their needs and agreeing a plan of action with the beneficiary.
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Tasks: Support the beneficiary to access other services, for example from the NHS, legal representatives, and Social Services
Maintaining effective client records using our data capture system including communicating effectively with the Home Office case owner
Working effectively with interpreters
Offering onward referral to relevant bodies as appropriate
Providing one to one support to beneficiaries
Undertaking sensitive and comprehensive interviews with service users to assess their needs
Identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding and protection issues with vulnerable clients, including children and vulnerable adults.
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Skills: A good communicator and empathetic about the situation and needs of refugees
Able to use emotional support skills in a calm and responsible manner
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
Understanding of face-to-face client work and/or casework, demonstrating excellent communication and proven listening skills
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
Willing to uphold the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and adhere to the Society’s Equal Opportunities Policy
Willing to complete a criminal record check
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Benefits: A full induction, with ongoing support and supervision throughout your placement
Access to relevant in-house training and development opportunities, including British Red Cross intranet site, e-learning facility and one-to-one career sessions or career development workshops
Valuable exposure to the work of the Red Cross in the UK and around the world
A great opportunity to develop your existing skills and to gain new ones
Reasonable travel and lunch expenses paid
Being a volunteer for the British Red Cross means that you can proudly say you are part of the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, and one of our 13 million volunteers across the world.

Please refer the Job description for details