JOB SUMMARY:

We are seeking a dedicated Refugee Resettlement Officer to join our team and support the significant expansion of the ARAP and UKRS Resettlement Schemes in West Oxfordshire. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for someone interested in gaining first-hand experience working on the frontline of a fast-paced, client-facing charity.
The successful candidate will assist individuals and families in their resettlement in to life in West Oxfordshire. Interventions will be aimed to ensure families gain independence and feel integrated into their new communities, by supporting individuals and families through five stages of integration to include: Preparation, Housing, Finance, Education, Health and Employment.
Clients come from a variety of traumatic backgrounds, and are often living with the effects of their experiences, which may include trauma, PTSD, and domestic abuse situations.
A full driving license, and access to a vehicle, is essential for this role.
An enhanced DBS check will be required for this post.

• To develop and deliver comprehensive support plans for families who are newly arrived on the UKRS and ARAP Resettlement Schemes, and throughout their first years in the UK. This includes reviewing these at regular intervals to ensure they continue to fully meet the needs of all family members.
• To be responsible for managing the full support needs of caseload families including helping them to apply for benefits and learn to manage their finances; organising and ensuring attendance at ESOL classes; facilitating access to medical services including initial health assessments and follow ups; applying for schools and ensuring children are supported to settle in; encouraging attendance at community groups and with other practical arrangements as needed on a bespoke basis.
• To support individuals and families with complex physical and psychological vulnerabilities in order that they are able to link with the help that they need to overcome these as fully as possible.
• To record, monitor and evaluate casework practice and maintain confidential records for each family using in-house data recording systems.
• To manage the transition of allocated families from intensive support to independence by empowering families to understand the systems and develop the skills required to live well in the UK.
• To provide support and advice in a manner which understands the core elements of the refugee journey (specifically the UKRS and ARAP Resettlement Schemes), the impact of trauma and principles for effective recovery.
• To support and assist families to seek and secure meaningful and gainful employment to mitigate benefit cap restrictions; to include the development of CV’s and skills audits.
• To build and maintain collaborative relationship with partner agencies and community services to provide effective support for families. This will include Benefits, Housing, English Learning, Healthcare and Social Care providers as well as others as needed.
• To help other agencies understand the needs of the families of this programme and to help to avoid misunderstandings between parties due to cultural and language differences.
• To connect families with meaningful engagement opportunities to enable them to build community connections and networks, develop confidence and learn new skills to improve their well-being.
• To manage workload effectively using flexibility and adaptability, to ensure a good balance between competing priorities such as urgent client issues, pro-active casework support, medium to long term plans and other project work. This will include providing regular updates on all areas of work to the UKRS/ARAP Resettlement Team Leaders.

Professional Development:

• Keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training particularly with migration.
• Undertake cultural awareness training where appropriate and understanding of UK processes in order to assist the new families as they settle.

Administration:

• Use IT, maintain accurate records and GARAS diary.
• Prepare for and attend supervision sessions, team meetings, staff meetings and meetings with external partners.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

• To demonstrate commitment to the aims, principles and policies of the UKRS/ARAP projects.
• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.
• To abide by GARAS’ confidentiality requirements.
• To maintain relevant professional boundaries.
• To undertake any other duties and tasks as may lie within the scope of this post.