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The Destitution Caseworker is a full-time post at the JRS UK offices in Wapping with regular visits to our houses in South London. The post-holder will be joining the Advice and Casework Team, a small and diverse team of Caseworkers, Befriending and Practical Support Coordinator and volunteers. The Advice and Casework Team provides refugee friend led advice and casework, supported by the practical offering of hardship payments, regular mobile phone top-ups, and befriending. We also provide temporary accommodation through our hosting scheme 'At Home which has operated since 2012. Additionally, we also offer support through our 10- bedroom house for women and 6 bedroom house for men in South London. This role is busy and varied, with a focus on combining accompaniment with advice and practical support and assistance particularly to those in our accommodation project. The postholder will provide in-depth and proactive support on a broad range of issues including destitution and homelessness; access to legal advice; asylum support and health related matters. The postholder will utilise relationships with NGOs and specialist agencies, signposting and making referrals as appropriate. They will be responsible for managing their own caseload and will support with the smooth running of the accommodation project and other aspects of the wider team. The postholder should have a good working knowledge and empathy of the issues and challenges faced by destitute asylum-seekers and refugees, with particular focus on destitution, homelessness and access to immigration advice. They will need highly developed listening skills, personal resilience, and emotional maturity to respond to the emotional and practical needs of asylum seekers, accompany them and support them to positively progress with their lives. They need to have and maintain an up-to-date knowledge about the immigration and asylum context as it relates to our work with destitute refugees. The Destitution Caseworker will be enthusiastic about working in a small faith-based organisation and have a willingness to integrate JRS UK s ethos of accompaniment in their approach whilst also demonstrating sensitivity in responding to the needs of individuals facing destitution. They will enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and possess excellent communication skills and will adhere to JRS values and commitment to social justice and tackling racism and discrimination. They will work flexibly as a member of the team and organisation and undertake other reasonable duties and responsibilities as needed. Role Specific Responsibilities Accommodation: • Preparing needs assessments and inducting guests and residents. • Facilitating matching meetings and providing ongoing support during placements including review meetings. • Coordinating food grants for accommodated refugee friends. • Being the main point of contact and a supportive presence, providing basic advice and casework support for guests and residents. • Support with coordinating the move-on process from hosting and housing as appropriate. • Support hosts and other volunteers including assisting with coordinating and facilitating volunteer meetings. • Support the facilitating of monthly house meetings and activities. • Proactively identify and respond to risks and health and safety issues, escalating as appropriate. • Promptly flagging any housing maintenance issues • Take part in the on-call rota. • Travelling within London to visit host homes, as well as the properties in South London. Some evening and weekend work is required, but time in lieu will be provided. General Advice and Casework Support: • Identify, register, and assess needs of individuals seeking support • Provide information, advice, and support to individuals on a range of issues including homelessness, access to legal advice, destitution, and asylum support. • Identify, prioritise and provide pro-active advice and casework support to individuals requiring ongoing support. • Facilitate access to services and support for individuals through signposting, referrals and ongoing advocacy where appropriate. • Ensure hardship provisions are distributed, and resources utilised in line with policies, guidance and procedures. • Maintain and develop positive working relationships and referral pathways with relevant statutory and third sector partners. • Non-legal form filling. General: • Safeguarding concerns are identified, managed and/or escalated as appropriate • Participate in monthly casework meetings • Continuously maintain clear and accurate records in accordance with data protection legislation • Identify and raise common trends and issues affecting our work • Provide regular reports including for funding as required • Attend internal and external meetings as agreed • Keep abreast of relevant developments in asylum/immigration law and procedures • Actively support colleagues, volunteers and collaborate across teams • Work closely with colleagues to identify opportunities and explore ways for individuals supported by the services to share their experiences and contribute to JRS UK s advocacy and communications work • Assist line manager and colleagues with service improvement and development • Undertake other duties and responsibilities as needed • Comply with all JRS policies and procedures Personal growth and development: • Engage with opportunities for training and development and reflect regularly on practice, including: o Ongoing training in areas such as asylum & immigration system, housing, mental health support/therapeutic care, rights and entitlements of those we serve. o Attend non-managerial supervision and psychological support to support selfcare. o Workshops and trainings relating to JRS mission and ethos