JOB DESCRIPTION
SYRIAN REFUGEE CONSOLIDATION SUPPORT WORKER
Fixed Term 2 Years
Oxfordshire
Purpose and Accountability
To provide ongoing support to families who have relocated to Oxfordshire as part of the SVPRS with particular focus on ensuring ongoing access to ESOLprovision and developing conversational English language skills to enable families develop greater independence and maximise opportunities for gaining meaningful employment, either paid or voluntary.
To enable families to further develop community links and self-sufficiency in relation to health, education and financial stability. To further develop a Peer Support model utilising the skills within the target group to provide informal support to manage activities of daily living.
The job holder will become part of a small team of resettlement support workers and volunteers working across Oxford City.
The Support Worker is responsible to the Team Manager.
Salary
The Support Worker post is paid at starting salary of£18,472 - £21,543pro rata. Connection will make a contribution to the auto enrolment pension scheme which we run, in line with statutory requirements. This will include a 3% contribution from when you have been employed for 6 months. The payment of increments, cost of living and pension contribution, are subject to sufficient funding being available. For extra increment(s) to be offered at appointment there must be evidence of significant transferable experience and skills and/ortraining relevant to the Support Worker job description.
Place and hours of work
The place of work isthe office in Oxford, however due to the role you may be expected to work out of any Oxfordshire offices. The position is offered at either full time or part time role.
The full time hours of work are 37.5 per week. A flexible approach is required to meet the needs of the clients as such it may be necessary to meet with clients during early mornings and evenings. The service operates predominantly from the hours of 9.00 to 5.30pm.
Duties
Ongoing support
- To carry out full needs and risk assessment to make assessments of clients' need with a particular emphasis on maximising opportunities to improve English and enter the work place where appropriateTo draw up, implement and regularly review appropriate client support and integration plans, with support from your line manager and/or more experienced colleagues as required.To create support plans with a focus on client being able to exit support service after a year.
- To work with clients to meet their support needs, including:
- Developing and sustaining a working relationship with clients.
- Working with clients for a period of time and regularity based on mutual agreement, at times and locations that meet clients' needs.
- Being able to appropriately challenge clients to become self-sufficient and independent in their use of mainstream services and to move towards financial independence eg of Benefit cap/Local authority financial support related to housing.
- Providing information, advice and support on welfare rights, tenancy rights, responsibilities and sustainment, money management,health, education, language learning, employment and volunteering opportunities
- Providing information and assistance to clients to enable them to make choices about the development of their social network and participation in their local community, including employment, education and training opportunities.
- Working with clients to help them learn, adapt or improve, their practical life skills (eg budgeting, paying bills, as needed to be fully independent and integrate successfully with their local community
- To support clients to find alternative suitable and affordable accommodation if needed.
- To work with clients to identify support needs which can be met by other agencies, to make referrals to specialist agencies, and develop appropriate casework links with such agencies in relation to clients' support plan - In particular to make links with providers of specialist employment and training providers.
- To work to deliver a service which is sensitive to the different needs of black & minority ethnic clients, women, lesbians and gay men and clients with disabilities, and which does not discriminate on grounds of age, class, religion, HIV status or offending background.
- To support clients in taking part in, and/or setting up, local groups or networks, including providing social opportunities to meet with other Syrian families, which are relevant to meeting their support needs, and to be responsive to different ways of delivering support (e.g. in groups), as identified by clients.
In relation to the team
1. To attend and participate in regular team meetings.
2. To provide cover on an occasional basis for absent colleagues, and staff the office on a rota basis.
3. To participate in regular support & supervision sessions.
4. To operate agreed health & safety and security procedures.
5. To share responsibility for security of office premises.
6. To attend appropriate training courses, and participate in skill sharing sessions within the team.
In relation to other agencies
1. To represent the agency at relevant external meetings and interagency forums, with the agreement of the team manager.
2. To liaise with voluntary and statutory agencies to develop good working relationships and promote coworking strategies where appropriate.
3. To be aware of legislation and national policies as they affect clients, particularly in the areas of housing, welfare rights, mental health, drug use and community care.
In relation to policy and administration
1. To carry out all necessary administration in relation to the casework task.
2. To keep casework records in order that Connection can monitor and assess its efficiency and effectiveness.
3. To further the aims of Connection and its activities by working within all agreed policies, including the Equal Opportunities Policy.
4. To carry out, within reason, any other duties necessary to the smooth running of the project.
April 2017
S:\Refugees & Asylum Seekers\CDC\Alices working file\Job Description - sw.docx