Suffolk Refugee Support

Suffolk Refugee Support

Job Description

Job Title: Syrian Resettlement Programme Coordinator (Ipswich)

Terms: 37 hours a week full-time

Initial 12 month contract with strong likelihood of extension

Salary: £26,530 p/a

Pension: Employee 5% and employer 6% voluntary contribution.

Reports to: Charity Manager

Context and Purpose of the Job

Suffolk has agreed to accept up to 200 refugees from Syria as part of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, and a further 30 under the North Africa and Middle East Vulnerable Children’s Scheme, funded by the Home Office over the next five years.

The refugees will be selected by UNHCR from refugee camps in the region to be brought to the UK to be housed. A panel in Suffolk will select families to be housed in the greater Ipswich area. So far 15 families have been resettled.

Suffolk Refugee Support has an excellent track record of providing support and advice to refugees in Suffolk over the last 17 years and is the lead agency providing all the wrap around services in Suffolk to the arrivals from Syria. In partnership with Anglia Care Trust, the NHS Marginalised and Vulnerable Adults Team and with the churches of Suffolk, we will ensure that all aspects of support needs are met. These will include the welcome and settlement into suitable properties; ensuring financial security via benefits and employment; medical care (with particular attention to special needs and mental health); integration and cultural orientation and language; training; schooling and other learning is accessed. It is likely that members of the families arriving will be suffering from physical injuries, medical conditions and psychological trauma.

The Programme Coordinator will be responsible for leading on all aspects of the programme, including managing support staff and volunteers; negotiating with statutory and voluntary service providers; offering a supportive and welcoming environment and ensuring that all partners are working to the same plan.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Service Delivery

·  To devise a comprehensive action plan for welcoming the refugees from preparation prior to arrival and support for the first year and beyond.

·  To liaise with partners to ensure a cohesive programme is delivered.

·  To manage two support workers and two bilingual assistants from SRS in the delivery of advice and support in all areas of the refugees’ lives.

·  To recruit and manage teams of volunteers to provide additional support.

·  To oversee the preparation of suitable properties for new arrivals in line with agreements with Anglia Care Trust or whoever is responsible for this. To overcome initial property problems by working with the housing provider.

·  To manage a budget of up to £100k per year.

·  In liaison with our Communications Officer promote the programme with the general public via the media and face to face events.

·  To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the activities and to work to improve them.

·  To share best practice with other regions of the UK who are also welcoming Syrian refugees under this programme.

·  To overcome unexpected difficulties using flexibility and innovative methods.

·  To manage the transition of families from intensive support towards independence.

·  To ensure there is adequate ESOL provisions throughout the year for all adults.

Administration

·  To liaise closely with Suffolk County Council to ensure all aspects are delivered and reported according to the Home Office requirements. This will include incorporating changes to the programme as they are announced.

·  To record, monitor and evaluate all aspects of the programme.

·  To report outcomes to funders and other interested parties.

Additional Duties

·  To contribute occasional articles and up-dates for inclusion in the SRS newsletter.

·  To attend and contribute to team meetings and training, induction courses, conferences and meetings of Suffolk Refugee Support.

Personal Development

With the support of the Charity Manager, the post-holder must effectively manage their own workload, assessing their priorities in terms of the balance between the reactive workload and the medium and long-term plans and projects. Work-time opportunities for appropriate training will be given to the post-holder.

Flexibility

In order to deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is needed and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. Such duties, however, will fall within the scope of the job, at the appropriate grade. This job description will therefore be subject to periodic review with the post-holder to ensure it accurately reflects the duties of the job.

Equal Opportunities Statement

As part of its recruitment policy, Suffolk Refugee Support intends to ensure that no prospective or actual employee is discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation, class, disability, age, religious belief or political persuasion, or is disadvantaged by any condition or requirement that is not demonstrably justifiable.

Person Specification (E=essential; D=desirable)

·  Educated to degree level in Social Work, Psychology, International Development or other relevant area. (D)

·  Relevant experience managing programmes for vulnerable people. Experience should include a minimum of 1 year supervising and directing teams. Excellent understanding of programme management and case management principles.(E)

·  Self-starter with excellent problem solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritise duties, and manage time effectively (E)

·  Proven experience of effective staff management within a large multi-stranded programme. (E)

·  Experience with budget management and drafting funder reports; (E)

·  Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment; (E)

·  Flexible and able to manage pressure well; (E)

·  Very well organised and excellent reporting skills;(E)

·  Experience of supporting people suffering from complex physical and psychological conditions to access appropriate and therapeutic services.(E)

·  Experience of devising evaluation processes and of using these to monitor a programme’s effectiveness.(E)

·  Experience of working with refugees and a full understanding of their entitlements including welfare benefits;(E)

·  An awareness of the psychological trauma experienced by refugees and a grounding in basic counselling/listening skills: (E)

·  Proven ability to contribute both independently and as a key team member; (E)

·  Valid driver’s licence, reliable vehicle with current insurance, and the ability to travel throughout the service delivery area required;(D)

·  Local knowledge of key services in the Ipswich area (D)

·  Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); (E) database experience a plus.

·  Good people skills with the ability to diffuse difficult situations professionally and calmly mediate between parties. (E)

Cultural & Language Skills:

·  Knowledge of the culture and current issues in the Middle East, especially Syria (E)

·  Excellent written and spoken English; (E)

·  Fluency in additional language relevant to Syrian populations preferred (Arabic, Kirmanji.);(D)

Work Environment:

·  Standard office environment. Travel to field site operations and external stakeholder meetings occasional.

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