Wellbeing Worker (Part-Time)

About Refugee Action

Refugee Action exists to work with refugees and people seeking asylum who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes. We are a national charity with more than 40 years’ experience of empowering people who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes to secure the protection and support that they need to live with dignity and respect and build a new life in the UK. We do this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of partner organisations and campaigning on the policies that affect them.

About the team

The CARE team sits within our national Asylum Services and provides advice, information and advocacy for people in the asylum support system. We are a vital lifeline for people experiencing homelessness, delays in accessing their rights around support, and where the support provided is inadequate to meet their needs. We have a holistic approach shaped by the needs of the people we work with, and a strong emphasis on partnership working.

We’re looking for the Wellbeing worker to work in a supportive culture that values collaboration, diversity, and empowerment. Reporting directly to the CARE Asylum Services Manager you will:

Facilitate a programme of activities with clients of the CARE Project in order to promote wellbeing.
Liaise with health services, mental health organisations and other services as appropriate in order to establish effective referral routes for clients.
Follow up on referrals and outcomes which may be needed to support the work of the casework team.
Complete co-created needs assessments with clients.

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Understanding of the wider needs, hopes and experiences of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK, combined with a particular focus on their wellbeing including an awareness of emotional wellbeing and mental health issues.
• Experience of facilitating group work and good knowledge of common mental health presentations (and especially in relation to people seeking asylum)
• Commitment to removing barriers to power for people with lived experience, and commitment to anti-racist practices.
• Understanding of how the UK’s hostile refugee protection and asylum system impacts those affected by it.
• Excellent written communication skills and experience in presenting clear and accurate written documents to present evidence and advocate.
• Understanding of and commitment to key advice principles such as confidentiality, impartiality and non-directive approaches and a commitment to equality of opportunity.
• Understanding of the impact of working with people in a situation of transition and uncertainty, and of appropriate ways of handling that impact at work.
• Ability to plan and manage workload within tight timeframes including the ability to record the data for monitoring purpose.
• Understanding of Safeguarding policy and good practice and experience of working with clients with complex needs according to these policies.
• Ability and commitment to reflect on your practice and a commitment to continual professional development and learning
• Excellent liaison and networking skills and the ability to work in partnership with wellbeing services in the West Midlands.

If you have any questions about the role, you can contact the hiring manager, Berna Djinaj, Asylum Services Manager at BernaD@refugee-action.org.uk

If you have any queries regarding the process and application, please send an email to recruitment@refugee-action.org.uk

Those with lived experience as a refugee are particularly encouraged to apply

Closing date: 23:59 on Monday 15 May 2023
Interview Thursday 25 May 2023 (on Zoom)

Refugee Action only operates in the UK, so all roles are UK-based, and you must have the right to work in the UK.

This role is not on the Shortage Occupation List. If you have permission to work that is restricted to the Shortage Occupation List, we will be unable to appoint you to this role.

• Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations
• Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations for healthcare and education

We are currently campaigning for people seeking asylum to have the right to work in the UK, see our Lift the Ban campaign here.

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