Caseworker

Location: Parramatta (with some travel to the head office in Elizabeth
Bay and other locations around Western Sydney)
Reports to: Casework Manager
Award: SCHADS Level 4.1
Conditions: 0.9 FTE (i.e. 9-day fortnight)

This position is contracted until 31st Dec 2021, with the possibility
for extension dependent upon the ongoing availability of funding.

JRS Australia requires an experienced, professional Caseworker with a passion for
and a commitment to ensuring the rights of people seeking asylum.

The JRS Caseworker position is responsible for providing accompaniment, casework
services, and advocacy support to people in the process of seeking asylum, as well
as other migrants in vulnerable situations in Australia.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Casework and Emergency Relief

• Maintains a caseload ranging from low to complex needs clients, maintaining
  regular contact with clients and working alongside clients on an agreed upon
  case plan, with a view to the client being self-supported as soon as possible.
• On a roster system, conducts Intake Assessments with prospective JRS clients
  and reassessment of existing JRS clients to understand their needs and provide
  brief intervention and support.
• Embodies JRS’ mission of accompaniment in all dealings with clients and works
  from a human rights, strengths-based, and trauma-informed lens.
• Maintains timely, accurate and comprehensive electronic and paper client
  records, including case notes and records of financial and material assistance
  provided, in line with privacy and confidentiality principles.
• Assists in the allocation and distribution of financial and emergency relief support.
• Assists in the allocation and distribution of food and material aid.
• Undertakes other casework tasks as advised by the Casework Manager.

Volunteers and Community Centre Activities

• Assists JRS staff and volunteers with other community centre activities and
  drop-in support as needed and as directed by the Casework Manager, e.g. in
  relation to community development activities, home visiting or deliveries, the
  provision of Foodbank, or support for Reception team members.

Reporting

• Maintains timely, accurate, comprehensive and confidential client records stored in the JRS Database and in other filing systems as per funder or JRS needs.
• As required, provides statistics, reports and case studies to the Casework
  Manager for use in Board, funder and other stakeholder reports.

Networking and Advocacy

• Actively seeks and establishes productive working relationships with other
  service providers and stakeholders in the community services sector, with a view to improving referral pathways, support and conditions for people seeking
  asylum.
• Attends and actively participates in sector and interagency meetings as directed
  by the Casework Manager.
• Advocates for the rights and support needs of people seeking asylum through the appropriate channels or as advised by the Casework Manager, in line with JRS’ mission, values and code of conduct.
• Underakes other networking and advocacy activities as advised by the Casework
  Manager.

Philosophy, Mission and Values

• Understand and demonstrate the Mission and Values of JRS on a day-to-day
  basis; respect, hope, dignity, solidarity, hospitality, justice and participation.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of JRS.
• Adhere to the JRS and the Australian Jesuit Province Code of Conduct.
• Work closely with the relevant people in all of the Jesuit ministries to ensure that
  Ignatian spirituality is fostered.
• Behave in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner that respects everyone
  regardless of their background, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, migration status,
  religion, ability or any other ground.
• Provide and promote an environment of mutual respect, dignity and fairness –
  free from discrimination, harassment, victimisation, bullying and violence – to
  ensure that acceptable standards of conduct are maintained at all times and take appropriate action if unacceptable conduct is observed.

Occupational Health and Safety

• Comply with the requirements of relevant Work, Health and Safety (or
  Occupational, Health and Safety) Acts and related procedures developed by the
  JRS.
• Work in a manner that considers the duty of care for self and others and be safety conscious at all times.
• Report inappropriate behaviours which endanger self or others including bullying and other harassing behaviours / incidents.

Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement

• Attend relevant meetings, workshops, conferences and training, as required,
  including attending and actively participating in weekly Casework team meetings and JRS staff meetings.
• Attends and actively participates in regular supervision sessions with the
  Casework Manager.
• Become familiar with, and follow JRS and the Jesuit Province’s quality and
  standard policies, procedures and management instructions.
• Be open to new ways of doing things that enhance working in an environment
  that is inclusive and that subscribes to the Ignatian way.
• Strive for continuous improvement in the quality system and work practices by
  being alert to opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain confidentiality in relation to clients, staff and volunteer issues and all
  JRS’ programs.

Details

Essential Criteria

• Tertiary qualifications in social work, psychology, welfare or another relevant
  discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Extensive casework experience, including conducting assessments, providing
  information and referrals, and managing complex cases, including assessing
  and responding to mental health crises.
• Demonstrated understanding of the issues faced by asylum seekers and
  refugees living in Australia.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage competing deadlines, prioritise workload
  appropriately and work in a flexible manner.
• Excellent English language oral, written, interpersonal and cross-cultural
  communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Competent in using MS Office, Google Drive, and online database/reporting
  systems.
• Commitment to working within current EEO, WH&S, and child protection
  legislation.

Desirable Criteria

• Direct experience working with asylum seekers or refugees.
• Proficiency in a relevant community language.

How to Apply

To apply, please send (1) your responses addressing the selection criteria,
along with (2) your resume and (3) a cover letter to: jobs@jrs.org.au by COB
Monday, 9th August.

People with lived refugee experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Thank you for your interest in working with Jesuit Refugee Service Australia.

Jesuit Refugee Service Australia

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organisation with a mission to
accompany, serve and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced
people. JRS works in situations of greatest need, where people are most vulnerable,
where there are gaps in services and where partnerships can be formed to better serve people seeking safety.

In Australia, JRS works to uphold the rights of refugees, people who are in the process of seeking asylum, and migrants in situations of vulnerability and aims to support people to empower themselves, to live meaningful and dignified lives while feeling welcomed and connected to a more fair and just community.

As an independent, not-for-profit, non-government organisation JRS Australia
undertakes the following activities:

• Supports women seeking asylum and on temporary visas to increase their
  understanding of domestic and family violence and sexual and gender based
  violence, its drivers and their rights, as well supporting women to access support and referral pathways.
• Supports and accompanies community-based people seeking asylum and
  refugees through a holistic programme of casework, financial assistance,
  community activities, foodbank, English classes, an employment program, a
  women’s program, workshops and drop-in programs provided through our drop-in centre in Westmead and JRS’ Community Centre in Parramatta.
• Supports and accompanies people seeking asylum who are held at detention facilities across Australia and those who have been in detention in the past or who have been transferred from Manus Island or Nauru.
• Raises awareness with young people and others in the community through schools, community centres and other stakeholders about forced displacement, social justice, human rights, the situation of people seeking asylum in Australia, the barriers that they face, and ways to get involved.
• Undertakes research and advocacy with and on behalf of people seeking asylum and refugees in Australia in order to advise government and non-government organisations (NGOs) on policy and program responses.
• Supports JRS projects and activities overseas, for example, through regional and international advocacy and campaigns.