The Detention Outreach Caseworker is a full-time post on a 12-month renewable contract, joining a small team at the JRS UK offices in Wapping, working closely with the Detention Outreach Manager.
The JRS UK Detention Outreach project supports individuals who are detained in the Heathrow Immigration Removal Centres (Harmondsworth and Colnbrook). This busy and varied role focuses on combining accompaniment, practical support, and assistance to those in immigration detention, especially those who are most vulnerable and struggle to self-advocate. The Detention Outreach Caseworker will make referrals to solicitors and partner organisations where appropriate and liaise with Immigration Services, detention centre staff and others as needed.
The Detention Outreach Caseworker will occasionally support individuals who are released from, but continue to be affected by, immigration detention. Through relationships built across the NGO sector, they will refer individuals to local organisations who can most appropriately assist with reintegration into the community. They will provide in-depth and pro-active support to high-need individuals supported in detention who continue to require long-term accompaniment on release.
The Detention Outreach Caseworker will be responsible for managing their own caseload and work closely with the Detention Outreach Manager to identify themes and trends arising from immigration detention to contribute to the organisations wider strategic work. The post-holder should have a good understanding of and empathy with the issues and challenges faced by asylum-seekers and refugees, with particular focus on immigration detention. They will need highly developed listening skills, personal resilience and emotional maturity to respond to the emotional and practical needs of asylum seekers, accompanying them and supporting 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 in immigration detention.
The Detention Outreach 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 destitute and detained individuals. They will enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and possess excellent communication skills. They will work flexibly as a member of the team and organisation and undertake other reasonable duties and responsibilities as needed.
They will possess outstanding communication and organisation skills, will enjoy working in a very fast paced environment, and will adhere to JRS’ values and commitment to social justice, as well as our commitment to tackling racism and discrimination. JRS UK is committed to providing opportunities to individuals who may otherwise face obstacles in accessing paid work in the asylum and refugee sector and actively encourage applications from black, racialised and other underrepresented communities.
