REFUGEE SUPPORT VOLUNTEER TEAM MANAGER NEEDED

Join our energetic team of volunteers.

About the role

We’re looking for a refugee support volunteer team manager to join our passionate and committed team, working to resettle and welcome refugees within the Borough of Elmbridge. We need someone who can offer support and guidance to our growing team of refugee support volunteers – ensuring they have the right skills to effectively carry out their role, supporting them to set appropriate boundaries and encouraging reflective practice. This role would suit someone with previous social work experience.
Salary: Unpaid/voluntary
Location: Home-based
Hours: Flexible hours but must be able to commit to 3.5 hours per week (min) and attend Steering Group meetings (once every 6 weeks)
Contact name: Vicki Felgate
Contact email: [email protected] 

KEY TASKS
  • Provide leadership for Elmbridge CAN’s Refugee Support Volunteers – ensuring they have the right skills and support to effectively carry out their role.
  • Ensure volunteers receive an appropriate induction and identify on-going training and development needs.
  • Make regular contact with volunteers (either 1:1 or as a group) and provide opportunity for reflection and problem solving.
  • Be available to provide advice to volunteers on complex family support matters and liaise with Elmbridge Borough Council’s Family Support Team as appropriate to address issues.
  • Understand your responsibilities in regard to safeguarding and information sharing and use this to inform every day practice within the Refugee Support Team.
  • Build links with other similar groups/organisations to identify new/more effective approaches to family support.
  • Build and maintain a good working relationship with Elmbridge Borough Council’s Family Support Team and other key partners as appropriate.
  • Liaise with other members of the Elmbridge CAN Steering Group as needed to fulfil the role.
 
Please note: the post-holder will also be a member of the Steering Group. 

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE
Essential
  • Relevant social work experience.
  • Ability to manage a team and provide effective support to volunteers.
  • Experience of working with people from different cultural backgrounds and an understanding of relevant cultural issues.
  • Ability to build effective relationship with key partners.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Passion for the role and commitment to the aims of Elmbridge CAN.
  • Willingness to volunteer occasional evenings and weekends.
Desirable
  • Ability to speak Arabic or Kurdish.
  • Previous experience of supporting refugee families.
  • Previous experience of supervising volunteers, particularly lone workers.
  • Understanding of the possible impact on volunteers of working with refugee families and knowledge of strategies to counterbalance this.
  • Understanding of the issues and experiences of families who are coming to the UK as refugees.

Please note: applicants will be required to undergo a DBS check.

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
  • Gain experience supporting volunteers who work with refugees.
  • Experience how it’s possible to make a tangible difference in the lives of refugees.
  • Be part of a grassroots community group.
  • Learn about our work and the refugee crisis.

We are a local community group and as such, we particularly welcome applications from people living in the Borough of Elmbridge or with an affinity to the area.

TO APPLY
Please send a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to [email protected] or get in touch for an informal chat about the role and whether it's right for you.