Senior Caseworker (Schedule A)

Job Overview:

Beginning in January 2024, the IRC will provide transitional case management services to asylum seekers in New York City under a contract with New York City’s Health & Hospitals (H+H). In 2022, in response to an increase in asylum seekers arriving in New York after having recently arrived via the southern US border, H+H launched several Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRCs) to provide humanitarian reception and supportive services to asylum seekers while they stabilize and organize plans to reach their final destination.

The IRC believes that coordinated, client-centered humanitarian reception can serve as a gateway to a safe and dignified asylum system in the US. With this new program, IRC staff will work with families in HERRC facilities to identify strategies to remove barriers to stability, facilitate safe connections to US ties and communities, and provide basic information on the immigration process to ensure they understand their rights and have access to available legal services in the community, provide referrals to legal and social services in final destinations, and provide more intensive case management for families and individuals with heightened needs. We will leverage our strong infrastructure and technical and emergency expertise to ramp up transitional case management capacity while coordinating closely with agencies providing legal and social services to asylum seekers in New York City (the City).

The IRC will also implement an innovative model to support asylum seekers interested in relocating by leveraging its proven and award-winning virtual case management model and infrastructure. Through this model, trained case managers will provide virtual navigation of resources and information for asylum seekers interested and willing to relocate outside of the City. These virtual services will include cash assistance, guidance on navigating the new community of resettlement, and ongoing virtual case management, including referrals to legal service providers and community-based organizations for up to five months post-resettlement. This virtual case management model endeavors to empower asylum-seekers who wish to resettle outside of the City but lack the resources, information, and support network needed to make the move.

The Senior Caseworker is an experienced service provider and immigrant rights advocate who provides trauma-informed services to asylum seekers in City-provided shelters. This position works directly with clients to assess needs, vulnerabilities, and risks across multiple life domains using standardized instruments and develops a client-centered service plan. They utilize evidenced-based best practices and strategies to address barriers, mitigate risks, and determine and coordinate care among multiple service providers. They support clients in navigating complex systems and barriers, including the immigration and asylum systems. They independently advocate for clients to ensure access to holistic and legal services. The Senior Caseworker will be responsible for continually assessing clients for protection and safety concerns and managing risks in consultation with the Casework Supervisor.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide case management services to asylum seekers, including highly vulnerable individuals and families; conduct needs assessments and formulate individual and family service plans and provide support through direct services, referrals, and advocacy.
• Provide information and orientation on key topics, including basic rights and responsibilities in the immigration court process.
• Assess and monitor client progress to support their attainment of established goals, address challenges, and ensure that available resources are utilized.
• Determine the need for and triage suicide assessments, safety planning, and mandatory reporting as needed.
• Collaborate and coordinate effectively with partner organizations to build and maintain relationships with area service providers for the benefit of clients.
• Detailed client interactions in accordance with program requirements, inputting client information in the database(s) and assisting with tracking and reporting as needed.
• Adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) in line with Casework best practices and IRC policies and procedures to ensure successful program delivery and a safe, supportive environment for clients and staff.
• Ensure ethical practices, including maintaining the confidentiality of cases.
• Maintain a strong understanding of trauma-informed principles and approaches, immigration system policies and trends, protection and safeguarding, and mandatory reporting.
• Maintain an understanding of how asylum seekers navigate the immigration system, including systemic barriers, and effectively advocate and seek referrals to address those barriers and elevate cases that need immediate attention.
• Cultivate a respectful, supportive, and inclusive environment for team members and clients.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field of study or equivalent experience required, Master’s degree preferred.
• 1-2 years of experience in community-based services, social services immigrant advocacy, community organizing, and/or humanitarian relief.
• Experience working with asylum seekers is strongly preferred.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Competency in implementing case management best practices such as trauma-informed care, comprehensive needs assessment, and client-centered service planning.
• Demonstrated understanding of the U.S. immigration system and stakeholders, particularly the U.S. asylum system; awareness of and commitment to the rights and realities of immigrant communities in the U.S., including through lived experience.
• Crisis intervention skills to support client safety, including knowledge of procedures and requirements for mandatory reporting, ability to conduct independent suicide assessment, and survivor-supported intimate partner violence safety planning.
• Understanding of asylum seekers’ access to and ability to navigate support systems within New York City.
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills and proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); able to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research, and problem-solving.

Language Skills:

• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Bilingual ability is a plus, ideally in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Pulaar, Mandarin, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, Dari, or Georgian.

Working Environment:

• On-site presence at the HERRCs, which are 24-hour/7-day facilities, where the IRC is expected to operate on a two-shift schedule.
• IRC is hiring this position across multiple schedules. By applying to this position, you are affirming your availability to work the following schedule. If you are not able to work this schedule, we encourage you to review our other available postings:
  • Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 6AM – 4:15PM, 37.5 hours per week (Full time)

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.