Canadian Immigration Support Caseworker, Refugee Legal Aid Program 292 views0 applications

Founded in 1979 StARS is a refugee service provider in central Cairo that works to enhance the quality of life for refugees and vulnerable migrants through five broad services: education, psychosocial, legal, community outreach, and unaccompanied children and youth support.

We provide high-quality services meeting the unaddressed needs of refugees, and we provide a safe and inclusive space for displaced people to come together as a community. We work for refugees, with refugees, to make rights recognition a reality.

StARS’ Mission: Driven by a commitment to justice and fairness, StARS works as displaced people and for displaced people to respect human dignity and enhance quality of life.

Our vision: Displaced people lead in the creation and implementation of responses to different forms of migration to establish safe, just, welcoming, and inclusive communities globally.

We serve people from many places, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

To learn more please visit www.stars-egypt.org

Project Description: Refugee Legal Aid Program

The Refugee Legal Aid Program (RLAP) provides advice and representation to refugees seeking recognition by UNHCR through refugee status determination procedures in Egypt, assists refugees in accessing resettlement to safe third countries, and advises refugees on protection matters. RLAP is seeking to hire four Canadian Immigration Support Caseworkers to assist and advise refugee applicants whose applications are in process by Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)-Cairo. This team of caseworkers will work in close coordination and as part of the RLAP Resettlement Team and will be under the direct supervision and management of the Canadian Immigration Support Supervisor.

Starting in April 2019, RLAP will partner with the Canadian embassy to provide assistance to refugees being resettled from Egypt to Canada whose applications are in process by IRCC-Cairo. This project is funded by the Canadian government specifically for the purpose of ensuring accuracy and verification of information provided by refugee applicants whose applications are in process by the IRCC-Cairo. RLAP, through a team of caseworkers, will assist all refugees who have been referred to Canada for resettlement in verifying information provided in the UNHCR’s Refugee Resettlement Referral (RRF), accurately completing IRCC resettlement application forms, and ensure timely submission of the relevant IRCC resettlement application forms. This project intends as well to strengthen the relationship of communication between RLAP and IRCC-Cairo, and to ensure efficiency within the Canadian resettlement process so as to benefit refugees in need of travel to a safe third country.

Role

Under the supervision of the Canadian Immigration Support Supervisor – the Canadian Immigration Support Caseworker is responsible for managing a caseload of refugee applicants whose applications are in process by the IRCC-Cairo. The Canadian Immigration Support Caseworker will meet with refugee applicants referred by IRCC-Cairo to RLAP, to provide them with advice and assistance as relevant to their resettlement procedure with Canada. This will include assisting with completion of IRCC resettlement application forms, and disseminating advice to refugees approaching StARS with inquiries as to the processing of their resettlement applications by IRCC-Cairo.

Responsibilities

All duties are carried out under the supervision of the Canadian Immigration Support Supervisor.

Technical

• To receive a two-week induction training on StARS’ services, Canadian immigration processes, UNHCR resettlement processes, identification of applicable IRCC-Cairo resettlement application forms, and the filling of IRCC resettlement application forms.
• To provide assistance and support to refugee applicants and their families whose applications are in process by IRCC-Cairo.
• To schedule appointments as necessary with refugee applicants in need of assistance in completing IRCC resettlement application forms.
• To verify the information provided in the UNHCR RRF submitted to IRCC-Cairo.
• To complete IRCC resettlement application forms on behalf of refugee applicants whose applications are in process by IRCC-Cairo.
• To manage the filling and submission of applicable IRCC resettlement application forms for refugee applicants within the deadlines set by IRCC-Cairo.
• To maintain good working knowledge of polices and procedures as relevant to Canadian immigration processes, specifically those applicable to refugees in Egypt.
• To be scheduled for on-call shifts to provide advice and counseling to refugee applicants approaching StARS on walk-in basis with inquiries regarding the Canadian resettlement process.
• To assess extra-legal client needs and refer to other StARS teams or external organizations as appropriate.
• To undertake comprehensive case management practices including maintaining and updating electronic databases and records for each client, and keeping detailed notes of all casework activities.
• To adhere to the Nairobi Code of Ethics, the StARS Policies and Procedures Manual, and the StARS Code of Conduct.

Programmatic

• To assist the RLAP Resettlement Coordinator and the Canadian Immigration Support Supervisor in the development and implementation of team policies and procedures.
• To provide case reporting data to the Canadian Immigration Support Supervisor as requested for purposes of accurately reporting work to senior management, funders, and others.
• To attend and contribute to relevant team meetings and other staff meetings.
• To build and maintain strong relationships with refugee communities in Cairo.
• To build and maintain relationships with psychosocial and education staff and operational partners.

Finance/Administration

· To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.

Communication/Reporting

· To communicate regularly with the Canadian Immigration Support Supervisor, reporting on all major issues and developments in the field and within RLAP.

· To promote information-sharing within RLAP and StARS on all issues affecting the populations we serve.

Qualifications & Experience

The ideal candidate will be energetic, articulate, and comfortable interacting with diverse segments of society. She or he will have demonstrated a firm commitment to human rights and refugee issues.

Essential qualifications:

· English being the official language of StARS, the Canadian Immigration Support Caseworker must be fluent in oral and written English.

· Fluency in Arabic or at a minimum one of the main languages spoken by refugee communities in Egypt, including Oromo, Somali, or Tigrinya is required.

· Knowledge of the general protection situation and vulnerabilities of refugees in Egypt.

· Experience in managing a caseload with competing deadlines and priorities.

· Knowledge of services available for refugees in Egypt.

· Demonstrated attention to details.

· A demonstrated commitment to and sensitivity toward vulnerable or displaced people.

· Ability to live and work in a fluid security environment.

· Ability to exercise sound judgment, well organized, self-motivated, and reliable.

· Demonstrated compassion for refugees and displaced people.

· Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

· Demonstrated ability to work in a team as well as individually.

· A positive attitude and sensitive manner when dealing with clients including a range of interviewing skills for dealing with challenging scenarios, particularly in advocating for survivors of violence, trafficking, torture, and SGBV.

Desirable Characteristics:

· Experience providing assistance or advice on filling of immigration forms or other types of official government forms.

· Life and work experience in the Middle East or Egypt or with an urban refugee population.

· Fluency in any other languages spoken by refugee communities in Egypt.

Hours: 40 hour work week (Sunday – Thursday), and other hours and overtime as required.

Supervised by: RLAP Resettlement Coordinator**

Salary: 4,500 EGP/month, rising to 4,800 EGP/month following successful completion of a three-month probationary period, with 4,020 EGP/year medical allowance and 100 EGP pension contribution following completion of the probationary period.

Benefits: All StARS official benefit policies as stipulated in StARS Policies & Procedures Manual.

Closing date for applications: 21 April 2020

Anticipated starting date: TBD

This position is subject to a three-month probationary period, at which time the employee’s performance will be reviewed and probation may be extended.