Senior Caseworker at Church World Service

Primary Purpose

This position is responsible for implementing all United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) Field Processing activity at RSC Africa, ensuring that RSC Africa processing priorities and targets are met, that standard operating procedures are strictly followed and integrity maintained throughout the process.

Essential Duties

• Achieves and maintains a high performance standard based on a thorough knowledge of, and adherence to, established Church World Service Resettlement Support Centre (CWS/RSC Africa), Department of State (DOS), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Refugee Processing Centre (RPC) policies and procedures regarding current refugee processing eligibility criteria, database, and file management guidelines, the role of US Resettlement Agencies and refugee producing country conditions.
• Travels throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, as assigned, or works remotely to conduct resettlement interviews with refugee applicants, collecting biographical information and establishing refugee claims, in a dignified and professional manner.
• Conducts the AOR Screening and Prescreening interviews, either in person or remotely per the daily minimums set by Field Processing Management, in a non-confrontational, objective, and dignified manner. This includes:
• Determining case composition and ensures all refugee cases are cross referenced according to established standard operating procedures.
• Establishing the validity of an applicant’s identity through verification of all demographic and biographic information including, but not limited to, names, nationalities, birth dates, and locations of all immediate family members in order to complete the refugee case history as required.
• Collecting all identity information including photographs, height, and weight.
• Documenting applicant’s persecution claim.
• Analyzing, evaluating, and assessing the eligibility of refugee applicants for final adjudication by USCIS officers.
• Prepares cases for USCIS, including reviewing physical file and START database.
• Assists in Adjudications Circuit Rides, which includes completing post-Adjudication review, updating decisions (FTJ-R cases) and fingerprints, and preparing and distributing decision letters.
• Runs Quality Check reports to ensure complete and accurate files, as well as identifies and correct processing errors prior to USCIS adjudication.
• Identifies and reviews cases pending Prescreening and USCIS interviews in preparation for scheduling, schedules the cases in START, generates reports for refugee/partner notification, ensures that the reports are centrally filed for easy retrieval, and updates START accordingly.
• Works with other Programs departments as necessary to properly update cases.
• Assists as needed in preparing for circuit rides. This may include but is not limited to; requisitioning supplies, assisting GSO in preparation, packing of files, contacting interpreters, clean up at the end of the circuit ride, and other tasks as assigned by the Supervisors.
• Completes and updates all case files and all database records.
• Writes deferrals and info memos for referring agency action, as required.
• Conducts file reviews in accordance with RSC and USCIS guidelines, paying close attention to detail.
• Assists in various administrative tasks including but not limited to: research, locating files, data entry, and case analysis.
• Analyses complex cases in consultation with Supervisors in accordance with established policies and procedures, while remaining open to supervisory direction.
• Trains new staff as required and contributes to the development of Field Processing Department training procedures and their implementation.
• Contributes to the development and updating of standard operating procedures for the Field Processing Department in coordination with Field Processing Supervisors, Managers and Field Processing Coordinator.
• Conducts quality control checks and provides feedback to staff completing Pre-screening interviews during circuit rides
• Serves as a Circuit Ride Point of Contact (POC) and team lead in the field. This includes coordinating and managing logistics in the field for the circuit ride. This also involves but is not limited to; maintaining effective relations with UNHCR, IOM, USCIS, US
• Embassies and other implementing partners; coordinating transport of files, equipment and supplies; ensuring equipment is well managed and utilized; hiring, supervising and paying of interpreters; completing a trip report and accounting fully for funds advanced; and maintaining thorough knowledge and adherence to Circuit Ride and Field Processing Standard Operating Procedures.
• If requested, assists with emails in the Field Processing mailboxes.
• Undertakes other duties as assigned by CWS/RSC Africa Management.

Experience

Qualifications:

• Three (3) years paid work experience required.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Casework or previous resettlement experience is preferred.
• Prior USRAP Field Processing experience is preferred.

Skills

• Strong verbal and written English language skills.
• Second language is an advantage; French, Somali, Tigrinya, Amharic, Kinyarwanda or Arabic preferred.
• Demonstrated computer skills, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.

Abilities

• Manage large and diverse workload under pressure with competing priorities.
• Maintain the integrity of official records. ;
• Analyse and solve complex problems and make sound decisions. ;
• Work with minimal supervision.
• Maintain a high performance standard with attention to detail. ;
• Work independently and contribute to overall operations of RSC Africa. ;
• Actively participate in the implementation of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
• Collaborate with peers, and management and other organizational departments in daily work execution.;
• Take ownership and responsibility of own work.
• Communicate openly and transparently with peers and management.

Education & CertificationsImportant Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or four years of paid work experience is required.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment required.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and willingness to support CWS’ Platform on Racial Justice as a CWS employee required.