The Role
As a Borough of Sanctuary, the successful operation of refugee resettlement programmes alongside other humanitarian responses to alleviate destitution and homelessness, is of upmost importance to Islington. With 500 Ukrainian refugees welcomed to Islington, 40 Afghan households resettled, two large-scale asylum continency hotels operational in the borough, and ongoing social care responsibilities to people with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), the NRPF Refugee and Migrant Service is making available a Care Coordinator position to work directly with asylum seekers and strengthen our service-wide response to meeting needs.
The Care Co-ordinator will split their time between providing direct health navigation support to individuals living in asylum contingency hotels, as part of the wider multi-disciplinary casework team, providing expert advice to the entire NRPF, Refugee and Migrant service, and developing a strategic approach to reducing health inequalities amongst those supported by the service.
The role will be situated at the Islington Council offices (222 Upper Street) and in the community, with the option to work remotely where possible. The role holder will receive daily management from the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant team and fortnightly supervision from the Asylum Seeker LCS Lead.
The Successful Candidate
We are seeking to appoint an NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Care Co-ordinator to address local health inequalities, understand barriers to accessing services and develop strategies for more effective engagement with underrepresented.
This new post created by Islington Council and the NCL ICB and hosted by Islington GP Federation, will be based within the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service, the post holder will:

• Deliver health-related casework support to asylum seekers living in asylum contingency hotels, alongside Islington Councils Asylum Contingency Hotels team.
• Provide expert casework input and advocacy into high risk or complex cases across Afghan Resettlement, Homes for Ukraine and NRPF teams.
• Build trust in the health and social care system for new and established refugee and migrant communities in Islington through engagement and information provision.
• Gather insights into barriers to accessing services and help advocate for action to support the improved wellbeing for asylum seekers, refugees, and people with NRPF.
• Enable effective communication between agencies to maximise existing referral and assessment pathways, whilst identifying where there are gaps in provision.
• Attend events, workshops and meetings within in the community and at the asylum hotels to share learning and contribute to the overall casework response being delivered.

The role requires a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual who is able to work both at a policy and strategic level to advise services and provide ‘hands on’ casework support to individuals as part of a multi-disciplinary casework team. The post holder will work alongside other NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Caseworkers in a team committed to challenging discrimination, racism and inequality through an inclusive, informed and empowering approach for all residents.
About Islington GP Federation
Islington GP Federation (IGPF) is a growing organisation representing 31 practices; we have established ourselves as a leader in new ways of working, including running Islington’s extended access primary care services (I: HUB) as well as supporting the Islington Primary Care Networks (PCNs). Our current range of services includes the Extended Access Service, I: HUB, Community Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT), Integrated Community Gynaecology, practice-based pharmacists and a range of practice support mechanisms.
IGPF works very closely with a range of partners including the regional commissioning group, NHS England, Healthy London Partnership, Public Health, local hospitals such as UCLH and the Whittington Health and the London Borough of Islington.
IGPF is the host organisation for the Primary Care Network (PCN) workforce and the Islington Training Hub and has been working for over two years to create training and development programmes that meet the needs of staff working in primary and community care settings. IGPF runs four Islington GP practices, one on a GMS contract, two on APMS contracts and one on a caretaking contract.
Key working relationships

• Asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in Islington who are referred to or supported by the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service.
• Health Watch Islington, to help ensure access to health and care services.
• Outreach Health Service (South Islington) - a primary care led service based in the Asylum Seeker hotels providing holistic healthcare assessments to residents.
• C&I Mental Health Trust – Talking Therapies Service a fast-track service for residents with immediate metal health care needs

Internal relationships

• The NRPF Refugee and Migrant Service, delivering resettlement services and other humanitarian housing responses in Islington.
• Adult Social Care and Mental Health Services in Islington, responsible for meeting care and support needs of residents.
• The Homes and Neighbourhoods department, meeting the housing needs of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

External relationships

• The Home Office and the Home Office’s subcontracted partners responsible for asylum contingency hotels and asylum dispersal accommodation in Islington.
• VCS organisations commissioned by the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service to deliver integration and wellbeing support in Islington.
• Islington’s 31 GP practices including links with clinical and non-clinical staff in the 5 primary care networks (PCNs)

Job Responsibilities
Main Responsibilities
The post holder will share information and advice to help people living in asylum contingency hotels to access Health and Social Care services in Islington, this includes helping to facilitate the following:

• The direct delivery of health navigation support to people living in asylum accommodation or in accommodation provided by the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service.
• Assisting people to navigate the health system, effectively prioritising a caseload, and ensuring that residents are receiving the highest level of care.
• Informed referrals for Care Act assessments (physical and mental health needs) that enable colleagues to allocate and respond to referrals efficiently.
• Effective coordination of occupational therapy and disability support services and services for people with learning difficulties alongside other social care interventions.
• Attendance at events and workshops in the community and at the asylum contingency hotel, with complex casework support provided when necessary.
• Assist the South Islington PCN Asylum Seeker LCS Healthcare Service in clinical navigation; assist the C&I Talking Therapies service to facilitate and deliver group sessions and workshops on relevant health related themes.

The post holder will work collaboratively with the rest of the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service to:

• Assist the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service to resolve complex medical cases ensuring secondary care is accessed and risks for individuals monitored and well managed, with health-related group sessions run to improve understanding and engagement.
• Attend team meetings for the Afghan Resettlement, Homes for Ukraine and NRPF teams to provide expertise in health and health service navigation.
• Build working partnerships with schools and CAMHS provision to ensure psychological and emotional support is delivered for children and young people from a migrant and refugee background, including for Special Educational Needs (SEN) children.
• Build working partnerships with NHS organisations and social care services to facilitate health-related casework interventions across the service.
• Engage with the people who have lived experience so that their views help shape service improvement.
• Support the increased uptake of vaccinations for people new to Islington and other hard-to-reach groups.

Training and Support
It is expected that the post holder will share learning from the project with partners and will help run training or information sessions as appropriate / required.
Leadership and Governance
The postholder is accountable to the NRPF, Refugee and Migrant Service and NCL and ICB and will be required to evidence work undertaken to address health inequalities and the outcomes achieved as a result. The post holder has autonomy to use their experience and professional judgement to deliver new and innovative approaches to existing challenges, they will make informed recommendations about how identified issues can best be addressed.
Generic Responsibilities
All staff at Islington GP Federation have a duty to conform to the following:
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
A good attitude and positive action towards Equality, Diversity & Inclusion creates and environment where all individuals are able to achieve their full potential. Creating such an environment is important for three reasons: it improves operational effectiveness, it is morally the right thing to do, and it is required by law.
Patients and their families have the right to be treated fairly and be routinely involved in decisions about their treatment and care. They can expect to be treated with dignity and respect and will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Patients have a responsibility to treat other patients and our staff with dignity and respect.
Staff have the right to be treated fairly in recruitment and career progression. Staff can expect to work in an environment where diversity is valued, and equality of opportunity is promoted. Staff will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that you treat our patients and their colleagues with dignity and respect.
Confidentiality
In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their careers, staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to IGPF as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Federation may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Federation policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
Health & Safety
The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others’ health, safety and security as defined in the Federation’s Health & Safety Policy, to include:

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to IGPF guidelines.
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.

Personal/Professional Development
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Federation as part of this employment, such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Quality & Continuous Improvement
BMP continually strives to improve work processes which deliver health care with improved results across all areas of BMP’s service provision. We promote a culture of continuous improvement, where everyone counts, and staff are permitted to make suggestions and contributions to improve our service delivery and enhance patient care
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within IGPF, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team’s performance.
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients’ needs.
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
• The post-holder will:
• Apply IGPF policies, standards and guidance
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
• Participate in audit where appropriate.

Leave
All personnel are entitled to take leave. Line managers are to ensure all of their staff are afforded the opportunity to take leave each year and should be encouraged to take all of their leave entitlement.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 24 months
Pay: £52,290.00 per year
Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Willingness to travel:

• 100% (required)

Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 30/09/2024