PRIME Caseworker

**IRC Background:** The mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC has a presence in over 40 countries and 27 offices in the United States; the IRC leads the way from harm to home. IRC opened an office in Seattle in 1976 and provides a continuum of services including intensive case management, employment and economic empowerment services, immigration assistance, health and wellness programming, and education support to refugee and immigrant families in Washington State. IRC Washington is committed to providing trauma-informed, equitable, and accessible services and maintaining and evolving a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace.

**Job Overview:**

The PRIME Case Worker will address barriers to self sufficncy for especially vulnerable clients under ORIA’s PRIME program ( Promoting Refugee Mobility and Empowerment The PRIME caseworker will be expected to provide strengths-based, client-centered case management, regarding client’s identified health concerns, to single-headed refugee households; survivors of domestic violence and gender-based violence; older refugees; youth and young adults without parents or permanent guardians; refugees experiencing mental health or psychological difficulties; refugees with physical disabilities or medical conditions; unanticipated refugee arrivals and secondary migrants; and refugees who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ). They work closely with clients, colleagues, and external parties to develop service plans to meet individual client healthcare needs and improve access to healthcare and resources in accordance with client eligibility and program requirements. The program focuses on providing ongoing support for clients 90 days after arrival up to 5 years post arrival, to assist in removing barriers to self- sufficiency and promoting mobility and empowerment across the clients served.

**Major Responsibilities:**

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

- Collaborate closely with the ICM team to identify additional healthcare needs for vulnerable clients.
- Attend team meetings, and partner meetings as assigned.
- Assist clients in navigating healthcare systems, public benefits, educational institutions, and other public service providers which may include scheduling and attending appointments.
- Develop and distribute self-sufficiency guides tailored to each client based upon self-sufficiency goals.
- Assist clients with the selection of a public and community resources that may bridge self-sufficiency gaps and help schedule initial appointments once the selection has been made, ensuring each client is comfortable with contacting their providers and scheduling their own appointments.
- Conduct regular outreach to healthcare providers and social service agencies to address barriers to services and identify resources.
- Provide clients with extended orientation on a variety of topics regarding health such as women’s health, specialized treatment for people with physical disabilities, and navigating physical healthcare systems at the local level, navigating public benefits, housing, to include supporting clients in practicing and learning to do this independently.
- Respond to client stability crises, with guidance from supervisor as needed.
- Assist in development of custom Self Sufficiency plans with clients and provide coaching a support to clients as they work to remove and overcome barriers to gain self-sufficiency.
- Maintain up-to-date documentation in client’s case file to ensure services are properly documented throughout the client’s service period; document all services provided in IRC’s database, Efforts to Outcomes (ETO).
- Attend relevant training courses and meetings at the local and national level.
- May train and lead the activities of volunteers and interns.
- Follow all policies, procedures, and protocols of the agency
- Attend and engage in all team meetings, staff meetings, and other relevant meetings and participate fully as a member of the IRC team.
- Attend trainings required of PRIME staff and implement content in work with clients.
- Other duties as assigned.

**Key Working Relationships:**

**Position Reports to:** Health and Wellness Program Manager

**Position Supervises:** Interns and volunteers related to cases

**Other Internal and/or external contacts:**

***Internal*****:** other IRC Spokane and Seattle program teams, IRC Spokane Finance and Operations teams, HQ ICM

***External*****:** Health service providers, social service providers.

**Job Requirements:**

- Relevant degree or equivalent professional and/or lived experience specifically in fields of health access, health navigation, public health, social work, social service provision, intensive case management
- Lived experience as a refugee or immigrant is preferred