Host Support Case Worker

Host Support Case Worker 

Helping Irish Hosts

OVERVIEW

As part of the Host Support Team, and under the direction of the Host Support Lead, you will work to support people who are currently hosting Ukrainian guests in Ireland. As a primary point of contact you will provide information, advice and assistance at every stage of the hosting journey including when it’s time for guests to move on. You’ll be comfortable working independently whilst also aware of when to seek assistance and escalate cases. You’ll contribute to the development of processes and resources, and help us shape what comes next. In collaboration with the wider organisation, and in partnership with external agencies, you will help to grow and nourish a thriving host network in Ireland. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Proactively contact our hosts by phone and email to establish relationships and monitor how matches are going 

• Respond to requests for support; providing information, resources and advice in a timely fashion 

• Support hosts and guests through the end of their hosting arrangement by facilitating ‘moving on’ conversations and advising on onward accommodation options

• Work collaboratively with the Matchmaking Team to find new hosting arrangements for guests or hosts 

• For more complex and serious situations, work with colleagues to find the best outcome for all parties involved

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of your work on the team workspace and in shared databases

• Ensure confidentiality in relation to all aspects of the service, handling sensitive and personal data with care and in line with GDPR regulations

• Contribute positively to team meetings, projects, reports and the creation of resources

  
  

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Committed to the mission of Helping Irish Hosts, and wants to make an impact in a humanitarian crisis 

• Experience of managing a caseload in a supporting or caring profession e.g. social work, public health, mental health, education, housing 

• Comfortable working in situations of uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity

• Excellent communicator 

• Flexible and solution-focused approach to work

• Compassionate and self-aware

• Works well as part of a team

• Exhibits attention to detail and is organised, reliable, and diligent when following processes and procedures 

• Confident in the use of IT including Google Workspace (or equivalent e.g. MS Office suite), social media, customer relationship management software

• Fluent English speaker 

DESIRABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE  

• Experience of working in customer service 

• Experience of working with people from different cultural backgrounds 

• Experience of working remotely 

• Experience of hosting or being hosted

• Awareness of the situation in Ukraine and the Irish response to it

  
  

CONTRACT TYPE 

• Part time, fixed term contract

• €18.50 per hour (approx. 20 hours per week)

• Primarily working remotely in Ireland with occasional requirements to assist with events or attend training in-person

• Training will be required and provided 

For enquiries about the role please contact Ger at ger@helpingirishhosts.com

ABOUT HIH

Helping Irish Hosts (HIH) is a limited company formed by a group of hosts, working together with displaced and Irish based Ukrainians, to get people into Irish homes – quickly – to give them a soft landing, while avoiding Direct Provision and long term hotel / government accommodation stays.  

We arose in direct response to the Ukraine crisis, to empower and support individuals and communities in Ireland to host Ukrainians in their homes, safely and sustainably. We’ve done an excellent job so far, with over 1,300 Ukrainians in more than 520 homes, a vibrant, trusted support network for hosts and presenting a strong voice in advocacy for hosts at all levels. 

It takes years of expertise to develop a safe, rewarding hosting programme. We've only had 12 months! We are working in close partnership and collaboration with The Irish Red Cross, The Irish Refugee Council, Doras, Nasc and The Open Community, organisations who have led the way in refugee resettlement and what's called the "Community Sponsorship" model in Ireland for over 30 years. We are part of the Irish Ukraine NGO & Civil Society Response Group and we are deeply engaged with the Ukrainian community in Ireland. 

We are funded by The One Foundation, The Sunflower Foundation and The Community Foundation and via our Service Level Agreement with the Irish Red Cross. We are supported by a wide variety of corporate and state partners. We are registered as a CLG (717469, April 13, 2022).

Our hosts are motivated by a desire to help people fleeing Ukraine and this is our focus. Our belief is that this response has the potential to transform Ireland’s ongoing refugee response, to finally move away from Direct Provision towards a system Ireland can be proud of. 

We are hosts, helping hosts. Together, we are playing our part in this historic, unprecedented, global emergency humanitarian response. We believe that this is the best way forward.

We are building a team to deliver on this commitment. We’d love to hear from you if you want to be part of it.