Casework Intern (Spring 2025)
Assist with casework and support refugee clients
Overview
Assist with casework and support refugee clients
You have:
- Able to work with minimal supervision
- Comfortable working in a multicultural environment
- Flexible, able to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Reliable, responsible, able to complete tasks within required time-frame
- Must have a car and be willing to transport clients in your personal vehicle
- Must be located in Charlottesville Virginia and be willing to complete field work
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Attend Volunteer/Intern Orientation
• Transport clients to various agencies and appointments
• Orient new refugees to transportation systems and community
• Shop for and set up homes for arriving refugees
• Assist with required documentation for case files
• Advocate for clients during delivery of needed services; represent IRC in a professional manner
• Record hours and submit completed timesheet for each month via the IRC’s online Volunteer Dashboard.
BACKGROUND: Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is a leading, non-sectarian, non-profit organization providing emergency relief, protection, rehabilitation assistance, resettlement services, and advocacy for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict. Domestically, our 28 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency.
SCOPE OF WORK: Interns will assist casework staff in providing direct client services, including shopping for and setting up households for arriving refugee families, transporting and accompanying clients to required appointments such as Social Security office, Health Department, Dept. of Social Services and providing orientation to the Charlottesville public transit system. Interns will also perform administrative tasks such as completing applications for services on behalf of clients, creating documentation for case files, and making appointments.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Attend Volunteer/Intern Orientation
• Transport clients to various agencies and appointments
• Orient new refugees to transportation systems and community
• Shop for and set up homes for arriving refugees
• Assist with required documentation for case files
• Advocate for clients during delivery of needed services; represent IRC in a professional manner
• Record hours and submit completed timesheet for each month via the IRC’s online Volunteer Dashboard.
Qualifications • Able to work with minimal supervision
• Comfortable working in a multicultural environment
• Flexible, able to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Reliable, responsible, able to complete tasks within required time-frame
• Must have a car and be willing to transport clients in your personal vehicle
• Must be located in Charlottesville Virginia and be willing to complete field work.
This position is unpaid and reports to the Casework Supervisor.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a time when you advocated for someone in need? | This question assesses your advocacy skills and ability to represent client interests. | Provide a specific example of how you supported someone and the impact it had. |
| How do you approach working in a diverse and multicultural environment? | The interviewer wants to know about your cultural competency and adaptability. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Tell us about a time you had to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What steps would you take to ensure effective communication with clients who are refugees? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Why do you want to work with refugee populations? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |