Lawyer / paralegal case worker

The social worker will be in charge of assessing and responding to the psychosocial, protection, and specifically legal needs of persons deprived of their liberty (refugees, asylum seekers, stateless) in places of detention in North Lebanon (police stations, prisons, palace of justice).

Major responsibilities:

1.      To carry out daily visits to prioritized prisons, police stations, and the palace of justice in North Lebanon (including Akkar).

2.      To collect monthly lists of foreign prisoners (Syrian, non-Syrian, and stateless –excluding Lebanese and Palestinians) from all targeted prisons and police stations.

3.      To assess the medical, psychological, material, and particularly legal needs of prisoners and newly detained Persons of Concern (Syrian/non-Syrian PoCs), and pre-screen their vulnerabilities in order to refer them to relevant services (internally or externally).

4.      To ensure that the fundamental safeguards in the first hours of arrest are ensured (right to information, notification of deprivation of liberty to relatives or a third party, access to a lawyer, access to a doctor, etc.).

5.      To monitor human rights’ violations, and pay particular attention to detainees at risk of refoulement and torture survivors.

6.      To directly inform the project coordinator of any identified case at risk of refoulement or torture to ensure immediate protection.

7.      To ensure prompt and appropriate referral of targeted PoCs to legal services at Restart Center, and provision of simple legal services (such as applying for release on bail).

8.      To ensure prompt and appropriate referral of targeted PoCs to health and/or mental health services at Restart Center.

9.      To ensure regular follow-up and coordination with the prison’s nurses and medical staff (from the internal security forces) to ensure that the medical treatment is provided properly and in a timely manner.

10.  To closely coordinate with the lawyers and health/mental health professionals at Restart Center to ensure that all services are provided in a holistic and comprehensive approach.

11.  To conduct family visits when necessary, and refer family members to the adequate service.

12.  To ensure continuous communication and coordination with other agencies for referrals and service provision.

13.  To actively participate in weekly coordination meetings.

14.  To submit daily reports to the project’s coordinator, including qualitative and quantitative data.

Job Requirements:

-          University Degree in social work, social sciences, law, or any related fields

-          Five years of experience in the implementation of human rights’-based projects

-          Priority to applicants with experience in paralegal services in places of detention

-          Experience in psychosocial support, legal, health and mental health sectors

-          Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English.

-          Ability to write weekly and monthly reports

-          Ability to work according to Restart Center’s values and code of conduct