Advice For Families Caseworker Jobs in Barnet, Greater London
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This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Centre 404 is a leading charity based in North London with an excellent reputation for providing high quality services to children and adults with learning disabilities and their families. This role will be part of our Supporting Families team that works with family carers of children and adults who have a learning disability and offers advice, training, support and events throughout the year.
As one of the smaller teams within the Centre 404 organisation, this is an ideal opportunity for an effective and confident individual to bring expertise to the team within a supportive and collaborative environment.
The post holder will be responsible for providing individual information, advice and support to parents/carers of children, young people and adults with learning disabilities or autism across North London boroughs. The specific arears of advice and support will be around the four main themes: Best Start in Life, Carers Health and Wellbeing, Transitions Throughout Life, Income Maximisation (welfare benefits). You will help to navigate what can be complex and potentially intimidating processes to unlock the support that families need and deserve.
This is a potentially hugely rewarding role for an individual with experience of family care and the welfare and benefits system. You will be making measurable and positive changes to the lives and opportunities of families of children and adults with a learning disability and the job will offer you challenge, autonomy and opportunities for development within a growing organisation.
Centre 404 is dedicated to staff development and supervision and we will provide a detailed induction and on-going training and support. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and we are looking to recruit people who share these values.
We are dedicated to providing a meaningful and rewarding work environment, as well as offering a range of perks and benefits for our staff to enjoy.
Centre 404 is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Charity ref number 299889
Please submit a CV along with a cover statement (either within the email itself or as an attachment) addressing the following: “Tell us more about why you are interested in this role and what you would bring to this post in terms of your knowledge, skills and experience”. Please ensure you refer to the person specification in your statement and explain how you meet the criteria.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Advice Session Superviser or experienced Generalist Adviser with at least 2 years’ experience looking for a development opportunity to join our dynamic team.
The successful candidate will join our team of Supervisers and contribute to the support and development of our excellent staff and volunteers.
Together with our Senior Management Team and Quality Performance Manager, you will help to ensure that we continue to provide a high quality advice service within the London Borough of Bromley.
If you are a team player, committed to supporting others, and want a job that makes a difference in people’s lives this could be the job for you.
Closing date: Monday 6th May 2024 at Midnight
Interview date: Wednesday 8 th May 2024
Citizens Advice Bromley values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our dynamic team as a Money Advice Caseworker on our Debt Free London project. The successful applicant will be providing money advice as part of our London wide project.
You will be contributing to the health & well-being of the community and helping people from reaching crisis point. In return, as part of our team, you will benefit from learning and development opportunities.
If you are a team player, willing to learn, committed to quality and want a job which makes a difference in people’s lives then this could be the job for you.
Closing Date: 5pm on Tuesday 7th May 2024
Interview Date: Friday 10th May 2024
Citizens Advice Bromley values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
Hours: Full- and part-time positions
Contract: Permanent
Location: CAML charity offices and outreach venues across Merton
Salary (pro rata for part time):
From £30,000 per annum for Advice Supervisor
From £29,000 per annum for Trainee Supervisor
Annual Leave: 25 days (pro rata for part time), Charity Day, plus public holidays
Pension: The charity operates a pension scheme
The charity offers an employee assistance programme
Deadline: 6pm, Thursday 9th May 2024
Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth (CAML) is the leading advice charity supporting individuals and families primarily across the London boroughs of Lambeth and Merton but also wider London. We provide a range of information, support and advice services. We also work to raise awareness and understanding of the challenging issues affecting our clients and communities.
We are looking for an experienced Adviser/Caseworker or Supervisor to join our team in this new role. If you are passionate about supporting individuals and families in need, relish supporting valued team members to reach their potential, have minimum of two years Citizens Advice Adviser experience, are a natural team leader, enjoy delivering training and are interested in joining a dedicated professional team we would love to hear from you.
Our offices have excellent public transport links and Mitcham also has a carpark. We offer a friendly and welcoming work environment and can provide flexible work opportunities dependent on service demands.
This role is a service manager including line management responsibilities and reports to Head of Advice Services.
Main duties and responsibilities
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As a member of service managers team, ensure client support team members are supported with the appropriate level of guidance and supervision
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Complete casework and generalist advice for clients (when required)
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Monitor the case records / telephone calls of designated staff and volunteers to meet quality standards and service level agreements
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Ensure remedial and developmental issues are identified and acted on to develop individuals, improve the quality of advice, and ensure clients do not suffer detriment due to poor or inadequate advice
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Keep technical knowledge up to date and provide technical support to advisers and / or caseworkers
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As a service/team manager you are a member of CAML’s Service Manager Delivery Team
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Assist trainees through self-learning modules and review progress on a regular basis.
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Research, design and deliver training programmes and sessions
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Take part in recruitment, induction and coordination of our fantastic volunteers
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Attend appropriate internal and external meetings as agreed
Research and Campaigns
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Promote the importance of research and campaigns work
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Include a review for research and campaigns within case-checking
Other duties and responsibilities
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Uphold the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and its equal opportunities policies.
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Professionally represent and promote Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth in your work
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Other duties as requested by your line manager (Head of Advice Services), SMT or Chief Executive
Professional Development
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The successful applicant will receive comprehensive induction to the charity and our work. We support team members in their professional development to ensure we’re up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to benefits and debt and undertake appropriate training as agreed with your line manager.
Person Specification
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Citizens Advice qualified and experienced across all advice areas essential.
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Ability to support volunteers and staff and maintain motivation.
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Demonstrable ability to monitor and maintain service delivery against agreed targets.
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Well-organised and able to prioritise own work and the work of others, meet deadlines and manage workload in a busy environment.
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Ability to use IT systems and packages, and electronic resources in the provision of advice and the preparation of reports and submissions.
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Commitment to and work within the aims, principles and policies of the Citizens Advice service.
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Strong understanding of equality and diversity and its application to the provision of advice, and the supervision and development of staff.
This job description and personal specification does not form part of any contract.
If you’re interested in the role and joining us, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please follow the link to our website to view the full job description and find out how to apply (please note we will not consider CVs for this role).
The deadline for applications is 6pm, Thursday, 9th May 2024.
If you do not hear from us, we are afraid your application was unsuccessful.
We reserve the right to close applications early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.
We are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and will process your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. Please refer to our online Privacy Policy for more information on how your personal data will be processed and stored.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you passionate about supporting people to uphold their rights?
Disability Advice Service Lambeth (dasl) is Lambeth’s peer-led Disabled People’s Organisation.
We want to appoint a Professional Advocate who shares our ethos and values and is committed to supporting Lambeth residents achieve their legal rights.
dasl have provided an advocacy service for Lambeth Council for 12 years and since 2020 we have played a key role in the Lambeth Advocacy Hub, a single point of access for all statutory independent advocacy services for Lambeth residents aged 16 and over. We manage referrals and enquiries and provide independent Care Act advocacy and a range of non-statutory advocacy.
We provide a high quality service - we hold the Advocacy Quality Performance Mark. You will hold, or be working towards, a qualification such as the Certificate/Diploma in Independent Advocacy (Level 3), or be able to show the necessary skills and relevant experience in a formal or informal advocacy role.
dasl’s success comes from dedicated work of our skilled staff, many of whom are Disabled people. You will be valued for who you are in our supportive and friendly team.
We work flexibly between home and office. Our office in Brixton is accessible.
This is a rolling recruitment - applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed as soon as possible. We encourage you to apply as soon as you are able.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Hours: Full- and part-time positions
Contract: Permanent
Location: CAML charity offices and outreach venues across Merton
Salary (pro rata for part time):
From £26,500 per annum, dependent on experience, for accredited Advisers
£25,642.50 per annum for Trainee Advisers
Annual Leave: 25 days (pro rata for part time), Charity Day, plus public holidays
Pension: The charity operates a pension scheme
The charity offers an employee assistance programme
Deadline: 6pm, Thursday 9th May 2024
Are you an experienced accredited Adviser or Caseworker, or have you worked with an advice support organisation with experience of supporting clients with advice assessments and/or general queries?
Do you want to support individuals and families impacted by the cost of living crisis?
Are you looking for a role with a professional, supportive and expanding advice charity with over 80 years of experience working in South West London?
If so please read on:
Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth (CAML) is the leading advice charity supporting individuals and families across the London boroughs of Lambeth, Merton but also wider London. We provide a range of information, support and advice services. We also work to raise awareness and understanding of the challenging issues affecting our clients and communities.
Owing to charity expansion, we are looking for experienced, accredited Advisers and trainee Advisers to provide comprehensive advice and support to clients. If you have at least one year’s experience of working in an advice support organisation, are passionate about supporting individuals and families in need and interested in joining a dedicated, professional team we would love to hear from you.
The successful candidates will have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work flexibly with clients and for the charity. You will be meticulous in your work, especially when supporting clients and maintaining case records for continuity of follow up advice and casework. You will also be very well informed with regard to legislation, case law and policy changes relating to advice and benefits.
Main duties and responsibilities
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Provide comprehensive advice in all generalist subject areas including welfare benefits, debt and income maximisation, in line with Citizens Advice requirements.
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Commit to train for generalist adviser accreditation (if trainee) and ongoing training/development (all roles) as requested by the charity
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Use your interpersonal skills to explore, listen and understand complex problems as they affect each individual and tailor your approach to advice accordingly
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Provide a clear plan of action and follow-up on actions relating to cases as appropriate
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Identify and escalate serious problems, including safeguarding, appropriately
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Ability to work to own initiative within a team environment. Work closely with service colleagues and wider CAML team
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Support clients in CAML offices and outreach venues
Monitoring Quality and Case Recording
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Ensure all client engagement and support is comprehensively and accurately recorded
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Review your work, and monitor quality standards, as per the Citizens Advice quality framework
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Ensure data protections regulations are adhered and office procedures followed
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Work with your line manager and senior managers to develop and improve services, and your own standards.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
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With wider charity team and other organisations, ensure clients are supported with related advice issues
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Ensure all work is fully compliant with our policies and procedures and Citizens Advice Quality Standard
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Assist and contribute to the charity’s communications, research and campaigns work
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Maintain positive working relations with our stakeholders
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Professionally represent Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth
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Other duties as requested by your line manager, senior manager and Chief Executive
Professional Development
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All our team receive comprehensive induction to the charity and our work. We support Advisers in their professional development to ensure we’re up to date with recent legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to benefits and debt and undertake appropriate training as agreed with your line manager.
Person Specification
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Generalist Adviser certificate (Citizens Advice or equivalent) including debt module – Essential for accredited roles
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Experience of providing information/assessments to clients - Essential for trainee roles
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Experience of using client management databases (we use Casebook) – Essential
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Fantastic communication skills - Essential
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Ability to prioritise work, meet deadlines and manage caseload – Essential
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IT competency and experience – Essential
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Ability and willingness to work as a team – Essential
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Understanding of and commitment to the aims, principles and values of Citizens Advice service – Essential
This job description and personal specification does not form part of any contract.
If you’re interested in the role and joining us, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please follow the link to our websitefor full description and find out how to apply (please note we will not consider CVs for this role).
The deadline for applications is 6pm, Thursday 9th May 2024.
If you do not hear from us, we are afraid your application was unsuccessful.
We reserve the right to close applications early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.
We are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and will process your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. Please refer to our online Privacy Policy for more information on how your personal data will be processed and stored.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Weekly hours: 37.5 hours, shifts 7.5 hours per day, between 8am-10pm including some weekend and bank holidays)
Could you be a Caseworker for vulnerable young people? Could you give them the support and guidance they need to get back on their feet and live independently?
The young people we work with have become homeless for a number of reasons – isolation or mental health, abusive relationships, substance misuse, involvement in gangs/county lines - their issues are complex so you will need to be able to build strong, trusting relationships so that our customers feel safe and supported.
We are opening two new supported housing schemes in Lambeth, which will be Ofsted registered. Both schemes are part of our well-established Young Persons and Complex Needs service in London and will provide temporary housing for young people aged 16-17 who are experiencing homelessness.
A bit about the role:
As a Caseworker, you will be working with a team of highly motivated, compassionate, and dedicated colleagues supporting a caseload of young customers with complex needs. You’ll need to meet each customer weekly to help them with their goals and discuss their progress. And, when someone’s ready to move on, we'll rely on you to help them access the housing register or look for suitable rented accommodation.
What we’re looking for:
You may have worked with vulnerable young people in a paid or voluntary capacity, maybe as a Youth Worker or in an education setting providing pastoral care. You’re a great relationship builder, who can create trust so that our young people feel comfortable sharing their issues with you, you listen but in a non-judgemental way and you are able to spot signs for concern and act on them. You’ll also need to be able to work on your own, sometimes dealing with challenging situations and diffusing them to avoid escalation. Is this you?
- Relationship building skills
- Empathy
- Great listening skills
- Diplomacy and the ability to deal with challenging situations and diffuse them
- Non judgmental
- Proactive and assertive
You will be required to subscribe to the DBS Update Service and this annual membership will be repaid to you. It is essential that you are able to work 37.5 hours a week – we are not a UK licenced sponsor and any sponsorship with another employer is not valid for this role.
Please note if appointed your job title will be Housing Support Worker.
A bit about us:
It started over 160 years ago with one man’s desire to improve the lives of poverty-stricken Londoners. Today, we have 107,000 homes and 220,000 residents across London and the Home Counties and around 20,000 care and support customers. But the desire remains the same – to create homes and communities where people can flourish.
Here are just a few of the benefits for working at Peabody:
- Up to 25 days’ annual holiday plus bank holidays
- Flexible benefits scheme, including options for Healthcare, Dental care, Critical illness cover, vouchers, technology scheme and access to a discount portal.
- 4 x Life Assurance
- Competitive salaries that are benchmarked regularly against current market rates
- Professional development by access to "paid for" apprenticeship programs and qualifications
- Two additional paid volunteering days each year
- Family friendly policies
- Up to 10% pension contribution matched 1:1
Location: Camden “Hybrid working”
Salary: Salary Band 2.2 (Indirect)
£26,521.88 - £28,643.63 per annum
£15,913.13- £17,186.18 Pro- rata to 22.5 hours per week.
(Please note, successful candidates are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)
Hours: 22.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 9th May 2024 at 12 noon
Virtual Interview Date: 22nd May 2024
Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as Immigration Advisor at Solace Women's Aid.
We exist to end the harm done through gender-based violence. Our aim is to work to prevent violence and abuse, as well as providing services to meet the individual needs of survivors, particularly women and children. Our work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives, free from abuse.
Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work, and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.
About the Service
Solace’s Immigration service provides high quality immigration advice to survivors of domestic abuse who have insecure immigration status. The Immigration Service is a pan London provision working with women with insecure immigration status who have been affected by VAWG including sexually exploited and trafficked women.
About the Role
We are seeking a qualified and experienced immigration advisor to join our pan-London Immigration service in Camden.
As part of a team of legally trained advisors, you will be responsible for assisting women affected by domestic or sexual abuse with uncertain immigration status. Your role involves managing complex cases and collaborating closely with the team to provide comprehensive support to women as they rebuild their lives.
About You
We seek someone with strong caseworker skills, with a commitment to keep survivors at the centre of service delivery whilst also delivering on service targets. You will have a passion for ending violence against women and girls as well as a thorough understanding of immigration law and an understanding of the barrier’s women with insecure immigration status face in accessing legal advice and support.
We understand that you may not have all the knowledge, experience, and skills mentioned in the Job Profile Document. However, your interpersonal skills, passion to have a positive impact, commitment to our purpose, and ability to learn quickly and collaborate effectively will be equally important. If you wish to learn more about the role or if you are unsure about whether to apply, we encourage you to contact our recruitment team.
We understand that you may not have all the knowledge, experience, and skills mentioned in the Job Profile Document. However, your interpersonal skills, passion to have a positive impact, commitment to our purpose, and ability to learn quickly and collaborate effectively will be equally important. If you wish to learn more about the role or if you are unsure about whether to apply, we encourage you to contact our recruitment team.
What we can offer you
We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:
- Flexible working
- Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
- Generous holiday entitlement
- Employer pension contribution
- Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
- Access to Inclusion Networks
- Daily clinical debriefing
- Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice.
- Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
- Flow & Restore yoga classes.
- Meditation sessions
- Cycle to Work Scheme
How to apply
Please submit your CV and Supporting Statement through the recruitment portal. When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:
- Values, Behaviours & Competencies
- Knowledge, Experience and Skills
Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work. If you require any support to apply for this role, please email us.
This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.
No agencies.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Do you want to shape the future of our response to stalking and personal safety?
Do you have resilience and flexibility to meet the demands this role brings, and enjoy working in a sharing and learning environment?
If yes, then read on.
We are recruiting Advocates for a number of our services including:
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National Stalking Helpline and Advocacy Service which offers support and advice to thousands of victims of stalking every year. Caseworkers advocate on victims’ behalf with police, social services and other statutory or victim support agencies.
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London Stalking Support, a specific service to provide advice and advocacy for victims in London, including the development of a trauma-led approach to advocacy.
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London Stalking Threat Assessment Centre, we are a key partner in this intervention programme for stalking perpetrators, in an interdisciplinary setting involving partners from the health and criminal justice services. We provide victim centred advocacy.
As an Equal Opportunities employer, the Trust strives to maintain a diverse and inclusive culture representative of the communities we advise.
Work Location: The post holder will be required to be office-based initially to support their induction and integration with the service. Thereafter, a blended model (40 office/60 home), with office working in London and home working (must have adequate and confidential workspace when remote working). Candidates should ideally be located in London or immediate surrounding area (but locations outside of these areas may be considered)
These roles are also available on a part-time basis.
Please refer to the attached pack for the detailed Job Description and Person Specification.
Please note that applications without a covering letter will not be considered.
We reserve the right to close this role early.
To reduce the risk and prevalence of abuse, aggression and violence - with a specific focus on stalking and harassment
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Springfield Advice & Law Centre is a community based legal practice and a registered charity. We were formed in 1982 when we were set up to serve the mental health community. We are based mainly on the site of Springfield University Hospital Mental Health NHS Trust. Springfield Law Centre is unique as a working model of a health justice partnership.
We are seeking a for a new Director & Head of Legal Practice to take forward this unique, niche Law Centre. There is an opportunity for expanding the work of the Law Centre and showcasing the worth of health justice partnerships.We are looking for an energetic and compassionate lawyer with a broad experience of either housing or community care casework and representation, who is capable of being a legal aid category supervisor in either area, who has the confidence to lead the team and to develop it so that we can continue to make a real difference within the community.
Qualifications and experience
- 5 years’ PQE qualified lawyer, with demonstrable experience of management at a senior level.
- Ability to meet the supervisor for the Legal Aid Agency contract in either housing or community care.
- A track record of implementing and managing change.
- A track record of leading and motivating others demonstrating strong people skills.
- A track record of innovation and problem solving.
- Appropriate skills and experience that demonstrate an ability and commitment to manage staff effectively. This should include support, supervision, and appraisal and performance management.
- Appropriate skills and experience to effectively handle and manage complaints.
- Experience of managing a Legal Aid Agency Contract and Legal Help matters, with billing targets.
- Ability to bill all types of legally-aided work and to report to the Legal Aid Agency.
- Ability to manage a varied caseload of sufficient, appropriate matters to meet the billing target in place.
- Ability to draft appropriate documentation in your specialist area of law.
- Experience of giving successful training or talks, for example giving presentations, or
- representing clients before Courts or Tribunals.
- Skills
- Ability to take an active role in, leading the direction of the Law Centre, developing new strategies and raising profile.
- Ability to manage the Lexcel Quality Mark and ensure that systems and standards are maintained across the organisation so that audits are passed.
- Ability to understand the financial viability of the Law Centre.
- Ability to report effectively to funders and to monitor progress against grant funded projects.
- Commitment to equality and diversity as set out in the principles and policies of the Law Centre.
- Ability to be self-servicing: you will be expected to manage most of your own typing, filing and billing of Legal Help/Aid cases to comply with LAA requirements.
- Ability to prioritise your workload with minimum supervision.
- Excellent communication skills: you must be able to relate well to colleagues, clients and third parties, in person, in writing and on the telephone, despite the pressures of the role.
- You must be very well organised, with excellent ICT skills, in order to work well under pressure without compromising standards.
- Ability to work flexibly and outside regular office hours including attending and reporting to the trustees on the progress of the Law Centre.
Consideration will be given to requests for flexible or family friendly hours of work to include job share, part time working or specific proposals. The Management Committee consider the range and number of duties to be a full-time role and that any reduction from a full-time role will result in a division of duties to accommodate all aspects of the Law Centre’s needs and aspirations.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About RLS
RLS is a UK charity and a non-profit company in Greece (AMKE).
Refugee Legal Support works in solidarity with people who migrate. We operate in the UK, France and Greece, promoting and protecting rights through legal support, casework, litigation, engagement, training and partnerships. We advocate for safe migration and oppose discriminatory immigration systems and policies.
RLS has held a legal aid contract in the UK since 2023.
About the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative (APBI)
The Afghan Pro Bono Initiative is a specialist casework project delivered by RLS with funding and pro bono assistance from 14 leading commercial law firms. It is a project delivered in partnership with SPI.
Firm pro bono lawyers are trained and supervised by the project’s two full-time supervising lawyers so that they can then assist with legal casework.
APBI has two core components. The team delivers legal information and support to and within the Afghan community, working together with the Community Engagement and Research Lead to ensure wide access. While the project also provides high quality legal representation in a range of cases for this community. This includes family reunion, the ARAP scheme, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and others.
APBI then aims to respond to the increased need for legal information, advice and representation of Afghan nationals and their family members forced to seek protection and reunion with family in the United Kingdom following the Taliban takeover. The project is now going into its 3rd year, and won the Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership Award at the Law Works Pro Bono Awards in 2022 as well as being nominated and commended for numerous other awards in 2022 and 2023.
The casework of this project feeds into strategic research, policy and advocacy efforts to make existing ‘safe’ routes to protection (in particular refugee family reunion and resettlement schemes) more accessible and effective, advocate for their expansion and defend the fundamental rights of people on the move by influencing policy and decision making.
Litigation arising out of the project is actively pursued (where eligible) under RLS’s legal aid contract to push for better decision-making, secure results for individuals and pursue improvements in the relevant law, policy and practices.
RLS recognise that pro bono legal work is always an adjunct to, and not a substitute for, an adequate system of publicly funded legal services.
Key responsibilities and objectives
The post holder will be a staff member of Refugee Legal Support. They will be a participant within the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative project team, which comprises two lawyers (the other being at SPI), a coordinator and a Community Engagement and Research Lead in addition to the volunteer lawyers from the individual commercial firm partners.
Key responsibilities
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Manage a small caseload and provide high quality legal advice and representation to clients;
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Supervise the work of volunteer pro bono commercial lawyers on cases;
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Deliver training to pro bono commercial lawyers;
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Ensure that all legal work is promptly and accurate recorded on RLS’s case management system and keep relevant time recording;
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Develop and disseminate relevant information on legal developments in this area for relevant stakeholders, including both the Afghan Community and building the capacity of other practitioners;
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Work in close collaboration with the other project Lawyer/s to develop and share experiences and best practice in relation to all aspects of casework (legal, evidential and procedural) and relevant internal processes;
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Work in close collaboration with the Legal Director, Programmes Manager and Coordinator to ensure that appropriate steps to achieve the aims and objectives of the project are taken, including ensuring that relevant data is obtained and assisting with the timely completion of the project Operational Plan/s;
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Work in close collaboration with the APBI Coordinator and Programmes Manager to contribute to the production of materials such as project periodic reports, information on emerging and strategic issues in relation to ‘safe’ routes for use in advocacy, content for newsletters, social media posts and articles to raise awareness of the project and its aims and outputs;
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Participate in, and contribute to, RLS’s monitoring, evaluation and learning framework;
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Be an active member of the RLS team participating in team meetings at both the UK and International level: engaging in a collegiate and collaborative environment that includes participating in the development of a new and exciting legal organisation;
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Be an active and collaborative member of the APBI Project team together with the other Lawyer/s, Coordinator and Community Engagement and Research Lead;
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Work in close collaboration with the Community Engagement and Research Lead to contribute to the production of information sheets and other materials to disseminate to the Afghan community/ies;
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Maintain accurate and confidential records in line with GDPR;
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Adhere to RLS safeguarding policies and procedures at all times.
Person Specification
Essential
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Be either a member of the Bar, a solicitor and accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, or OISC accredited to Level 3;
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Experience of asylum casework;
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Experience of refugee family reunion procedures and applications, including applications outside of the Immigration Rules reliant on Article 8 ECHR and other human rights provisions;
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Experience of online immigration applications;
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Demonstrable knowledge of legal aid provision and ECF applications;
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Demonstrable supervision experience;
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Experience of and commitment to working in a collaborative way on legal cases;
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Good verbal and written communication skills in English;
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Strong organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines;
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Strong attention to detail, responsiveness, reliability and dependability;
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Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills and an ability to deal professionally and collaboratively with both legal and not-for-profit stakeholders;
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Computer literacy;
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Right to reside and work in the UK;
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Enjoy working with a small team in a flexible and fast-paced environment, as well as being an independent self-starter able to work with a high degree of autonomy;
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Have a strong commitment to upholding the human rights of asylum seekers, migrants, and refugees;
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Commitment to the aims of the project and the values of RLS.
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The successful candidate will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate (we cover the cost). However, a criminal record is not a barrier to the role.
Desirable
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Those with lived experience of navigating immigration systems are strongly encouraged to apply and will be favourable considered;
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Experience of legal aid casework;
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Experience of conducting immigration appeals and/or public law litigation;
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Experience of supervising commercial lawyers in a pro bono project setting;
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Experience of preparing and delivering training;
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Interest in collaborating with non-legal colleagues to bring about systemic change;
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Working knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.