Advice Line Caseworker Jobs in Home Based

Citizens Advice Hertsmere is a great place to work, with a friendly and supportive team. We are looking to take on a Debt Caseworker to join our small debt advice team. You will be providing advice to clients supporting them through the debt advice process, including dealing with emergencies, income maximisation, budgeting advice and ultimately helping with a debt strategy. 

You will need to:

1. Prepare and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies
2. Negotiate with third parties in writing and on the telephone
3. Act for clients where necessary by calculating, negotiating, drafting or writing letters and telephoning
4. Be numerate and able to analyse data and draw conclusions
5. Have good communication and IT skills

Role purpose

To deliver an excellent quality debt advice service to clients, with due regard to the aims, policies and procedures of the organisation and service, working within a client focussed and responsive team.

About Us

Citizens Advice Hertsmere (CAH) is an independent local charity and a member of the national Citizens Advice network. We deliver high-quality advice across Hertsmere and campaign on issues that matter to residents. Our primary office is in Elstree with outreach locations in Bushey and Potters Bar.

Our staff and volunteers supported clients with a wide range of issues including benefits, debt, employment, housing, relationship, and consumer issues. We provide our advice face to face, telephone, and email.

We are a forward-thinking organisation, committed to continually improving, expanding, and developing our services to better serve our local community.

We are a friendly, supportive team, and we are looking for another person to strengthen our debt team. There are opportunities for progression within our service and we encourage and support our staff to achieve their potential. We believe that what we do matters.

About us

Room to Heal is a human rights charity and therapeutic community based in London. We support people who have survived torture and organised violence to rebuild their lives in exile, through an integrated programme of therapeutic and casework assistance. We offer a range of activities including: therapeutic support groups, gardening, individual therapy and casework, cooking and social gatherings, and therapeutic retreats.

At the heart of our work lies the cultivation of community, through which our members can restore meaningful relationships, overcome the legacy of their traumatic experiences and integrate into the UK. Our community is currently made up of over 100 members from over 30 countries: including former political prisoners; people who have been persecuted on account of their sexuality or religious belief; and those who have escaped trafficking.

Room to Heal is staffed by a team of committed individuals, who work hard but also recognise that a friendly, nurturing environment is crucial for all of our well-being. By joining Room to Heal you would also become a part of a small, close-knit, multi-cultural and inspiring community and be able to see first-hand the positive changes that your work enables in the lives of torture survivors.

About the role

Provide casework support to members of our community who need help with accessing housing, education, training and employment, benefits or asylum support, destitution and financial support, and support with accessing good immigration and asylum legal support. You will work closely with two other caseworkers, and a team of therapists. This role also includes supporting community activities during the week.

Hours: 3.5 days per week; Fridays essential
Contract: Fixed term until March 2027
Start-date: Immediate

Deadline: 15th June 2024

Interviews: w/c 24th June 2024

Are you looking for a dynamic and rewarding role working for an organisation with the feminist agenda at the core of its ethos? Then Advance Charity could be the career choice for you!

We are looking for a Sanctuary Coordinator and Caseworker

Salary: £26,000 - £30,000

Location: Hammersmith (with travel to other London Services)

Hours:   35 Hours per week

Contract: Permanent

This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.  

Please note: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is an award-winning and innovative women-only organisation, established in 1998, providing emotional and practical support to women and girls survivors of domestic abuse and supporting women with short-term sentences to reduce offending.  We believe in empowering women and girls to lead safe, non-violent, equal lives so that they can flourish and contribute to the community. 

We are a community-based organisation who lead in best practice approaches to supporting women in their local community. We achieve this by being available to meet and support women in local settings and at our women’s centres, and by working in close partnership with other agencies.

Our values are to listen and support, to empower and respect, collaboration, innovation, and accountability. 

About the role:

Sanctuary Schemes are multi-agency victim-centred initiatives that aim to enable households at risk of violence to remain safely in their own homes by installing a 'Sanctuary' in the home and through the provision of support to the household. As a Sanctuary Scheme Specialist, you will support the sanctuary service by carrying out comprehensive assessments of service users and their homes and helping providers to ensure safety improvements are made. Joining our fast-paced team and focusing on short-term activities, you will manage a caseload of survivors, ensuring they have access and encouraging their engagement. You will conduct comprehensive assessments of needs and risk for women experiencing domestic violence, carry out risk management, safety planning and support; and you will identify and refer to services appropriate to their needs. 

This is an amazing opportunity for a professional with experience of supporting women at risk of, or who have experienced, domestic violence to take on a challenging, but highly rewarding role where you’ll be able to make a difference to women’s lives on a daily basis. Once you join our team, you’ll discover a collaborative, supportive environment where staff empower each other to perform at their best and deliver the highest quality services to those who need our help. You will have the chance to help women and girls overcome the challenges that they face and lead safe, non-violent, equal lives.

About You:

To be successful you will bring the below experience and skills:

You will be experienced in initiating and managing support activities. You will have the ability to maintain project logs and collating log data. Proven experience in referring safeguarding cases to Social Care and MARAC and the ability to proactively assess the needs and safety of children involved and women at risk and have experience in advising women of their rights and options for seeking help and support from other agencies.

How to apply:

Please submit your up-to-date CV with a supporting statement. Please note that only applications made via the job advert on the Advance careers page, and those that include a cover letter will be considered. 

· Closing Date for Applications: Tuesday 28 May 2024 @23:59

· Interviews are taking place on a rolling basis

*Advance reserves the right to close the advert early, or on the appointment of a candidate.

What we can offer you - Employee Benefits: 

• A 35-hour working week
• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!) 
• Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home
• Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more
• Pension scheme
• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee eye-care scheme
• Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles
• Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation
• Organisation wide away days
• Thorough induction and training
• Career development pathways 

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Under the Equality Act 2010, we are required to make any reasonable adjustments. If you have a disability as defined under this act and/or have special needs, please email the Talent Acquisition Team via the Advance website and will aim to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and actively seek to recruit people from groups underrepresented in our current team. 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.

Safeguarding

Advance is committed to safeguarding and creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm and expects all staff, including volunteers to share this commitment. We believe all individuals have the right to live their life free from violence and abuse and the right to feel and be safe.  We have a suite of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, accessible to all staff, which promotes safeguarding and safer working practices across all our services and activities. When we recruit staff, we follow rigorous safer recruitment practices, this involves carrying out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and identity checks.  We ensure all staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training relevant to their role and responsibilities, to empower them to be competent and feel confident in recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding issues and promote wellbeing.

Disability Advice Service Lambeth (dasl) is Lambeth’s peer-led Disabled People’s Organisation. 

You will lead a two-year project contributing to the work of the No Wrong Door partnership – local organisations and local residents working together to ensure there is ‘No Wrong Door’ for Black Disabled people seeking employment, as they can expect excellent support from any organisation. 

We want to change the system, influencing employment support providers and their Commissioners to ensure support for Black Disabled people who are seeking employment is appropriate, accessible and inclusive.

You will have excellent project management skills and use your lived, personal experience of race and disability equity issues to implement change, working collaboratively with residents (Lived Experience Leads), partner organisations and employment support providers. Your role will involve working primarily with Black Disabled Lambeth residents. You will understand and encounter the intersections between being Black and Disabled and the barriers to employment and be able to demonstrate creative and people-centred approaches to influencing change.

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 pride ourselves on the support we offer staff.  We work flexibly between home and office. Our office in Brixton is accessible.

We highly recommend contacting us to learn more about this exciting role. We can offer a 1:1 informal meeting via phone or video call.

Student Advisor

We’re looking for someone with a passion for supporting and empowering others to join our collaborative and radically inclusive team at Exeter Students' Guild.

Our team of Student Advisors work to ensure that students are able to access free, independent and confidential advice on issues that affect their university experience, so that they are empowered to advocate for themselves, and to help students Love Exeter.

You will empower students to understand their rights, to identify and access appropriate sources of support, and to navigate processes and procedures that can be complex and challenging at times. The role plays a key part in ensuring students have relevant information and resources through the provision of advice casework and individual advocacy. 

Who are we?

The Students’ Guild is the University of Exeter’s students’ union, led by students for students. We’re an independent charity, offering a wide range of opportunities, services and support to help students get the most out of their unique journeys at university. This includes everything from social activities to making sure things are going well on their academic course. We have over 100 student groups and all of our work is led by, and in the best interest of, our members.

The Guild is a truly rewarding place to work. Our talented and passionate staff make a real difference to the lives of students every single day, working together to achieve the Guild’s purpose: to shape an excellent student experience for all students at Exeter by empowering them to take their place in the world and make a positive difference. We are looking for people who recognise that the Guild is student-led and share a genuine passion for student engagement and empowerment. If you share a commitment to our values and want to be part of a radically inclusive organisation with a seriously exciting future ahead, we can’t wait to hear from you.

What will you bring?

• You’ll have some experience in advocacy, advice or other work which has a focus on empowering individuals. Also to have some experience in dealing with sensitive information and situations.
• You’ll be able to have a good level of communication and be able to recognise when to adapt you communication to ensure it is being delivered in a way which is accessible to others.
• You know how to work as a team and be able to collaborate effectively across multiple teams to achieve a shared goal.  

We offer lots of great benefits including enhanced pay for expectant parents, at least 6-weeks’ holiday, sustainable travel incentives and a confidential employee advice service and assistance programme. We’re committed to helping you achieve a healthy balance between your work and home life through a real commitment to flexible working. We also provide access to great development, helping you to gain valuable experience in the charity sector and beyond, and ensuring that you have opportunities to grow your career at the Guild and beyond.

Inclusion is central to the Guild. We approach our work collaboratively, empower our people and celebrate our uniqueness. If you’re driven to empower others and achieve great things, you’ll fit right in. Our people are proud of who they are and value each other’s differences, and we are committed to creating a diverse community that is radically inclusive of race, gender, age, religion, identity and experience.

Dates for your Diary

• Closing Date: 20 May 2024 at 10am
• Shortlisting: 22 May 2024
• Interviews: 29 May 2024

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

Somerset (hybrid working, with desk space available at Somerset Council offices)

Ref ESE-243

We are seeking a highly organised Children and Young Person’s Specialist Exploitation Caseworker to work alongside Somerset Council’s Exploitation Service.

They will combine their lived experience of overcoming similar barriers to the client group and their professional experience to provide crucial guidance, support, and mentorship to children and young people who are being, or at high risk of being exploited.

Through 1:1 mentoring, you will ensure children and young people are equipped to think critically, assess risk, and make better life choices. You will also support them to overcome personal challenges and achieve personal goals. The resulting mindset shift and confidence makes them more resilient to the risks of becoming involved with substance misuse and/or supply; gangs; exploitation and violence. 

We positively encourage applications if you have had personal adverse experiences that make you an ‘expert by experience’. This could include experience of the criminal justice system, having served a prison sentence, experience of gang involvement, county lines and criminal exploitation. You will need to demonstrate how your lived experience supports your ability to carry out the role to the benefit of the clients we work with.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Delivery specialist Exploitation 1 to 1 casework and mentoring to identified at risk young people and their families.

• Establish and maintain positive relationships with children and young people to provide emotional support, guidance, and mentorship.

• Address individual needs and challenges, utilising personal experiences, local knowledge, professional skills and St Giles casework and mentoring materials to offer support and intervention.

• Assist children and young people in setting and achieving personal life goals.

• Collaborate with professionals to support and develop strategies to minimise the risk to young people.

• Maintain a trauma informed approach, that recognises and responds to trauma and amplifies the voices and experiences of children and young people.

• Develop positive, pro-social attitudes, behaviour and social skills with children and young people.

• Safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of children and young people.

• Provide guidance on resolving interpersonal issues.

• Maintain open and effective communication with mentees, professionals, parents/carers and partners.

• Maintain accurate records (including case notes and engagement data) of interactions, progress, and outcomes in line with St Giles delivery protocols.

• Use data to assess the effectiveness of interventions and make adjustments as needed.

• Support in the collation of evaluative data (in line with project protocols).

• Promote inclusivity and equity in your role.

• Attend relevant training and workshops to enhance mentoring skills and professional knowledge.

Person Specification:

• Relevant direct or indirect experience of the criminal justice system or lived experience of the issues facing the client group (i.e. involved in gangs, county lines and/or knife crime). (A)

• Experience of working positively with socially excluded children, young people or adults and able to engage successfully despite ‘challenging’ behaviour. (A)

• Knowledge of the challenges and issues facing vulnerable young people (A)

• Understanding and demonstration of professional standards and accountability.

• Empathetic and understanding attitude toward young peoples' needs. (A)

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and active listening skills.

• Experience of working collaboratively with multi-agency partners. (A)

• Commitment to promoting inclusivity and equity.

• Excellent record keeping and experience of using case management databases (A)

• Outstanding organisational skills.

• Total commitment to excellent safeguarding practice and understanding of professional boundaries. (A)

• Emotionally resilient.

• Commitment to upholding St Giles core values.

In your application, please demonstrate how you meet the person specification criteria marked with (A). 

Please note this role requires Enhanced Adult and Children DBS checks with the Children Barred List.

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, season ticket loan and much more.

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation. 

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

To apply, please visit our website via the ‘Apply’ button. 

Closing date: 11pm 22nd May 2024        Interview date: 30th May 2024 

Hours: Full time, Mon to Fri, (37.5 hours per week)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Based at CAML offices in Mitcham and Morden and outreach locations. The post-holder may be required to work anywhere in South London

Salary: £29,930 - £33,256 dependent on experience

Annual Leave: 25 days, Charity Day, plus public holidays

Pension: The charity operates a pension scheme

The charity offers an employee assistance programme

Deadline: 6pm, Sunday 2nd June 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 one year Citizens Advice Adviser (post certification) 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.

This role will support people with mental health difficulties referred by South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) as part of their Community Transformation Programme. The service will support adults aged 18 years and over living in Merton who are experiencing mental health challenges and the carers of those individuals.

You will deliver a service providing advice for people that are referred from the Trust’s Single Point of Access (SPA) and other teams. You will manage an active caseload of people, providing a comprehensive advice and casework service to people experiencing mental health issues on issues such as benefits, income maximisation, debt and housing.

The service will also support people to access a range of opportunities in their community including services that support their social and emotional well-being, employment and volunteering opportunities and money and debt advice if needed.

The role will work in partnership with a team of health professionals and peer support workers, part of the role will be in supporting these professionals to identify where referrals are appropriate through feedback. Initial training will also be provided to all professionals on what outcomes we can achieve for service users.

Principal Responsibilities

Advice and casework

• Offer one off advice and casework (as applicable) to all clients referred via face to face appointments, online or telephone

• Ensure all clients are aware of the purpose and where to attend their appointment

• Ensure that all casework conforms to the Citizens Advice quality standards.

• Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation.

• Ensure that all work conforms to our systems and procedures.

• Interview clients using sensitive listening and questioning skills in order to allow clients to explain their problem(s) and empower them to set their own priorities.

• Being sensitive to clients’ needs and limitations to access support.

• Ensure income maximisation through the appropriate take up of income and application for discounts, including those relating to utilities, benefits, tax and housing.

• Provide full budgeting advice and where necessary refer for specialist debt advice and casework

• Research and explore options and implications so that clients can make informed decisions. Act for the client where necessary using appropriate communication skills and channels.

• Assist clients with other related problems where they are an integral part of their case and refer to other adviser/s (for example DRO intermediary) or specialist agencies as appropriate.

• Ensure that all work conforms to Financial Conduct Authority standards, the Advice Quality Standard and the requirements of the funder.

Project Management, co-ordination and partnerships

• Attend health management meetings (e.g. the Daily Integrated Allocations Meeting (DIAM) for referral discussions)

• Establish and manage an effective referral process from the SPA team and other SWLSTG teams/roles (e.g. Older Peoples Mental Health Team OPMH

• Keep in touch with local issues, developments and changes in procedures of other agencies including SWLSTG, other health service and the local authority. 

• Build relationships with peer support workers on the project

• Work to achievable targets in line with the criteria set by the funder.

• Refer clients to other advice services CAML offers and/or other local services for other associated issues e.g immigration advice

• Gather statistics and feedback in order to monitor and evaluate the service, ensuring that appropriate monitoring and data collection mechanisms are in place to demonstrate impact, outputs and outcomes and providing reports as required to the steering group, funders, and partners.

• Work with Head of Advice Services to produce reports and monitoring information about the service for the funder.

• Ensure that work reflects and supports the Citizens Advice service's equality and diversity strategy.

Capacity Building and Training

• Deliver information sessions for peer support workers and NHS mental health teams to share knowledge about mental health and advice

Research & Campaigns

• Have responsibility for tracking and reporting on research and campaign issues. Assist with policy work by providing information about clients' circumstances.

• Gather and provide as necessary information about clients circumstances, case studies and statistical information on the number of clients and nature of cases where is an issue.

• Monitor service provision to ensure that it reaches the widest possible client group.

Professional Development

• Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training

Other duties and responsibilities

• Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.

• Ensure wider Citizens Advice Merton & Lambeth colleagues/partners aware of this service.

• Demonstrate commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service.

• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.

Person Specification

Essential

1. Experience of supporting people with mental health issues and the ability to empathise, and to deliver advice in a kind and compassionate way.

2. A minimum of a year’s post certificate experience in delivering advice at a local Citizens Advice or similar.

3. Understanding of the link between mental health and other protected characteristics particularly in the context of Merton demographics

4. Ability to act on clients behalf and negotiate with external services where necessary in writing and on the telephone

5. Knowledge, experience of, and demonstrable ability to provide good quality advice and casework and write ups that meet Advice Quality Standards (AQS)

6. Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines and manage caseload.

7. Good interpersonal and communication skills, verbally and in writing.

8. Proven ability to build relationships with partners. 

Desirable

1. Experience working in partnership with the Health Sector

2. Ability to deliver training

This job description and personal specification does not form part of any contract.

Professional Development

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. 

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 for more information and to find out how to apply. The deadline for applications is 6pm, Sunday 2nd June 2024.  If you do not hear from us, we are afraid your application was unsuccessful.

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.

• Salary: £34,650 - £42,500 gross per annum at 1.0 FTE

• Working pattern: 1.0 FTE (37.5 hrs per week), or 0.9 or 0.8 FTE. Flexible working requests will be considered.

• Contract: 1 x permanent with a 6 months probationary period and 2 x fixed-term for 12 months

• Team: UK Legal Team

• Location: This role can be hybrid, or office based. At a minimum, candidates will be required to work from the London office at least 2 days a week, as well as be able to attend ad hoc events and away days in person.

• Reporting to: Head of UK Legal

Safe Passage International (SPI) is recruiting three Immigration Lawyers and/or Immigration Caseworker Supervisors (one permanent, two fixed-term) to join our UK Legal Team. We are looking for enthusiastic, experienced and motivated individuals to join the UK Legal and Arrivals Team in its invaluable and ground-breaking work to ensure that safe routes to sanctuary exist and are accessible for all people seeking asylum.

As an Immigration Lawyer/ Immigration Caseworker Supervisor in the UK Legal Team, you will run a caseload of complex family reunion entry clearance applications and appeals, you will also supervise cases of colleagues and pro bono solicitors and volunteers, if appropriate. You will be supported by colleagues in the UK Legal team and work in close collaboration with colleagues in SPI France and Greece as well as with professionals in relevant external organisations.

You will be determined and committed to delivery high quality legal casework supporting asylum seeking children to reunite with family members in the UK. You will be attentive to detail, flexible, efficient and able to work independently and under supervision as part of a small and dynamic team. You will be eager to contribute to the overall missions and values of Safe Passage International and to work collaboratively with other teams in this international and multi-disciplinary organisation.

We value equity and diversity in our organisation, and are striving to build a workforce reflective of the communities we work with. We encourage applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, faiths, disabilities, and marital or pregnancy status. People with refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds are experts by experience and are particularly encouraged to apply.

We are looking for good immigration casework experience, as detailed in the Person Specification. Experience in a similar role is welcome, but this could also be your first paid position in the charity sector, or you could be returning to work after time out. This position will have a dedicated training budget and you will be supported to grow and develop within your role.

As a refugee charity, we offer a guaranteed interview for people with direct lived experience of seeking asylum who meet most of the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification. If you have first-hand experience of applying for asylum in any country, please let us know in your application.

We respect that people’s identity is not defined by their past experiences and do not expect candidates to describe their lived experience during the interview process unless they wish to.

If you are excited by this role and working at Safe Passage but do not have all the experience you think is needed, please visit the job advert on our wesbite for contact details. 

How do I apply?

For more information on how to apply, please visit our website to reqad the Job Description & Person Specification alongside the How to Apply Guide.

Closing date: Sunday 26th May at 11.59 pm.

New Horizon Youth Centre has been commissioned by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) as part of an Alliance with Safer London, St Giles Trust and the Anna Freud Centre to deliver on their Children and Young People’s Violence and Exploitation and Reduction support service. The commission will run from June 2024 for three years. As part of this, an additional service will be set up within the NHYC Youth Justice team specifically to deliver on the Alliance contract. This will include a team of Housing Caseworkers who will carry out assessments and advocacy work with young people under 25 who are fleeing violence and exploitation, in order to move them on successfully into both emergency and long-term housing options. You should be passionate about working with this client group, able to manage a fast-moving caseload, and committed to working collaboratively with a team across multiple services.

Salary: £31,200 - £34,736

Closing Date: 10am, 5th June 2024

About us: 

The Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London (RAMFEL) is one of the largest immigration and asylum advice charities in the UK, supporting refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants to access justice. An OISC level 3 accredited organisation, we represent clients at all stages of the immigration and asylum process, up to and including the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

We also actively campaign for a fairer and more humane immigration system. RAMFEL caseworkers therefore have the opportunity to work on systemic and strategic challenges and support broader advocacy work.

We particularly welcome and encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals, and those who are migrants or refugees, and who have lived experience of the impact of UK immigration policy and/or of rough sleeping.

Purpose of the role: 

The purpose of the role is to assist some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The focus of the legal work is on non-legal aid funded matters, supporting people who otherwise have no access to legal advice and support. There will be particular focus on working with people who are facing a crisis, providing legal representation and support that will take them out of destitution.

This is a vacant position being filled as a replacement. The role gives an opportunity to assist some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The focus of the role is on supporting people who otherwise have no access to legal advice and support. 

We will primarily consider applications with relevant legal experience. Qualifications needed are OISC level 2/3 or Solicitor with IAAS accreditation.

Relationships: This post will report to the Rough Sleeping Casework Manager

Contract duration: Fixed term until 31 March 2025

Hours of work: The role is primarily a full-time position, requiring 37.5 hours per week. However, for the right candidate, we may consider accommodating part-time working hours. Given the nature of RAMFEL’s work, there may be instances where the Supervisor will need to exceed the standard hours. In such cases, compensatory time off can be arranged with the line manager

Specific Responsibilities

Case management 

1. Manage own caseload, working to advance the best interests of the client
2. Adhere to standards set out by OISC/SRA and AQS to deliver high-quality advice
3. Provide representation and advice up to OISC level 2/3.
4. Engage with the Line Manager to create and follow a training plan to ensure compliance with OISC CPD, keeping up to date with changes in law, policy and guidance to ensure clients receive accurate and high-quality advice
5. Liaise directly with the UKVI and related governmental agencies
6. Complete forms, letters and immigration applications
7. Liaise with and refer clients to Legal Aid Solicitors or other advisers, as appropriate
8. Manage clients’ expectations by discussing deadlines, outcomes and timing 
9. Deliver legal advice outreach surgeries/drop in as and when required 
10. Progress cases in a timely manner in line with regulatory requirements.
11. Implement organisational priorities into day-to-day casework.

Person Specification 

Education/qualifications

• Ideally candidates must be Solicitors with IAAS Level 2 with at least 1-year immigration experience or OISC level 2/3 qualified
• If OISC level 1, the candidate will be expected to initially work under supervision completing level 2 work and qualifying at level 2 within 6 months. (Training is provided and study leave is accommodated.) Upon obtaining a higher level of accreditation, the candidate’s salary will increase in line with RAMFEL pay scales.
• IAAS level 2 caseworkers (non-solicitor) will be considered but if appointed must be prepared to work under supervision and qualify at level 1 within 6 months. (Training is provided and study leave is accommodated) Upon obtaining a higher level of accreditation, the candidate’s salary will increase in line with RAMFEL pay scales.

Experience/knowledge

•  Experience in providing high-quality advice and representation to clients
•  A good understanding of law and policy as it relates to immigration and asylum 
• Experience in professional, independent, and impartial service delivery to the public 
• Experience in maintaining a caseload of cases in line with OISC requirements in relation to the conduct of cases, file management and supervision
• Knowledge of and empathy with the backgrounds and experiences of asylum seekers, rough sleepers and vulnerable migrants
• Experience in using client databases
• Experience working with interpreters supporting clients with complex matters

Crisis Navigator

Closing date for applications 23:59 hours on 9th June 2024

Salary: Up to £37,300 per annum (depending on experience)

To apply visit our wesbite for application instructions

The successful candidate must:

• Be a qualified as a Solicitor (England & Wales)
• Have at least 3 years’ experience and expert knowledge of specialist welfare benefits casework
• Be able to:

- support complex cases requiring representation at Appeals Court or Tribunals

- develop and deliver outreach activities to increase the reach of the service

• Salary: £51,100 – 58,000 gross per annum at 1.0 FTE, or pro rata equivalent if part-time.

• Working pattern: 1.0 FTE (37.5 hrs per week), or 0.9 or 0.8 FTE. Flexible working requests will be considered.

• Contract: permanent with a 6 month probationary period

• Team: UK Legal Team

• Location: This role can be hybrid, or office based with the ability to attend ad hoc events and away days in person.

• Reporting to: CEO

• Management responsibilities: Currently 6 Immigration Lawyers/Immigration Casework Supervisors

Safe Passage International (SPI) is recruiting a Head of UK Legal Team to lead our ground-breaking legal work in the UK. The UK Legal team works to ensure that safe routes exist for all people seeking asylum. The team specialises in providing free legal advice and representation to unaccompanied children and families seeking asylum in the UK.

The Head of UK Legal Team will be a UK-based qualified solicitor or barrister or OISC Level 3 accredited caseworker or IAAS Supervising Senior caseworker with experience of working within the UK in a legal capacity, specifically in the area of asylum, immigration and refugee family reunion.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will lead a high performing team of immigration lawyers, casework supervisors, and caseworkers. You will drive the development and delivery of our legal strategy in the UK; supervise all UK legal casework; lead our litigation strategy; develop good practices of line management and regulatory compliance within the team; and lead legal policy work by collaborating closely with colleagues within the UK, France and Greece to create a cohesive, powerful, cross-border legal response and framework.

You will also work closely with the Heads of SPI Greece and France, our International Safeguarding and Protection Manager, Experts by Experience Consultants, and Safe Passage Young Leaders to shape our legal function.

This is a vital role within the senior leadership team of a young and dynamic organisation. We are looking for an experienced leader with a strong strategic vision, an ambitious outlook for our legal work, and a creative and initiative-taking approach to leading and managing our UK legal team.Experience in a similar role would be welcome, but this could also be your first paid position in the charity sector, or you could be returning to work after time out.

We value equity and diversity in our organisation and are striving to build a workforce reflective of the communities we work with. We encourage applications from people of all ethnicities, working ages, genders, sex, sexual orientations, faiths (or non), marital status (or non) and pregnancy status. We also have full flexible working policies to support people with disabilities and caring responsibilities. People with refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds are experts by experience and are particularly encouraged to apply.

As a refugee charity, we offer a guaranteed interview for people with lived experience of seeking asylum who meet most of the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification. If you have first-hand experience of applying for asylum in any country, please let us know in your application.

We respect that people’s identity is not defined by their past experiences and do not expect candidates to describe their lived experience during the interview process unless they wish to.

If you are excited by this role and working at Safe Passage but do not have all the experience you think is needed, we would encourage you to apply anyway and contact us for an informal chat beforehand to discuss why you would like to apply for the role and what skills or experiences you think are relevant.

If you would like to arrange this, please visit the How to apply guide for more information on this. 

How do I apply?

Please read the full Job Description & Person Specification and our ‘How to Apply Guide’ below.

The ‘How to Apply Guide’ asks candidates to submit a CV and Cover Letter answering five specific questions linked to the Person Specification. Applications can be submitted via email in written form or as digital audio or video files.

Closing date: Sunday 16th June 2024 at 11.59 pm.

Rainbow Migration, the longest-running charity in Europe dedicated to supporting LGBTQI+ people through the asylum and immigration system, is recruiting a Legal Officer to advise and help improve the representation of LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum, and help change the asylum and immigration system to one that treats everyone with compassion, dignity and respect.

We are looking for a qualified solicitor or barrister with valid practising certificate, or already accredited to Level 3 OISC, with two years’ experience in providing advice and representation in asylum including working in legal aid.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the legal advice service. Under the guidance of our Legal Service Manager, you will also build capacity amongst legal representatives by designing and delivering training, giving second tier advice and developing and coordinating a network of practitioners working in this area. You will use the knowledge you gain in this role to help deliver Rainbow Migration’s policy work, such as inputting into policy papers and meeting with partner organisations when required.

We will also consider applications from people who do not want to do the policy elements of the job, but to instead focus on first and second tier advice. Please mention in your covering letter if you are applying for this option.

This is a unique opportunity to build on your experience as a lawyer to improve representation across the sector and create change in government policy and practice. You will be supported to develop as a specialist lawyer and in your policy skills.

Responsibilities will include:

· Deliver one-off advice to adult LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum and work with colleagues to refer them to quality legal aid and pro bono lawyers

· Provide casework assistance e.g. helping to prepare witness statements, making referrals to other specialist organisations and taking other urgent steps (whilst not representing service users or maintaining a caseload)

· Provide occasional advice (within competence) on other issues affecting asylum and partnership service users such as asylum support, legal aid, trafficking, family reunion or community care

· Deliver second tier advice to the legal representatives of LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum and other charities and professionals

· Work with the Legal Service Manager to design and deliver training to lawyers, NGOs and other professionals

· Write blogs and articles on asylum and immigration policy and legislation as they apply to LGBTQI+ people

· Contribute to policy and briefing papers

· Assist with preparing guidelines and briefings for legal services and pro bono lawyers

The Legal Officer will not be providing direct legal representation of service users. However, the role includes substantive advice and casework within the scope of legal support and referrals for our service users, as well as merits testing and second tier advice.

Rainbow Migration’s vision is that LGBTQI+ people can settle in the UK and lead fulfilling lives. Our values are: 

· Safety: We believe everyone should be safe from persecution and safe to be themselves. We strive to create a safe workplace culture, and we place importance on the wellbeing of everyone involved with Rainbow Migration. 

· Integrity: We are thorough and honest in everything we do, and we take responsibility for our actions. We want to be accountable to our communities and those who support us. 

· Belonging: We welcome and include all LGBTQI+ people, and we celebrate and value their range of experience in terms of gender, religion, race, age, disability status and class. We try to remove obstacles to participation, champion equality and promote a sense of family or home through our services. 

· Respect: We believe that every person is equal and deserves the same level of courtesy, care, and attention. We respect the rights, wishes and feelings of our service users, and campaign for their rights to be respected as they go through the asylum and immigration system. 

At Rainbow Migration, we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We consider all qualified applicants, consistent with any legal requirements. 

We welcome applications from candidates with lived experience of going through the UK asylum or immigration system or who have been subject to immigration control. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for anyone considered as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if they meet the necessary criteria in the person specification.

Owing to the nature of the work, the successful applicant will be required at the point of conditional job offer to disclose all spent and unspent criminal records and subsequently to undergo an enhanced DBS check. See our website for more information.

Contract Type: Permanent.

Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week). Working part-time or job-sharing will be considered. Occasional work in the evenings and at weekends may be required but with plenty of notice. Rainbow Migration encourages staff to maintain a good work life balance and has a TOIL system in place.

Salary: Starting at £40,175, with potential annual step increases up to £44,868 (pro-rata for part-time employees), plus statutory employer’s pension contribution. In addition to an annual step increase, the trustees consider giving a separate inflationary increase every April. 

Location: Remote or from Rainbow Migration’s offices in central London. Hybrid working will also be considered. The successful candidate could work from anywhere in the UK but would be expected to occasionally travel to London and other parts of the country for meetings and events. At the time of posting this advert, none of our staff are going into the office every day. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Annual Leave: 25 days per year rising after 24 months by 1 day after each year of service to maximum of 28 days per year (pro rata if working part-time).

Wellbeing: We offer up to two days of wellbeing leave to be taken at short notice in each calendar year. One-to-one clinical supervision is also available for this role.

How to apply

Closing date: 10am on 31 May 2024

Interview dates: 12 June and 13 June 2024

Please read the job description and person specification. If you have any questions about the role or would like to find out more before applying, then you can contact the line manager via the email address you will find in the Job Description.

Please send:

1. Your CV

2. A written statement (max 1,000 words). Instead of a written statement you may submit your statement by video or audio recording (max 8 minutes)

to the email address in the Job Description

3. Optional: please use the link you will find in the Job Description to complete a monitoring form

In your statement, please:

1. Give examples of how you meet the person specification. In addition to what is on your CV, we want to hear about any relevant skills and experience that demonstrate how you meet the necessary criteria for the role, and if you meet any of the advantageous criteria. Skills and experience could be from training, volunteering, interests or life experience

2. Confirm if you wish to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme for anyone considered as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 (physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ effect on your ability to do normal daily activities)

3. State how many hours a week you wish to work and if you have a preferred pattern, or if you are applying as part of a job-share

4. If you do not want to do the policy elements of the job and instead focus on first and second tier advice, please mention this.

By submitting an application, you:

1. Confirm that you have the right to work in the UK and will produce the necessary documentation if you are offered this post.

2. Declare that to the best of your knowledge and belief, the information provided with your application is true and correct and that you understand that any false information or statement given will justify the dismissal from Rainbow Migration if appointed.

3. Accept that, if successful, you will be required to disclose all spent and unspent criminal records at the point of conditional job and subsequently to undergo an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.

We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network (see JD for web address), which aims to create a charitable sector that is led by people with lived experience of the asylum and immigration system. As part of this network, we challenge the one-size-fits-all approach in our employment practices, and respect personal circumstances and needs of people with lived experience. Please feel free to use information and resources at the web address in the JD which may help in preparing your job application.

Privacy notice

If you apply for this role, the information you provide will be processed according to Rainbow Migration's privacy policy (web address is in the JD). Rainbow Migration will not share your information with any third parties unless part of the recruitment process or are legally required to do so. By applying, you are permitting Rainbow Migration to access and use the information for recruitment purposes. Rainbow Migration will store your data for 12 months after the conclusion of the recruitment campaign. Monitoring information is kept separately and is pseudonymised to avoid identification of applicants. It is amalgamated for statistical purposes and the original data is then deleted after six months.