Caseworker jobs in dartford, kent

Plumstead Community Law Centre is a free specialist legal advice charity located in central Woolwich in South East London. We provide specialist legal advice and advocacy in the areas of immigration, welfare benefits and employment People can access our services via telephone or email, and through the Advice Hub outreach services we attend in local community centres. In 2024 over 1,400 local people accessed our advice and representation services, resulting in a range of financial and non-financial benefits.

Towards the end of 2024, we moved away from a collective model towards a functional management structure. We appointed an Interim CEO from the staff group and expanded our trustee board's size and expertise.

This Managing Director and Senior Solicitor role involves assuming the charity’s management from our interim CEO, who has established strong systems and secured new funding for the further strengthening of the charity. Our strategic plan includes improving our legal practice management with a view to obtaining a quality mark and securing an immigration legal aid contract. We anticipate securing further funding to expand our services, to support more people in need in our community.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, experienced solicitor who has a track record in supervision and management. Although the job description is wide ranging, support will be given through further recruitment of administrative support. 

​The Law Centre Managing Director and Senior Solicitor (“MD/SS”) is responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the Law Centre. Working within appropriate delegations from the Board, the post holder ensures that the Law Centre provides quality assured services that meet its charitable purposes. The MD/SS ensures that issues of risk and compliance are properly managed and that the Centre is an exciting, innovative and enjoyable place to work. The MD/SS ensures that the Centre operates within budgets set by the Board and 2 that it offers value for money. The MD/SS must ensure that legal, regulatory, grant, contractual and other relevant requirements are met and that the Centre continues to be relevant to its community. 

Location: Enfield Refuge 

Salary: Unqualified: £28,255 - £29,913 per annum

Qualified: £29,923 - £32,623 per annum

With an accredited VAWG /domestic abuse qualification - dependent on experience.

(Please note that applicants are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Friday 8th August 2025

Closing Time: 00:00am

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 a Refuge Worker at Solace Women's Aid.  

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

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

The Refuge Service provide emergency accommodation to women and children fleeing domestic abuse and sexual violence. Refuge Case workers provide emotional and practical support this can include housing support, legal options, reporting to the police, help around child contact, benefits, financial advice and accessing therapeutic support services.

About the Role

You will provide advice and support to women who have experienced domestic abuse in a refuge setting.  You will carry out risk and needs assessments, develop support plans and carry out key work with women survivors. You should have a minimum of two years’ experience of working with this or a similar client group. An in depth understanding of the needs of women and children from a diverse background is essential.

About You

The ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge of domestic abuse and its impact on women and their children, as well as experience of providing emotional and practical support to victims of domestic and sexual violence.

You will have experience of managing risk and following case management procedures to meet the needs of the client group, and the ability to work with women to help them to understand their needs, risk assess, develop safety plan and support them in linking with other agencies.  

You will have a working knowledge of the available legal remedies, housing and welfare benefits, as well as experience of providing workshops.

In addition to case management you will be required to undertake housing management responsibilities including health and safety and maintenance of the refuges.  You will have excellent administrative and time management skills.

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

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.

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.

Legal Casework Manager (Helpline)

Are you aware of the significant health inequalities that people with a learning disability face in the UK and levels of avoidable deaths? Are you passionate about access to justice for the families of people with a learning disability who have died avoidably in acute healthcare settings?

We’re looking for a dedicated Legal Casework Manager (Helpline) to join our committed information and advice team covering England at Mencap on a full time (37.5 hours per week) fixed term contract for 2 years.

Here at Mencap we are a leading charity providing advice, support and opportunities to people with a learning disability across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The role will lead on supporting families to get answers about how their loved ones died and change across the healthcare system to prevent future deaths. 

The role is flexible in terms of location, which can include home working, using Mencap’s office bases, such as in London and Peterborough, and will include some national travel, for example to inquest hearings or to meet families when needed. 

About the Role

As Legal Casework Manager (Helpline), you’ll provide advice, support, and casework assistance to families facing complex legal issues, specifically relating to people with a learning disability who have died in avoidable circumstances across England, mainly within the healthcare system. Working within a small, supportive team, you’ll manage your own caseload, contribute to the body of knowledge about avoidable deaths and help empower families to understand and exercise their rights and get answers through the inquest and other investigations processes. 

Key Responsibilities

· Provide clear, accurate, and timely legal advice and casework support for families.

· Work closely with clients, many of whom will be distressed, ensuring a sensitive, trauma informed and professional approach

· Maintain up-to-date case records and comply with quality and regulatory standards

· Support strategic litigation and advocacy efforts where appropriate

· Liaise with other charities, coroners, legal professionals, and agencies to support families to get answers

· Work towards a world where people with a learning disability are no more at risk of death in hospitals, than any other person

· Manage a team of caseworkers working across different areas of advice.

About You

We’re looking for someone:

· Legally qualified in the UK or similar jurisdiction with at least 3 years post qualification, working in either clinical negligence, inquests or inquiries. Or similar number of years working as a senior case worker in an inquest/clinical negligence/inquiries advice role.

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a non-judgemental and empathetic approach

· Ability to manage a varied workload, prioritise effectively, and work independently

· Ability to travel effectively to support families at inquests, and to attend meetings

· A clear understanding of the importance of professional boundaries and in maintaining their emotional wellbeing in distressing situations

· Strong management skills and ability to supervise, coach and mentor colleagues. 

· Experience of accurately recording client case records and use of CRM/client database system

What We Offer

· A meaningful role supporting families and delivering change in a values-driven organisation

· Supportive and collaborative team environment

· Professional supervision

· Flexible working arrangements

Please see attached the full job description for further information on the role.

 Closing date: Monday 18th August 2025

Interview date: Thursday 4th September 2025

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. 

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues. Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.

· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes

· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies. We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

World Jewish Relief created the Specialist Training and Employment Programme (STEP) for refugees in 2016 and today we are the largest provider of specialist employment support to people who have experienced forced migration in the UK.STEP aims to support and empower people through a tailored employment programme that addresses the complex barriers that they face when preparing for and ultimately finding work in the UK.   

We support all people who have experienced forced migration, regardless of their proximity to the labour market, to develop the skills and access the opportunities they need to secure sustainable and meaningful employment. We run STEP online and in person programmes across the UK.  

We are now expanding our work to deliver (in partnership with the British Council) an English Language and Employment Support Programme for up to 4,000 Ukrainians and Hong Kong BNO status/visa holder (50% of each community) over the next 12 months.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Cantonese speaking Programme Assistant to join the STEP team making a real difference in the lives of people rebuilding their futures in the UK. You will be responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations, including administrative coordination, data management, and frontline communication with participants and referral partners. You will play a vital role in ensuring the programme runs efficiently and that both participants and staff are supported with timely and accurate information.

You will also contribute to reporting, analysis, and quality assurance activities across the programme, working closely with Employment Advisors and Programme Managers to ensure referrals are processed effectively, data is maintained accurately, and enquiries are handled professionally and sensitively.

About you

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Previous administrative or team support experience
• Experience in a customer service or support role would be desirable
• Strong administrative and IT skills (CRM database, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook)
• A systematic and organised approach to work
• High levels of efficiency and the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
• A proactive, enthusiastic and flexible approach to working with colleagues and stakeholders
• Advanced level of English
• Competency in Cantonese and Traditional Chinese

Candidates must be UK based and have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the contract

​Benefits

We offer a range of benefits including:

• 23 days holiday pro rata plus bank holidays and Jewish holidays.
• Pension scheme – we contribute 5% to the World Jewish Relief pension scheme.
• Life Insurance – up to 3 times salary to nominated beneficiaries.
• Health Cash Plan – cash back to cover the costs of dental treatment, optical care, specialist consultations and a range of complementary therapies.
• Employee Assistance Programme – free, confidential advice or support with any personal or work. related concerns or free counselling if needed.
• On Friday the office closes at 3pm.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

World Jewish Relief promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We invite and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. We encourage applications from candidates of different ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and of faith or none that meet the criteria set out for this role.

You don’t need to be Jewish to work for us, but you must but you must be committed to our faith-based values of Justice, Kindness, Repairing the World and Welcoming the Stranger. We are inspired by these values to work beyond our community, recognising the dignity and potential of all people.

We are striving to build a team reflective of the communities we work with. People with refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds are experts by experience and are particularly encouraged to apply for this position. If you have first-hand experience of forced migration, please let us know in your application. Additionally, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all the requirements that are listed within the person specification. 

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 do so. 

To apply

Please upload your CV and a cover letter explaining how you meet the criteria in the person specification. Please refer to the person specification which shows which criteria will be assessed in your CV and cover letter.

Interviews will be held remotely on 29th August 2025.

Expected start date will be 9th October 2025.

This is a new exciting combined role.

The Legal Administrator is a key component of the Asylum Aid team, overseeing all of our administrative systems and processes, and providing vital administrative support to our legal casework staff.

The Training Programme Coordinator supports the delivery of Asylum Aid’s two strategic partnerships that aim to help address the continuing fall in availability of immigration advice across England and Wales. The Compass Project and the Migrant Justice Greater London (MJGL) Partnership are designed to increase learning, collaboration and peer support opportunities between advice agencies and ultimately improve the provision of immigration advice to people seeking asylum, refugees, and other vulnerable people in the immigration system. This role provides key administrative support and coordination to ensure the effective delivery of both the Compass and MJGL training projects, working closely with Asylum Aid’s Immigration Supervisors and Director of Legal Casework, as well as external consultants, including the Learning Partner, managers and advisers at partner organisations.

Compass is Asylum Aid’s Advisor Development Programme of training, supervision and peer support for immigration advisers working in advice deserts across England and Wales. It is funded by the Justice Together Initiative. More information about the project can be found on our website here.

The Migrant Justice Greater London (MJGL) project is a partnership between Asylum Aid, Refugee Action and Praxis, designed to deliver legal training and supervision to frontline organisations across London. It is funded by the Greater London Authority.

Key responsibilities

Legal Administrator (approximately 4 days a week)

· To manage incoming and outgoing legal post in line with Asylum Aid’s procedures

· To post, email or arrange the dispatch of legal correspondence to clients, the Home Office, court or tribunal, counsel etc

· To receive and make telephone calls relating to casework activity, as well as covering the receptionist function in answering general incoming calls

· To manage the legal enquiries email inbox, triaging emails as appropriate

· To manage the team calendar and oversee key dates system

· To schedule and book appointments for clients, including the booking of interpreters or other experts where necessary

· To ensure all Legal Aid Agency monitoring information and other related information on cases such as disbursements and payment of invoices is recorded timely and accurately

· To assist with the preparation of electronic documents for the Home Office, court or tribunal

· To organise and maintain Asylum Aid’s legal archive, case filing system, legal library, and other documents

· To attend legal team meetings

· To assist Asylum Aid’s Billing Coordinator/caseworkers with preparation of files for billing where necessary

· To assist with general office administration, including administering petty cash

· To supervise the work of the Legal Administration Volunteer(s)

· To assist the Director in the administration of the Refugee Legal Group (RLG), which is a Google based group hosted by Asylum Aid

Training Programme Coordinator (approximately 1 day a week)

· To provide general administrative support for the Compass and MJGL programmes

· To monitor project timelines, plans, and budgets

· To organise in-person and remote training events, draft meeting agendas, take accurate minutes, coordinate travel for project participants, make and record project payments and provide logistical support for in-person events

· To assist in the promotion of the projects, including assisting with drafting external communications and social media, outreach to identify potential partner organisations, and supporting the recruitment of project participants

· To act as a central point of contact for multiple training projects, liaising with key stakeholders, including participant organisations, funders, the learning partner, and the clinical supervision provider

· To support the Learning Partner in monitoring and learning from the two projects, including facilitating learning opportunities with the partners and other organisations.

How to apply 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 5pm on Wednesday 27 August 2025.

The website form will ask you to:

· Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your

relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role.

· Upload your current CV

· Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.

Selection Process

We anticipate that we will invite candidates to an initial 15-minute online screening meeting on Thursday 4th September or Friday 5th September 2025, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interview week commencing 8th September 2025. We may also ask you to complete a short written task ahead of/on the day.

At Asylum Aid we want to be transparent about what kind of qualities we are looking for and build trust from the very beginning of your journey with us. The first step is your interview, and we mean ‘your’ interview so we will provide you with your interview questions ahead of the interview. This will allow you time to prepare, and ensure you have your best examples in mind.

We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage.

We offer a guaranteed interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they meet at least 50% of the essential criteria, where practical.

Eligibility

Please note that the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK (as a small charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

Successful candidates will also be subject to a basic DBS check. If appointed, you will also be required to give your consent to the charity to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment and to disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your time with us.

Equal Opportunities

Our commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our approach to our clients, our volunteers and our staff, and we are an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer.

We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates because we are keen to make sure that our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in.

We genuinely welcome and encourage applications from candidates from range of backgrounds, especially people of colour, people with disabilities, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration or trauma who are under-represented in our organisation.

We recognise and value the role of lived experience in meeting the needs of our clients and acknowledge the under-representation of people with lived experience of forced migration and statelessness in the refugee and migration sectors. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK and you will receive full training to enable you to transfer your knowledge and skills to the UK context.

The Baobab Centre works as a non-residential therapeutic community with young asylum seekers and refugees and we are looking for an exceptional candidate with at least two years' experience of working in a busy office environment.

As a member of our non-residential therapeutic community you will participate in the development of meaningful relationships and social learning, constructing a holistic therapeutic environment where all relationships with all members of the community matter.

You will have experience managing a small team, including line management duties. You will be a key part of our multi-professional team and will be responsible for the administrative management of clinical files and supporting the clinical team. You will have excellent organisational and communication skills and be willing to participate in the life of the Baobab Community.

Home based in North East England and Yorkshire

East Riding of Yorkshire · North Yorkshire · Middlesbrough · Northumberland

About the role

Our passionate Regional Casework Coordinators are SSAFA’s front line of support for members of the armed forces community in need. They are the first point of contact for all beneficiaries into the Regional Office, assessing needs and allocating the case to one of our volunteer caseworkers.

You will sometimes handle complex problems from individuals who may be distressed, identifying the presenting and potential underlying needs to determine the best way to support the beneficiary. You will have ownership of cases from beginning to end, coordinating the casework process in a timely manner and ensure that the beneficiary journey is at the centre of the Service. You will have the opportunity to shape processes and procedures within the office which will lead to improvements in the service offered to clients.

To help you establish yourself in this new post you will receive excellent training and induction to SSAFA.

Whilst the post is homebased, to be eligible for this role you are required to live in the North East England or Yorkshire region, which includes North, South, East and West Yorkshire, Teesside, County Durham, Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. There will be occasional travel around these areas, and you may be required to travel at short notice for face-to-face meetings.

About the team

The team work remotely and pride themselves in maintaining a close working bond which ensures the smooth operation of the office. You will work closely with volunteers from the eight SSAFA branches in the Northeast and Yorkshire, supporting them to administer casework for SSAFA beneficiaries. The successful candidate will work as part of a team 8, which includes a Regional Casework Manager and a Regional Manager for Casework and Community Engagement.

About you

To carry out this role successfully you will have a track record of providing welfare advice in key areas such as housing, benefits, debt, disability, mobility or immigration issues. You will have knowledge of safeguarding and GDPR and experience in dealing with sensitive information and people in vulnerable situations. You will be able to provide excellent customer service by telephone, e-mail and face to face. You will have used Microsoft Office 365 to a high standard. It is important that you have experience of planning and managing your own workload, with minimal supervision.

It would be advantageous if you have an understanding of the way of life for today’s Armed Forces, veterans and their families and if you have experience of recruiting and supporting volunteers. An understanding of the voluntary sector and preferably the military charity sector landscape across the Northeast and Yorkshire would be valuable.

About SSAFA

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing practical, emotional, and financial support to our Forces and their families since 1885. SSAFA, is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need; last year our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 53,000 people in need, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.

SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. We are here for that person and their family – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.

No agencies please. Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate and no fees will be payable.

How to apply

For more information and to apply, please click on the Apply button.

If you need any adjustments to support you with the application process, please contact us.

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 12 August 2025.

Interviews: TBC

Be Part of Something Bigger: Join the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and Help Shape Safer Communities

Are you passionate about making a real, lasting difference in people's lives? Do you have the resilience, empathy, and adaptability to support victims and help drive real change?

If you thrive in an innovative, collaborative, and learning-focused environment, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
For nearly 40 years, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust has been at the forefront of personal safety, standing up for victims, influencing national policy, and raising awareness to creat safer, more confident communities. 
From launching award-winning services to being a trusted voice in national media, our work has real visibility, real credibility, and real impact.  When you join us, your work doesn't disappear into the background it makes headlines, shapes policy, and changes lives.

We're Hiring: Advocates - London Stalking Support Service, Stalking Threat Assessment Centre and National Advocacy
In partnership with MOPAC, this specialist role is your chance to support victims of stalking with expert advice and advocacy for London, all while hlping to shape a trauma-informed, survivor-led approach that leads the sector.  The Stalking Threat Assessment centre is a multi-agency partnership involving the Metropolitan Police, NHS mental health services and Probation services to effectively manage stalking perpetrators and support victims.  Advocates within this team are co-located within the STAC unit, minimum one day a week.

You will be:

• Part of a respected, mission-driven team
• Contributing to a legacy of nearly four decades of meaningful impact
• Part of a strong culture of learning, support, and inclusivity
• Working in a space where your voice matters, and your work truly counts

Initially office-based (London) for 3 months to support a meaningful induction, moving to a blended working model (40% office / 60% home). While London-based candidates are ideal, we'll consider applicants from nearby areas too.

What we offer in return:

In return for our staff’s commitment and dedication, we offer a range of Company Benefits:

• Hybrid working (minimum 40% in the office and agile working enabled to work from home) after 3 monts
• Flexitime Policy 
• 28 days annual leave (which increases after 3 and 5 years to a maximum of 33 days pro rata) + public holiday
• Special leave for life events, such as 1 day off for moving house and a paid day off for your birthday
• Pension scheme with 5% employer contribution 
• Health & Wellbeing App with access to advice, counselling, support and a wide range of discounts 
• Occupational Sick Pay (which increases after 3 years)
• Cycle to Work scheme (cycle racks on site) 
• Interest-free travel loan for annual season ticket 
• Regular all-staff off-site meetings and events

Hours: 35 per week
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £30,135

Deadline: 11th August end of day
First Interviews to take place Wednesday 20th August, Friday 22nd August

Action for Refugees in Lewisham (AFRIL) are recruiting for a Community Activities Coordinator to join our growing, dynamic organisation. This exciting new role will sit within AFRIL's busy Casework and Advocacy Service, working collaboratively with our asylum seeking and recently granted refugee clients to plan and deliver a range of activities, improving wellbeing and community solidarity. 

We are looking for a good people person, able to engage and inspire others, who demonstrates a collaborative approach to working with a range of stakeholders and in particular AFRIL clients who come from a variety of backgrounds. The postholder will be highly organised, have good project planning and execution skills, and a good working knowledge of the issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. Community language skills are an asset. 

About AFRIL

Action for Refugees in Lewisham (AFRIL) is a registered charity that supports asylum seekers, refugees, and vulnerable migrants in South East London. We support people to lift themselves out of poverty, assert their rights and rebuild their lives in the heart of our community. We provide both crisis support to meet immediate need, and longer-term, flexible programmes to tackle the underlying problems that lead people to be in crisis, supporting people to integrate, contribute and thrive. Our work is grounded in the values of professionalism, inclusivity, and solidarity. Our clients are at the heart of what we do and our approach is one of co-production and empowerment.

AFRIL delivers the following core services in the London Boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, Southwark, Bexley and Bromley:

• Rainbow Club Supplementary School - providing weekly supplementary education in English and Maths, arts, music and sports activities to children from refugee, migrant  and asylum seeking backgrounds from 4-11 years old, plus youth volunteering programme and Youth Council (NRCSE and Sanctuary Status). 

• Casework and Advocacy Service: providing AQS accredited advice, casework and legal interventions in asylum support, community care, housing, welfare benefits and related matters. Pre-Action Protocol letters to challenge unlawful public law decisions. The service currently provides Level 1 immigration advice under the Immigration Advice Agency.

• Destitution Support - a fortnightly Food Bank in partnership with St Peter’s Church providing food, food vouchers, toiletries, and other essentials, alongside a warm hub with free cafe, information and support. Small grants for essential items and cash payments for food in emergencies. Securing and distributing gifts in kind, e.g. winter coats, laptops and data. 

• Allotment of Refuge - a welcoming community of food growers that supports improved health, wellbeing and integration of members, whilst protecting the local environment. 

• Immigration Project in partnership with Southwark Law Centre, providing free legal advice and representation to support people to regularise their immigration status. 

We also use our frontline experience, together with our clients, to engage in Policy and influencing work to improve the services and policies that impact our client group. This includes advising the GLA on 3 asylum related working groups, and as a member of the London Housing Panel.

AFRIL is an equal opportunities employer. We are a diverse staff team and particularly encourage applications from BAME candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and those with lived experience of asylum/irregular migration. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support our staff to flourish.

We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network which aims to increase representation of people with lived experience in the charitable sector. Please feel free to use their information and resources which may help in preparing your job application.

Please read full Job Description and Person Specification. Applications will only be accepted through CharityJob - please submit a CV and cover letter (no more than 2 sides of A4) detailing how you meet the person specification. 

Job Title: Partnerships Manager

Reports to: Senior Partnerships Manager

Location: Hybrid work with 40% from Breaking Barriers’ offices in London, Manchester, Birmingham or Glasgow

Salary:  £33,000 - £39,000 for London, £31,000 - £37,000 for other locations

Hours: 5 days per week (37.5 hours), open to flexible working arrangements

Contract: Permanent

Overall purpose

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the national development and delivery of our relationships with the private sector to maximise income and impact to support refugees into meaningful employment.

The main purpose of the Partnerships Manager role is to deliver first-class account management and development of corporate partnerships to drive Breaking Barriers mission.

Working closely with Senior Partnerships Managers, Head of Corporate Partnerships, and members of the Income & Engagement and Services Directorates, you will be responsible for launching, retaining and developing a portfolio of partnerships ensuring we deepen and strengthen relationships whilst identifying opportunities for growth.

You will play your part in delivering and developing strategic relationships to bring value to our refugee clients and our employment and education programmes.

The successful candidate will have experience managing corporate partner relationships, including making fundraising asks and managing external communication with donors and partners at all levels of seniority. You will deploy your influencing skills and ability to build profitable relationships to great effect as you take a leading role identifying and nurturing future strategic partnerships. An understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility would be advantageous.

To view the full job description and person specification, as well as details on our accessible recruitment process, please view the attached recruitment pack.

Other considerations

• As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out pre-employment checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.   
• We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief.

How to apply

If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. To apply, please submit a CV and statement (up to approximately 500 words/1 A4 page) outlining:

• Why you are interested in the role
• What skills you would bring to be successful in this role
• Any experience you would like to highlight
• Any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process
• Disclosure of disabilities if you wish to do so (as a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role)

Please note that applications without a covering letter will not be considered.

Closing date for applications is 11:30pm on Wednesday 03 September. Please note that interviews will be held on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if a suitable candidate is found. Early applications are strongly encouraged.

We belong to the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative, which advocates and supports organisations to employ more people from a refugee background. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applicants with experience of seeking asylum and/or a refugee background. 

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please reach out to HR Manager Rebecca Hughes for further details (we are unable to include email addresses in this advert, but you can find contact details on the final page of the attached recruitment pack).