RLS Caseworker / Solicitor
As a RLS Caseworker / Solicitor you will conduct a small strategic caseload of asylum and refugee family reunion cases and assist on litigation (where eligible) under our legal aid contract to push for better decision-making, secure results for individuals and pursue improvements in the relevant law, policy and practices.
You will also act as the supervising caseworker/lawyer for the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative (APBI), which is a specialist casework project delivered by RLS with funding and pro bono assistance from 11 leading commercial law firms. As part of this role, you will supervise pro bono lawyers to provide high quality legal representation for Afghans on matters including family reunion, the ARAP scheme, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and others. The project is now in its 3rd year and won the Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership Award at the Law Works Pro Bono Awards in 2022 as well as being nominated and commended for numerous other awards in 2022 and 2023. Please note that RLS recognise that pro bono legal work is always an adjunct to, and not a substitute for, an adequate system of publicly funded legal services.
Key responsibilities
- Have conduct of a small strategic caseload and provide high quality legal advice and representation to clients
- Supervise the work of volunteer pro bono commercial lawyers on cases
- Deliver training to pro bono commercial lawyers
- Ensure that all legal work is promptly and accurate recorded on RLS’s case management system and keep relevant time recording
- Develop and disseminate relevant information on legal developments in this area for relevant stakeholders, including both the Afghan Community and building the capacity of other practitioners
- Work in close collaboration with the other project Lawyer/s to develop and share experiences and best practice in relation to all aspects of casework (legal, evidential and procedural) and relevant internal processes
- Work in close collaboration with the Legal Director and Casework Supervisorto ensure that appropriate steps to achieve the aims and objectives of the project are taken, including ensuring that relevant data is obtained and assisting with the timely completion of the project Operational Plan/s
- Work in close collaboration with the APBI Coordinator to contribute to the production of materials such as project periodic reports, information on emerging and strategic issues in relation to ‘safe’ routes for use in advocacy, content for newsletters, social media posts and articles to raise awareness of the project and its aims and outputs
- Participate in, and contribute to, RLS’s monitoring, evaluation and learning framework
- Be an active member of the RLS team participating in team meetings at both the UK and International level: engaging in a collegiate and collaborative environment that includes participating in the development of a new and exciting legal organisation
- Work in close collaboration with the Community Engagement and Research Lead to contribute to the production of information sheets and other materials to disseminate to the Afghan community/ies
- Maintain accurate and confidential records in line with GDPR
- Adhere to RLS safeguarding policies and procedures at all times.
Person specification:
Essential
- Be either a member of the Bar, a solicitor and accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, or OISC accredited to Level 3
- Experience of asylum casework
- Experience of refugee family reunion procedures and applications, including applications outside of the Immigration Rules reliant on Article 8 ECHR and other human rights provisions
- Experience of online immigration applications
- Demonstrable knowledge of legal aid provision and ECF applications
- Experience of and commitment to working in a collaborative way on legal cases
- Good verbal and written communication skills in English
- Strong organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
- Strong attention to detail, responsiveness, reliability and dependability
- Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills and an ability to deal professionally and collaboratively with both legal and not-for-profit stakeholders
- Computer literacy
- Right to reside and work in the UK
- Enjoy working with a small team in a flexible and fast-paced environment, as well as being an independent self-starter able to work with a high degree of autonomy
- Have a strong commitment to upholding the human rights of asylum seekers, migrants, and refugees
- Commitment to the aims of the project and the values of RLS
- The successful candidate will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate (we cover the cost). However, a criminal record is not a barrier to the role.
Desirable
- Demonstrable supervision experience strongly preferred
- Those with lived experience of navigating immigration systems are strongly encouraged to apply and will be favourably considered
- Experience of legal aid casework
- Experience of conducting immigration appeals and/or public law litigation
- Experience of supervising commercial lawyers in a pro bono project setting
- Experience of preparing and delivering training
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Senior Manager (Humberside Women's Centres)
PLEASE NOTE - Applicants will only be considered if you provide both a CV and Cover Letter
The role is only open to women, in accordance with the sex-based exemptions of the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.
Salary: £39,375 - £40,425
Location: Hull
Hours: 37 hours full-time
Closing Date: 9.00am, 19th May 2025
Interview Date: 4th June 2025
Together Women is looking for an outstanding Senior Manager to lead our Humberside team, and to manage our busy and vibrant Women’s Centre in Hull City Centre, as well as our hubs across Bridlington, Beverley and Goole.
About Us
Together Women is an award-winning charity that supports women and girls across the North of England, with particular focus on women who are involved in or at risk of entering the criminal justice system. Our vision is for women and girls to feel safe, valued and in control of their own life choices.
From our Women Centres, we provide tailored support across a range of different pathways, including housing, domestic abuse, debt and unemployment. As a charity led by women, for women, we provide trauma informed, holistic support to help break cycles of trauma, abuse and re-offending, and evoke systems change.
Women become involved in the Criminal Justice System for a complex range of reasons. In our gender-specific centres, we provide holistic support to women by women, to overcome challenges and address needs. We support women build upon their strengths and work through any barriers that are preventing them from progressing and achieving their potential.
Role summary
As Senior Manager for Humberside Women’s Centres you will play a pivotal role in leading and managing our centres and contract delivery in Humberside. Working closely with the Director of Services and supported by a senior key worker your focus will be on providing high quality, trauma-responsive support to women with experience of, or at risk of entering the criminal justice system.
You will lead on managing and delivering our contracts across Humberside to ensure our operational and strategic objectives are met. You will also focus on building excellent relationships with funders and key partners and identifying new partnership and advocacy opportunities.
Supported by a Senior Key Worker, your responsibilities will encompass the day-to-day management of our Women's Centres and contract delivery partners across various locations, including our Hull Women’s Centre, our Hubs in Goole, Beverley, and Bridlington, as well as partnerships in Grimsby and Scunthorpe.
Managing a team of Key Workers, you will be responsible for ensuring women and girls receive an exceptional service from within a safe, trauma-responsive, women-only spaces. Working alongside our statutory and non-statutory partners in Criminal Justice and Health and Social Care, you will ensure the continued strategic development of the Women’s Centre and represent Together Women at local and regional level.
Your responsibilities will also include identifying and pursuing new funding opportunities, and ensuring the continuity of existing services through effective contract management. As a forward-thinking individual, you will contribute to the wider strategic direction of the organisation as part of the senior management team, which will entail submitting high-quality monitoring reports to funders, line and team management, and contributing to the ongoing development of the vision, mission and values of Together Women.
Key accountabilities
Humberside service delivery
· Provide strategic and operational management for Together Women’s services across Humberside, including our Hull Centre and our Goole, Beverley and Bridlington Hubs.
· Lead on the planning, implementation, and evaluation of our work across Humberside, and embed Together Women’s values across everything we do.
· Ensure all TW policies and procedures, including safeguarding are implemented, overseeing appropriate staff training and support.
People management
· Effectively manage a dispersed team, promoting collaboration, cohesion and consistency in delivery and approach, and promote a great workplace culture.
· Line manage direct reports, ensuring all staff receive regular support, supervision and performance review, case management support, and training and development.
· Effectively manage staff resourcing, ensuring we have a fully staffed team with the skills and competencies to provide high quality, trauma-informed services.
· Develop great working relationships across the organisation and build an open, inclusive and collaborative senior management culture.
Contracts and partnerships
· Lead and manage our statutory and non-statutory contract delivery partners.
· Oversee effective performance management of services; identifying risks, monitoring targets, assessing delivery standards, and ensuring requirements and quality standards are met.
· Lead, manage and develop effective service governance, quality assurance and auditing systems.
· Establish, build and maintain strong relationships with external partners including commissioners, funders, delivery partners and wider stakeholders
· Oversee systems and processes for obtaining feedback from stakeholders, including service users, in order to inform and improve service delivery
Financials and reporting
· Manage the operational budget, ensuring services operate within budgets and any variations are identified and reviewed
· Prepare and present accurate, timely reports to internal and external stakeholders as required.
· Identify relevant funding opportunities and prepare funding applications in collaboration with the leadership team, to support long-term sustainability of our services.
· Lead on development, implementation and management of our monitoring and evaluation systems and processes, to evidence the need, reach and impact of our work.
Additional Accountabilities
· Support and embody the mission, ethos and values of Together Women.
· Deputise for the Senior Leadership Team as required, both internally and externally.
· Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position.
· Maintain and improve competencies through continuous professional development.
· Abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices.
· Support and promote inclusion, diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.
Role Requirements
Experience
· Leading, motivating and managing effective and successful teams (preferably in service delivery in the charity, voluntary or public sector).
· Management of contracts and maintaining great relationships with contract providers.
· Delivering monitoring & evaluation systems and auditing service quality and performance.
Involvement of customers or services users in development, delivery and evaluation of services.
· Developing and implementing best practice and strategies on equity, diversity and inclusion.
Skills and Abilities – Essential
· Excellent spoken and written communication skills.
· Excellent influencing, relationship-building and negotiation skills.
· Strategic planning and the ability to translate strategy into tangible plans and achievable goals.
· Ability to lead and manage a team of managers operating across dispersed locations.
· Solution-focused approach, and able to make effective, timely and considered decisions.
· Ability to balance the need for reflection and responsiveness, and make decisions independently.
· Proactive, collaborative and compassionate.
· Fluent budget management, and use of financial processes and systems
· Fluent in Microsoft Office and standard IT equipment
· Excellent time management skills, manage own workload effectively, prioritise and meet deadlines.
· Ability to respond positively to change, apply learnings and celebrate successes.
Skills and Abilities – Desirable
· Experience of managing services for women and/or in the criminal justice system.
· Implementation of organisational change or change programmes.
· Experience leading positive workplace culture and implementing strategies to boost employee satisfaction, morale and productivity.
· Experience of service user involvement and/or co-production practices.
· Evidence of continued professional development.
Other Requirements
· Able to travel locally, regionally and nationally as required.
· Able to work some evenings and weekends and stay overnight where necessary.
· Commitment to creating inclusive workplaces and anti-discriminatory practice.
· Ability to apply principles of equity, diversity and inclusion to all areas of work.
· Commitment to upholding the rights of people facing disadvantage and discrimination in the CJS
The post holder is expected to work within policies and procedures of Together Women and be committed to its ethos and values. This includes promoting and demonstrating the principles of equity (including encouraging diversity and tackling discrimination) and sensitivity to the environment.
Please note this post is exempt under section 7 (2) (e) and (f) of The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and therefore open to female applicants only. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Please ensure you have included a covering letter of no more than 2 sides of A4, expressing how you meet the role requirements and any relevant experience of the key accountabilities.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.