Asylum Support Senior Caseworker

Are you an outstanding caseworker looking for a senior position that combines complex casework, policy and project management? If so, this pivotal new role in our small dynamic charity might be for you! 

Reporting to AFRIL’s Advice and Advocacy Manager, this new post will lead on our casework with asylum seekers, both in contingency accommodation and move on work when they are granted refugee status. You will deliver outreach in local hotels, building relationships and new partnerships. You will monitor the impact of your project, and casework and policy trends. You will represent AFRIL externally at policy meetings to influence change and address systemic issues. AFRIL is AQS accredited with file reviews from Southwark Law Centre. We have a community PAP project with Deighton Pierce Glynn Solicitors and expect all caseworkers to complete this legal training. We have an immigration partnership with Southwark Law Centre. We are a friendly team and there is real scope to grow and affect change in this role. 

About us:

AFRIL is a small, dynamic, community based charity working with asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants, and refugee families in south east London. We support our service users to lift themselves out of poverty 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. We engage in policy and legal interventions to affect change, including strategic litigation. Our work is grounded in the values of professionalism, inclusivity, and solidarity, and our approach to service delivery is one of co-production and empowerment.

AFRIL delivers three core services in the London Borough of Lewisham: 

• Advice and Advocacy Service, providing AQS accredited advice and complex casework in housing, asylum support, welfare benefits and related matters. We deliver a community arm of the PAP (pre action protocol) project with Deighton Pierce Glynn Solicitors and have an immigration advice project in partnership with Southwark Law Centre.

• AFRIL Foodbank Programme - Helping Hands Foodbank and a range of wellbeing activities including therapeutic art and our Allotment of Refuge.

• Rainbow Club Supplementary School - improving educational attainment through weekly supplementary education in English and Maths, arts, music and sports activities to primary age refugee and migrant children.

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 welcome applications from candidates of all ages and are committed to supporting qualified people to re-enter the workplace after periods of unemployment for example because of homemaking, redundancy, mental health or previous immigration restrictions. Our office is on the first floor of a community centre. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support our staff to flourish.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on 31st October 2023. 

Terms and conditions:

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

The postholder may be required to work occasional Saturdays or some evenings for which time off in lieu will be given.

Location: This post is based at AFRIL’s office at the Leemore Community Centre in central Lewisham. The post will require weekly outreach in Lewisham and possibly Greenwich/Southwark subject to need. AFRIL has a flexible working policy and depending on the needs of the service 1-2 days per week can be worked from home. 

Benefits: 5% employer pension contributions, access to a 24/7 employee assistance programme, and training and development. Employee wellbeing support delivered by a clinical provider. Annual salary review.

See full Job Description and Person Specification. For queries or an informal chat about the role, please contact AFRIL's Advice and Advocacy Manager, Chloe White (email address in job description).