Responsible to: Operation Manager/Executive Director

Status: 25 hours p/w for the first 6 months, 29 p/w afterwards (including Saturday)

Location: Edgeware Office/ Remote working

End of fixed term: July 2021, extendable for another 3 years subject to funding

Salary: £22,000 per annum for the first 6 months. Can go up to £26500 per annum, based on experience.

Note: Suitable applicants will be offered an interview immediately due to the urgency of the position

About Afghan Association Paiwand

Paiwand is a refugee community organisation that works to benefit the refugee

and migrant communities in the United Kingdom by reducing poverty, advancing education,

and relieving suffering through the provision of several services, including advocacy,

supported housing, mental health, youth programmes and others. It currently assists over

2000 beneficiaries each year throughout north London.

Organisation Aims 

Paiwand aims to assist and enable refugees and asylum seekers to have

their views considered by the organisations who make decisions which affect them.

The service provides people with advice and support in several areas including housing,

welfare benefits, legal rights, education, immigration, and mental health. We aim to enable

refugees living in North West London to successfully integrate and access services by

providing support, information, and representation across a range of areas, in response to

client needs. The advocacy service provided by Paiwand is both free and independent.

Immigration Programme Manager Job Purpose

The post holders main aim is to develop and supervise the Immigration Programme at Paiwand. We currently provide one-to-one specialist advice, casework, and practical support to London-based migrant and refugee clients in the areas of immigration & asylum (up to OISC L2-3), however we are urgently in need of an Immigration Programme Manager to help develop the service considering some changes to OISC code of standards and new immigration framework. We require an immigration casework manager who is trained to OISC level 3 to manage all our activities including remote working services, Brent Hub outreach, Saturday Immigration Clinic etc. and supervise some of our immigration advisors. There will be a 4 months’ probation period for this role.

Key responsibilities:

·      To review the current immigration service. This includes working with the director and other managers to develop assessments, policies, procedures, and case management tools.

·      To take the lead in supervising volunteer immigration advisers and trainee advisers in our Saturday Immigration Clinic or remote working scheme.

·      Provide one-to-one specialist advice (including immigration advice to OISC L3) and support to London-based migrant and refugee clients by phone, email, and face to face and video-calls.

·      Provide thorough follow-up immigration casework and support where appropriate and provide clear and accurate signposting, referrals, and active referrals, where possible and appropriate.

·      Assist in evidencing the impact of work done, including recording, monitoring and reporting against project targets.

·      Work with colleagues in Paiwand to maintain and develop our holistic approach and commitment to human rights, community development, diversity, and best practice in working with vulnerable migrants.

·      To coordinate our out-of-office services and collaborate with the hub centres where we deliver services.

·      Work closely with our funders and OISC to ensure we meet our funding and compliance obligations on time.

·      To develop and manage effective remotely delivered services that leave no vulnerable clients behind.

·      To collect and analyse data and feed them into the policy of the organisation

·      Develop and update the Immigration Advice Handbook for sustainable record of the project activities, policy, and procedures. This should also reflect relevant legal framework, monitoring and evaluation tools and annual reports and surveys.

Qualifications and Requirements:

·      Trained as a solicitor or as a level 3 OISC adviser

·      Experience in providing immigration advice for at least 5 years

·      Experience developing case management procedures in line with OISC code of standards is desirable.

·      Experience providing supervision to OISC trainee immigration advisers

·      Availability on Saturdays to assist in the Immigration Clinic.

·      Be able to speak and write English fluently. Knowledge of foreign languages is also a plus.

·      Committed to assisting the refugee and migrant community in line with Paiwand’s values, policies, and procedures.

·      A degree in law or law practice qualification in UK or other Common or civil law jurisdiction is desirable.

Person Specification:

·      Humble, tolerant, hardworking, and meticulous

·      Strong sense of empathy for vulnerable clients

·      Ability to work or collaborate with other staff and volunteers