Housing advice caseworker jobs

The Destitution Caseworker is a full-time post at the JRS UK offices in Wapping with regular visits to our houses in South London. The post-holder will be joining the Advice and Casework Team, a small and diverse team of Caseworkers, Befriending and Practical Support Coordinator and volunteers.

The Advice and Casework Team provides refugee friend led advice and casework, supported by the practical offering of hardship payments, regular mobile phone top-ups, and befriending. We also provide temporary accommodation through our hosting scheme 'At Home’ which has operated since 2012. Additionally, we also offer support through our 10- bedroom house for women and 6 – bedroom house for men in South London.

This role is busy and varied, with a focus on combining accompaniment with advice and practical support and assistance particularly to those in our accommodation project. The postholder will provide in-depth and proactive support on a broad range of issues including destitution and homelessness; access to legal advice; asylum support and health related matters. The postholder will utilise relationships with NGOs and specialist agencies, signposting and making referrals as appropriate.

They will be responsible for managing their own caseload and will support with the smooth running of the accommodation project and other aspects of the wider team.

The postholder should have a good working knowledge and empathy of the issues and challenges faced by destitute asylum-seekers and refugees, with particular focus on destitution, homelessness and access to immigration advice. They will need highly developed listening skills, personal resilience, and emotional maturity to respond to the emotional and practical needs of asylum seekers, accompany them and support them to positively progress with their lives. They need to have and maintain an up-to-date knowledge about the immigration and asylum context as it relates to our work with destitute refugees.

The Destitution Caseworker will be enthusiastic about working in a small faith-based organisation and have a willingness to integrate JRS UK’s ethos of accompaniment in their approach whilst also demonstrating sensitivity in responding to the needs of individuals facing destitution. They will enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and possess excellent communication skills and will adhere to JRS’ values and commitment to social justice and tackling racism and discrimination. They will work flexibly as a member of the team and organisation and undertake other reasonable duties and responsibilities as needed.

Role Specific Responsibilities

Accommodation:

• Preparing needs assessments and inducting guests and residents.

• Facilitating matching meetings and providing ongoing support during placements including review meetings.

• Coordinating food grants for accommodated refugee friends.

• Being the main point of contact and a supportive presence, providing basic advice and casework support for guests and residents.

• Support with coordinating the move-on process from hosting and housing as appropriate.

• Support hosts and other volunteers including assisting with coordinating and facilitating volunteer meetings.

• Support the facilitating of monthly house meetings and activities.

• Proactively identify and respond to risks and health and safety issues, escalating as appropriate.

• Promptly flagging any housing maintenance issues

• Take part in the on-call rota.

• Travelling within London to visit host homes, as well as the properties in South London. Some evening and weekend work is required, but time in lieu will be provided.

General Advice and Casework Support:

• Identify, register, and assess needs of individuals seeking support

• Provide information, advice, and support to individuals on a range of issues including homelessness, access to legal advice, destitution, and asylum support.

• Identify, prioritise and provide pro-active advice and casework support to individuals requiring ongoing support.

• Facilitate access to services and support for individuals through signposting, referrals and ongoing advocacy where appropriate.

• Ensure hardship provisions are distributed, and resources utilised in line with policies, guidance and procedures.

• Maintain and develop positive working relationships and referral pathways with relevant statutory and third sector partners.

• Non-legal form filling.

General:

• Safeguarding concerns are identified, managed and/or escalated as appropriate

• Participate in monthly casework meetings

• Continuously maintain clear and accurate records in accordance with data protection legislation

• Identify and raise common trends and issues affecting our work

• Provide regular reports including for funding as required

• Attend internal and external meetings as agreed

• Keep abreast of relevant developments in asylum/immigration law and procedures

• Actively support colleagues, volunteers and collaborate across teams

• Work closely with colleagues to identify opportunities and explore ways for individuals supported by the services to share their experiences and contribute to JRS UK’s advocacy and communications work

• Assist line manager and colleagues with service improvement and development

• Undertake other duties and responsibilities as needed

• Comply with all JRS policies and procedures

Personal growth and development: 

• Engage with opportunities for training and development and reflect regularly on practice, including:

           o Ongoing training in areas such as asylum & immigration system, housing, mental health support/therapeutic care, rights and entitlements of those we serve.

          o Attend non-managerial supervision and psychological support to support selfcare.

          o Workshops and trainings relating to JRS’ mission and ethos

Chief Officer

Citizens Advice Woking (CAW) provides free, independent, and confidential advice and information to the residents of Woking, and anyone who works in the Borough, particularly the most vulnerable, to help with the problems they face.  We are the only organisation locally that can and does address client issues holistically, across areas such as debt, housing and welfare benefits, not just single issues, and this is increasingly important as client problems become more complex.

We are looking for a Senior Manager who will bring both innovation and experience to lead a valued local charity.

Reporting to the Chair of the Trustee Board, the Chief Officer

• Is responsible to the Trustee Board for the management and leadership of Citizens Advice Woking,
• Represents Citizens Advice Woking to funders, partners and stakeholders,
• Ensures the delivery of a high quality, impartial and confidential service, utilising both paid staff and volunteers,
• Is responsible for the continuing funding, planning and financial management of the service,
• Represents the organisation in Woking and contributes to the overall provision of strategic advice services in the borough.

In particular, the priorities for the Chief Officer in 2026/27 will be to:

• Manage CAW’s external relationships with our funders and the Woking community generally, to ensure satisfaction with the delivery of current projects, and their continuation,
• Collaborate closely with the other Surrey LCA Chief Officers to respond to the changing funding landscape. In parallel, continue to identify and deliver local projects for local funders,
• Ensure that suitable alternative premises are secured, and the transition is managed as smoothly as possible,
• Ensure the staff and volunteers are enabled to work effectively, particularly during this period of disruption,

The Chief Officer has an important leadership role, working closely with the Operations Manager, who has line responsibility for the staff and, generally, the internal CAW operation.  The volunteers are managed on a day-to-day basis by the Advice Session Supervisors, who are critical to ensuring the quality of advice to clients, and the smooth running of the office. 

How to apply

To apply for the role of Chief Officer at CAW, please see the Job Pack on our website.

You will need to send us your CV and a maximum 2 page supporting statement. The supporting statement should demonstrate how you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification and outline why you are interested in becoming the CO of Citizens Advice Woking.

Closing date for applications: Friday 6th Febraury

Applications will be reviewed on receipt, and we reserve the right to close earlier if applications from sufficient suitably qualified candidates have been received

This is an exciting opportunity to steer Asylum Aid at an important time in its 30-year existence. As Executive Director you will be responsible for delivering on our strategy for impact. You will oversee our work to increase access to expert, trauma-informed legal representation to those in the asylum, trafficking and statelessness systems and lead our policy and strategic legal work to achieve systemic change that contributes towards our vision.

You will line manage the Director of Legal Casework to oversee the provision of supportive and enabling leadership to Asylum Aid caseworkers so that they can continue to deliver high quality expert advice in complex cases, while being supported in their professional development and wellbeing. You will also manage and develop the work of our welfare advice team within the Westminster Advice Services Partnership and beyond, and work collaboratively with colleagues in the sector to build capacity and increase our impact. 

The ideal candidate, who may be legally qualified, will have experience of leadership in the charity/NGO sector and a sound understanding of the asylum, human rights and trafficking processes in the UK and the legal frameworks which govern the protection of refugees, survivors of trafficking and stateless people, and of the role of law in achieving system change.

We are looking for someone who is strategically minded and passionate about providing supportive and inclusive leadership to our expert team. You will be committed to our objectives and to the role which expert legal representation plays in enabling people in need of protection in the UK to obtain it.

As is the nature of this sector, the role may be exposed to a high volume of traumatic and distressing material and, whilst they will be supported by the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and surrounding team, the candidate should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of good self-care principles in an intense work environment and dissemination of those principles to junior members of the team.

How to apply 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 10am on Monday 26th January 2026.

The website form will ask you to:

1.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.

2.Upload your current CV

3.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.

For an informal conversation about the post before applying, please contact Alison Pickup, the current Executive Director.

Selection Process

We will invite candidates to an initial online interview on Tuesday 10th or Wednesday 11th February, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interviews at our office in Old Street on Tuesday 24th or Wednesday 25th February.

We offer a guaranteed initial interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they provide some evidence of relevant experience or skills in relation to the essential criteria.

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

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.

Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print or Word format, or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

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 a 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 and of the housing and welfare system, 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 advice sector. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK.

We are also 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.

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 and access other information and resources which may help in preparing your job application.

Please complete the form on their website to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.

Contract: Fixed Term until 31st March 2027

MAIN PURPOSE

The adviser role will provide advice to clients in a variety of ways. This will include referrals from partner organisations, both incoming and outbound telephone calls and attendance at outreach settings. In addition web-chat, email, face to face video conferencing, and in future other digital channels such as social media.

The Adviser’s role is to explore the client’s issue and then provide information and advice relating to the client’s options.

• Identify and assist those clients who can self help or need assisted information. If the client needs full advice to either provide this immediately or arrange a further appointment.

• Advisers will research all options available to the client and explain their rights. Advisers will identify entitlement to benefits and complete basic form filling  as well as providing budgeting advice and negotiating with third parties as needed.

• Advisers are required to ensure electronic client information and records are accurate and reflect the advice given. They must also comply with the Quality Advice process.

• The Adviser will pass clients onto Caseworkers if they require help with complex issues. Similarly, if they are vulnerable or they are adults with mental health problems whose issues cannot be dealt with by the Adviser.

• Use the electronic information system and relevant reference books to find and interpret the relevant information.

• Advisers will work in community settings as required in order to deliver advice as part of bespoke projects

• Ensure that all advice conforms to the organisation standards and the AQS.

• Attend relevant internal and external meetings as needed. 

• Prepare for and attend supervision sessions/team meetings/staff meetings as appropriate.

• Ensure GDPR compliant training is completed on an annual basis.

• Ensure all work conforms to Citizens Advice Wirral’s systems and procedures.

• Adhere to the aims and policies of Citizens Advice.

• Abide by health and safety guidelines and take steps to ensure your own safety and that of colleagues.

• Recognise the importance of safeguarding procedures within the organisation. Ensure that any concerns, disclosures or allegations of abuse are immediately reported, following the correct procedure.

• To attend occasional out of hours events in conjunction with the work of Citizens Advice Wirral and participate in fund-raising activities.

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

ADVISER ROLE: Person Specification

Essential Criteria 

1 Excellent communication skills, with the ability to question, interview and assess clients. Able to get to the root of the issues whilst maintaining control of the conversation.

2 Demonstrable experience of using a range of IT systems and packages confidently and competently.

3 Ability to research and interpret complex information and produce and present clear advice verbally and in writing. 

4 Level 2 qualifications (GCSE or equivalent)  in maths and English. The ability to interpret statistics, calculate benefits and complete financial statements as well as write up accurate case notes, letters and reports. 

5 A knowledge of at least one of the main enquiry areas of debt, welfare benefits, housing and employment. A willingness to develop knowledge of these areas within the first 2 months of employment.

6 Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage own workload and plan time efficiently to ensure deadlines are met.

7 Ability and willingness to work as part of a team and have a flexible approach as and where required by client needs. Flexibility to work out of hours if required.

8 A commitment to both the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and also to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable 

9 Demonstrate an awareness of issues facing vulnerable clients, many with mild-moderate mental health problems.

Interview date: Wednesday 4th February 2026

Interview location: Birkenhead, Wirral

Citizens Advice Wirral is part of the Disability Confident scheme. We're taking positive action by providing interviews to candidates who have a registered disability - provided they meet the minimum skills for the role. We'll ask you whether you are eligible when you apply, so if you'd like to be considered for this scheme, all you need to do is let us know in your application.

At Citizens Advice Wirral we seek to embrace emerging technologies and understand that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly part of everyday life. When we are recruiting, we use situational questions to assess a person's suitability for the role and so it's really important that we hear from the person themselves. With this in mind we screen responses to detect the presence of AI and where high levels of AI are detected we may not progress applications any further. We therefore strongly encourage applicants to avoid the use of AI, or to use minimal AI input to avoid a detrimental effect on the shortlisting process. 

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 South West region in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire or Somerset. There will be occasional travel around the South West Region, and you will be required to travel for quarterly face to face team 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 South West, supporting them to administer casework for SSAFA beneficiaries. The successful candidate will work as part of a larger team of 10, which includes two Regional Casework Managers and a Regional Operations Manager. 

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 South West 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.

If you've applied for this role previously within the last six months, we encourage you not to reapply as we already have your details saved on our system and will contact you if a suitable position becomes available.

Closing date: Midnight on 19 January 2026. SSAFA reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Interviews: 28 January 2026

Could you lead a multi-disciplinary team to deliver excellent casework and oversee the production of high-quality evidence to drive lasting systemic change for those impacted by harmful health practices in immigration detention? 

About Medical Justice  

Medical Justice works to uphold the health and associated legal rights of people in immigration detention and provides medical evidence, so the devastating health harms of detention are understood and acted on.

About the role 

Casework and clinical evidence are at the heart of everything Medical Justice does. We assist vulnerable people mistreated in immigration detention and the evidence we produce forms the basis of our advocacy work to secure lasting change. 

As Head of Clinical Evidence & Casework, you will play a key role in strengthening and developing our ability to reach more people in detention. Leading a team of Caseworkers, employed and volunteer Clinicians and Interpreters, you will oversee the development of high-quality medical evidence, facilitate access to healthcare for people in detention, and collaborate closely with our Advocacy team and external organisations to challenge and end medical mistreatment in immigration detention. 

For full role information and the person specification please see the candidate pack.

Recruitment at Medical Justice 

Medical Justice has an organisational commitment to improving the representation of people with lived experience. We recognise that some potential candidates who bring lived experience that we need may have had less opportunity to develop a track record in these roles.  We are keen to look beyond the traditional review of your qualifications and work experience.  Whilst the fact that your lived experience will be of relevance, there will be no expectation that you talk about your personal experiences.  

We are part of the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative. The network supports inclusive recruitment of people with lived experience of the UK asylum or immigration system. If this is your experience, you can find useful resources on the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative website.

How to apply 

Please read the Candidate Pack and when you are ready to apply, click the CharityJob Apply button below. You’ll be asked to submit a CV and answer a few application questions about your relevant skills and motivation. 

Closing date Tuesday 20 January 2026, 23:30 GMT. 

First round interviews will take place w/c 9 February, second round interviews w/c 23 February.  

We look forward to receiving your application.

We are seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer / Deputy CEO to help lead our growing organisation through an exciting period of consolidation and development.

You will work closely with the CEO and Trustees, overseeing operations, finance, people, and systems across our six community projects, helping ensure strong governance, sustainability, and impact.

We’re looking for someone with:
• Senior leadership experience in the charity or non-profit sector
• Strong operational and financial management skills
• Experience leading teams and multiple projects
• A collaborative, values-driven leadership style

This role has a Genuine Occupational Requirement for the post holder to be a practising Christian, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

How to apply:
Click here to download the Applicant Information Pack which also includes details of how to apply or contact us for further information.