Modern slavery community coordinator jobs

Action for Refugees in Lewisham (AFRIL) is recruiting for a new Casework Manager to lead our growing and dynamic Casework and Advocacy Service.You will be joining an impactful local organisation at a crucial time in our development. We are looking for a hard working and dynamic leader who can balance the operational demands of casework and managing frontline services, with excellent HR skills and a keen interest in policy and developing partnerships. This is an exciting and integral role within a supportive and dynamic team at AFRIL. The role is available due to the advancement of the previous post-holder to a more senior post.

AFRIL’s Casework and Advocacy Service is a busy, professional team of 4 caseworkers (3 FTE) , a Community Activities Coordinator, and a number of volunteers. The team has grown significantly in the last 3 years, in response to the needs of our community and due to recognition of AFRIL’s high quality and relevant casework provision. The Casework and Advocacy Service provides AQS accredited complex casework and advice in the areas of Asylum Support, Housing, Benefits and Community Care. The service works to fill the gap, focusing on supporting those with complex vulnerabilities requiring wrap around support. AFRIL takes its services to where clients are; holding regular casework drop-in’s at asylum support hotels, community centres and at Lewisham Foodbank. AFRIL is also recently accredited by the Immigration Advice Authority to provide advice at Level 1, in both Immigration and Asylum and is currently in the process of becoming accredited at Level 2.

AFRIL’s Casework and Advocacy service uses casework trends and data to work with community members in order to engage in policy and systemic change. Utilising casework and community co-production, the service has created sector wide resources on asylum support, engaged in strategic litigation and successfully influenced local, pan-London and national policy outcomes. This is a growing area of work for the service and the successful Casework Manager will be required to balance high quality casework outputs and management of a team, while working closely with the Executive Director on emerging policy and advocacy work.

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 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 and IAA Level 1 Immigration Advice.

• 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 use our frontline experience, together with our clients, to engage in policy and influencing work to improve the services and policies that impact our clients group.