Refugee caseworker jobs in london

SLRA is a well established local migrant support organisation working alongside refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants who are at risk or in crisis due to immigration issues. Our committed, supportive team works alongside local volunteers to provide a range of services including advice and casework, supportive group sessions, youth casework and activities for families and young people. 

We are looking for a Youth Caseworker to work alongside young refugees, asylum seekers and other young migrants who are at risk or in crisis, to ensure that they can access their statutory rights and achieve their full potential. The Youth Caseworker will provide holistic casework, advice and practical support to young people aged 14 to 24 years, working closely with statutory and voluntary organisations to ensure that the immediate and longer-term needs of young people are met.

We would love to hear from you if you have:

• Substantial experience of working with refugee, asylum seeking, unaccompanied asylum seeking and/or other migrant children and young people in the UK, along with experience of delivering casework, advice and advocacy support.
• Knowlege of the issues faced by refugee, asylum seeking and vulnerable migrant children and young people, and the policy and legistration which affects them.

​Benefits include:

• 25 days holiday per year (with 3 additional days when the office is closed at Christmas) plus bank holidays. 
• Additional long service annual leave days up to a maximum of an additional 5 days per year. 
• Flexible and family friendly working arrangements including compressed hours and school term time working.
• Pension scheme with 5% employer contribution. 
• Commitment to staff learning and development.  
• Cyclescheme and travelcard loans. 

Deadline: 9am Monday 26th May

We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network, which aims to create a charitable sector that is led by people with lived experience of the asylum and immigration system. As part of this network, we challenge the one-size-fits-all approach in our employment practices, and respect personal circumstances and needs of people with lived experience. Please feel free to use information and resources on their website which may help in preparing your job application. 

Immigration and Asylum Caseworker

This charity has an exciting opportunity as an Immigration and Asylum Caseworker (IAA LEVEL 2/3) to make a real difference to asylum seekers and refugees in the Reading area.

Position: Immigration and Asylum Caseworker (IAA LEVEL 2/3)

Location: Reading

Hours: Full-time, Office based

Contract: 1-year contract – renewed subject to funding

Salary: £32,364 - £33,559 + 6% pension

Closing date: 5pm on Friday 23rd May 2025

Interview date: Thursday, 29th May 2025 in person

Benefits: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (additional day per year of employment, max 5 days), cycle to work scheme, confidential counselling support and welfare days.

About the role:

We are looking to recruit an experienced one full-time Caseworker IAA level 2 or above to join our Casework Team and directly support our clients by advising and addressing issues including immigration, asylum and holistic matters. The successful candidate will also take the lead on our newly implemented fee charging service.

We are looking for an experienced and methodical caseworker who is able to prioritise cases competently and confidently follow the processes already in place. You will be working at our Reading or Newbury office and be available to do outreach work as and when required.

Key areas of responsibility include:  

• To provide competent IAA level 1 and level 2 Asylum and Immigration advice, specifically to, undocumented persons, asylum seekers and refugees in Berkshire area.
• Casework includes supporting service users with initial asylum applications, fresh claims and supporting with actions following refusal.
• Casework under the fee charging service would include running immigration applications including extensions/renewal of leave to remain.
• You will be able to manage your own caseload and oversee the current casework team providing supervision and guidance on processes.
• Adhere to casework procedures as outlined in the office manual and the IAA standards where applicable.
• Conduct all tasks permitted under the direction of your manager with competence.
• Lead on the continuing development of our new fee charging service.
• Interview clients sensitively and professionally to enable them to explain their problems.
• Keep updated with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to immigration, welfare benefits and housing advice issues.
• Participate in team & staff meetings and other relevant meetings and events.

About you:

The role would suit someone who is confident in communication, has some cultural awareness and can uphold the values of the charity. All candidates should have strong ethical standards, and team spirit and be passionate about working with asylum seekers and refugees. You will have practical IT skills, be able to work to strict deadlines and have good organisational and methodical skills.

Key skills required for this role:

• Qualified to IAA level 1& level2
• Ability to work from the office – Reading or Newbury
• Ability to handle own case work
• Experience of providing or managing provision of a client focused advice service
• Undergraduate degree in law or similar subject or at least two-year experience in a relevant role, paid or voluntary
• An understanding of how the UK’s Asylum and Immigration system works.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in the English language.
• Proficient in MS/other office applications
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.

About the organisation:

The employer is a charity in Berkshire that offers comprehensive assistance to refugees, including free legal advice through IAA (formerly OISC) accredited solicitors, integration support via a drop-in centre, social activities, and a refugee football team. They also engage in advocacy and campaigns for refugee rights. The organization encourages community involvement through fundraising, volunteering, and membership. They have made significant impacts, such as providing extensive casework support and distributing food parcels.

The employer aims to be an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

You may also have experience in areas such as: Refugee Support Worker, Community Caseworker Integration Caseworker,  Immigration Caseworker, Welfare Officer, Resettlement Officer, Migrant Support Worker, Support Worker, Key Worker, Outreach Worker, ETC

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

We are recruiting a General Advice Officer to support with the delivery of advice and welfare support to vulnerable guests who access the Community Wellbeing Service, a local support hub offering relief from the rising cost of living for local families. The General Advice Officer will support our guests on a range of areas including benefits, immigration, housing, money management and access to training and employment services. The postholder will provide high quality welfare advice and guidance through weekly one-to-one advice sessions, undertake case work, work with partners to facilitate referrals, and provide support to advice volunteers. 

The successful candidate must have at least two years’ experience delivering effective advice or in a similar capacity, demonstrate empathy, an understanding of the issues facing vulnerable people, and have in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of welfare benefits and housing policies/legislations, with a strong focus on achieving tangible outcomes for our guests.

Advice Work

• Carry out assessments to identify urgent needs and appropriate support pathways for members at the Community Wellbeing Service.
• Support outreach or community engagement activities as needed.
• Provide holistic and person-centred advice and casework on the main enquiry areas, particularly welfare benefits, housing, employment, health and wellbeing, immigration and money management.
• Maintain Sufra’s Advice Quality Standards and meeting tangible outcomes.
• Produce detailed case records on our case management system for the purpose of continuity, statistical monitoring and report preparation
• Apply for funds from trusts and foundations to support individuals and families with essential costs such as housing deposits or white-goods and/or cancellation of debts;
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with external stakeholders for joined up working, including statutory and voluntary service providers, making referrals for guests where appropriate.
• Enable and support guests to act for themselves, wherever appropriate.
• Monitor the progression of all cases to the point of resolution.
• Conduct follow-up calls with guests where needed and track outcomes
• Support volunteers who are working on delivering Advice Services e.g triage volunteers and pathways volunteers
• Provide advice to the General Advice Service as and when required

Case Management

• Manage own caseload and work independently to support guests
• Use of Case Management System (AdvicePro) as well as Microsoft Office for communication and document production.
• Support with developing case studies and gathering guest feedback
• Collect statistical information as requested for reporting purposes.
• Feed into the development of monitoring reports for funders and other stakeholders

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain and update the charity’s record of referral and signposting agencies;
• Ensure data protection regulations are adhered to, and that sensitive data is handled in accordance with relevant legislation and organisational procedures.
• Keep informed of new and changing legislation relevant to the post, and of local issues and policies
• Be committed to the aims, procedures and policies of Sufra’s advice service in every aspect of service delivery.
• Take part in supervisions, personal development training, team meetings and appraisals
• Undertake any other reasonable duties to support the operations of the charity.

You will provide advice and representation to rough sleepers within northwest London to end homelessness. By resolving immigration status of service users, you will help eliminate destitution and allow them to access support for a better future - an initiative funded under the London Councils Homelessness Project. 

You will work closely with supporting organisations including local authorities and homelessness organisations to break down barriers caused by immigration status and support migrant communities to thrive and become independent. 

Established in 1970, NKLC is the first community-based legal service centre that fights for equality and justice for the disadvantaged residents our locality.  We are proud that we have ended homelessness for many within our community who now have access to employment and study for a better future ahead. Sadly, due to In the height of the cost of living crisis, homlessness persists in the capital. As a result, the Mayors project has now been extended to end of March 2026 so we can continue supporting those facing destitution.

BACKGROUND

This is an exciting opportunity to join the legal aid casework team at Asylum Aid. You will be responsible for coordinating and delivering the billing of our legal aid work (including controlled work, certificated work and inter partes bills), which is vital to ensure the financial sustainability of our work. Asylum Aid holds legal aid contracts in the immigration & asylum and public law categories.

For thirty-five years, Asylum Aid has been providing legal representation to some of the most vulnerable people seeking asylum. We have built an expert service, delivering vital and life-saving services in some of the most complex legal cases, with a particular speciality working with unaccompanied children, survivors of trafficking, torture or other forms of human cruelty, and stateless people. Our vision is that all those in need of protection from persecution and other forms of human cruelty in the UK can obtain it, and are treated fairly and with dignity.

Since August 2020, Asylum Aid has been part of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group. Asylum Aid operates as an independent charity, led by its own Executive Director within the group structure, and is ambitious about growing its impact and reach in the future to ensure protection from persecution for those who need it. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role would suit a person with strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills and numeracy. The ideal candidate will have already embarked on or be looking to develop a career providing excellent legal aid billing support and coordination essential to the financial sustainability of legal aid practice, whether within the charity sector or private practice. You will have a strong commitment to the values of Asylum Aid and an understanding of the importance of sound legal aid billing practices to our continued ability to provide our expert service to our clients. Prior experience is not essential as full training will be given and peer support is available.

The focus of the role of billing coordinator is to ensure the efficient and robust delivery of costing and billing of legal aid files conducted under Legal Aid Agency (LAA) contract (Legal Help / Controlled Legal Representation and certificated work) as well as liaising with external costs lawyers to oversee the preparation of Inter Partes bills and negotiations with the paying party where we have obtained an order for our costs in judicial review proceedings.  This includes reconciliation of Legal Aid Agency payments received and made, and to provide essential coordination within the organisation to support lawyers in ensuring files are billed promptly and accurately, and costs are maximized. The billing coordinator will work with the Director of Legal Casework to develop and maintain an effective tracking system to ensure timely progression from case closure to billing.

This role will work closely with the Legal Team of Asylum Aid and the Finance team of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group. You will also have access to the London Legal Support Trust Centres of Excellence legal aid billing peer support group and peer-to-peer support.

As this is a new role, there will be clear targets set as to the additional legal aid income brought in as a result of the extra capacity it will bring and a review will be undertaken after 12 months as to whether it is having the desired impact on our legal aid income.

Equal Opportunities

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 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 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 refugee and migration sectors. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK and you will receive full training to enable you to transfer your knowledge and skills to the UK context.

How to apply 

Please note that the successful candidate will be offered the job subject to suitable references and a basic DBS check.

If appointed you will be required to give your consent to Asylum Aid to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment. 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 9.00am on 12 May 2025

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.

Selection Process

We anticipate that we will invite candidates to an initial 15-minute online screening meeting week commencing 19 May 2025, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interview week commencing 26 May 2025. We will also ask you to complete a short written task ahead of/on the day.

At Helen Bamber Foundation Group we want to be transparent about what kind of qualities we are looking for and build trust from the very beginning of your journey with us. The first step is your interview, and we mean ‘your’ interview so we will provide you with your interview questions ahead of the interview. This will allow you time to prepare, and ensure you have your best examples in mind.

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

We offer a guaranteed interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they meet at least 50% of the essential criteria.

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 though phone or email.

Experts by Experience Support

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 at  which may help in preparing your job application. .

Please complete this form request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application

We are looking for a passionate and empathetic individual who has the skills, knowledge and experience in coordinating casework and undertaking reporting of data to stakeholders. The IPO will undertake and be responsible for a range of administrative functions to advance and simply casework flow under the Sub-Regional Immigration Advice Service (SIAS) project. The IPO must have the ability to communicate effectively with referring agencies and stakeholders on a regular basis. The IPO will organise and present data to funders and others on behalf of NKLC. The IPO would have a good general understanding of Legal Aid casework, and the regulatory obligations set by the SRA and IAA.

The IPO will work closely with the Immigration Supervising Solicitor (ISS), Director and general admin team to progress and maintain the SIAS project. The IPO will manage referrals, liaise with the immigration team, and undertake a variety of administrative functions to maintain and resolve associated issues within the immigration department. Where appropriate, the IPO will arrange appointments, attend triage sessions off-site and liaise with referring agencies to ensure that caseworkers can advance casework as efficiently as possible.

Whilst the post is open to all, we are particularly keen to attract candidates who are from backgrounds currently underrepresented by the law and who have experienced some of the issues many of our client’s face.