Refugee caseworker jobs in london

AFRIL is recruiting for an experienced, dynamic Senior Caseworker to join our growing Casework Team. The successful candidate will provide advice and casework to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in South East London on matters relating to housing and homelessness, welfare benefits, NRPF support, community care and asylum support. The candidate has the exciting opportunity to lead on the delivery of AFRIL's Casework Drop-in for asylum seekers and recently granted refugees, supported by a Caseworker and Outreach Volunteers. The post holder, if not already Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) accredited, will also be supported to obtain IAA Level 2 accreditation, to embed some immigration legal advice into their broader caseload. 

AFRIL’s Casework Service also 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. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to feed into AFRIL's broader policy work, and develop local partnerships.

This is an exciting and integral role within a supportive and dynamic team, with strong opportunity for career development within AFRIL.

Join us as our Senior Legal Aid Advisor. We will always stand by people standing up to an unjust immigration system. We provide a safe haven for people to rebuild their lives and our Senior Legal Aid Advisor role is a key part of that. Sitting in the immigration team, you will work on our Legal Aid contract alongside a team of Immigration Advisors working on a mix of grant funded projects for migrants unable to afford private representation. You will work within a supportive environment, reporting to our Immigration Manager, and be able to develop your areas of expertise. We’re a small and collaborative team so you will have the opportunity to work closely with other members of the organisation. 

Main Roles

• Manage a full caseload of complex immigration matters funded by legal aid, including asylum, human rights, and deportation cases.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual obligations (IAAS, SRA, LAA).
• Complete funding applications, manage provider submissions, track time, prepare and submit legal aid bills and ensure compliance with LAA obligations.
• Provide ad hoc supervision, mentoring or training to members of the immigration team working on related immigration matters.

Please download our application pack to find about more about the Senior Legal Aid Advisor Role.

Location - West London.  Hybrid role up to two days per week can be working from home.  At least three days per week on site.

Reporting to Co-Heads of Casework

Hours - 35 hours per week Monday to Friday

We have two roles available - one is permanent and the other is a three year contract.

The post holder would be responsible for:

* Providing specialist advice and advocacy service to the homeless guests of our services, which include Partner Day Centres and Night Shelters throughout the winter season.

* Employing creative thinking and practices to ensure that guests are supported and motivated to achieve their goals.

* Attending appointments with guest occassionally when needed

* Referring and signposting guests to accommodation providers, health service and other relevant internal and external support services, as necessary.

* Maintaining good communication with the Managers of our partnered Drop In Centres, Glass Door colleagues and local statutory and non-statutory services.

* Attending meetings with the Casework team, external service providers and partner organisations when required.

* Collating statistics and outcome measurements of the casework servicce for both internal and external use.

* Maintaining a well organised and easily accessible administration system for the casework programme in line with relevant legislation (eg GDPR)

* Managing a small casework budget

* Undertaking any other duties as required by the charity.

Person Specification

Essential:

* At least one years experience of working one-on-one and assessing the needs of homeless people or similar disadvantaged client groups

* Empathic attitude to homeless and vulnerably housed people

* Up to date knowledge of the welfare issues and legislation affecting homeless people

* Knowledge of relevant support services available to homeless people, particularly in West London

* Confident approach to and experience of, dealing with challenging behaviour

* Ability to maintain good relationships with colleagues and external service providers

* Highly organised with strong time management skills

* Ability to keep clear and up to date case records

* Experienced and competent in MS Office packages

* Ability to work independently and take the initiative to make important decisions.

* Flexible and supportive team member with excellent communication skills

* Ability to adhere to and implement Health & Safety, HR and operational policies

* Understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities

* For night shelter caseworkers, willingness to work a minimum of one evening per week

* This post will require an enhanced DBS check prior and during employment.

Desirable

* Ability to speak Polish, Romanian or other Eastern European languages
* Experience of working alongside volunteers

Other
* Ability to work flexibly and at various sites, as required
* Eligibility to work in the UK
* To be able to adhere and work within Glass Door’s safeguarding policy and procedures
* To participate in meetings, supervision meetings and in any trainings as required
* To be responsible for own’s professional development