REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT OF LATIN AMERICAN HOUSE LEGAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE ADVICE SERVICES

CONSULTANCY SERVICES INVITATION TO TENDER

Purpose

Latin American House (LAH) wishes to procure consultancy services to help us to improve and increase the provision of our legal and social welfare advice services.

Background

LAH was established in 1983. We work for the integration, social inclusion and well-being of Latin American and other Spanish and Portuguese-speaking migrants in London, as well as communities in our local neighbourhood. Our aims are to improve the life of Latin Americans, to provide a local Community Centre and to promote the rich diversity of Latin American cultures.

More details about LAH are available from our website on www.casalatina.org.uk.

The Legal and Social Advice Service (LESAS), which is the Legal Department of LAH, currently consists of one immigration solicitor regulated by the SRA whose post is funded by Trust for London, one OISC Level 1 (limited to EU settlement scheme) advisor whose post is funded by the Home Office and one Welfare Benefits and Employment Law Caseworker whose post is funded by the National Lottery.

LAH provides a range of services including specialist advice and information, children and adult education and cultural activities and events. Our charitable work focuses on providing accessible, efficient and practical support to disadvantaged Latin Americans and other vulnerable communities in Greater London and beyond. 

Description

This is an exciting opportunity to work with a well-established charity which is growing and expanding its services. 

Working closely with the trustees, the director and a team of committed staff, the consultant or consultants will develop a strategic plan to address the continuity and expansion of our legal services for the next three years. Successful performance of this task could lead to an employee position as LESAS coordinator (dependent on funding).

Deliverables

To develop and partly implement a three year “Strategic Plan” to help us to improve our legal services, give them continuity and expand the provision of our advice to support our beneficiaries and the organisation’s sustainability. It is envisaged that the plan will include:

1. Fundraising and other sources of income strategy 
2. Partnerships development strategy
3. Registration with OISC or alternatives 
4. Staff recruitment strategy
5. Pro-bono and volunteers strategy
6. Areas of work strategy

(a) Funding and other sources of income

• Identity funders, develop proposals and contribute to secure funding from a diverse range of donors.
• Identify other sources of income including opportunities for charging for our services and/or obtaining a Legal Aid contract.

(b) Relationships

• Develop a strategy to build and develop partnerships and relationships with other organisations and identify the organisations we could partner with.

(c) Registration with OISC or alternatives

• Consider registration of LAH with the Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (OISC) and perform the registration.
•  Alternatively, or in addition to the registration with OISC, to explore LAH operating as a Not an SRA regulated practice.

(d) Staff Recruitment Strategy

• Develop a strategy to assist us to recruit paid staff for the provision of our services.

(e) Pro-bono and volunteer strategy

• Develop and begin to implement a strategy to assist us to recruit volunteers to help us with the provision of our services as well as to prepare policies and procedures to help us to manage volunteers effectively.

(f) Areas of work Strategy

• Identify those areas of law in which we should be providing advice. 

Timelines

Short Term:

• Within the first four weeks of the consultancy to prepare and to present the Strategic Plan.

Long Term;

• Immediately after the Strategic Plan has been approved start dealing with its implementation with priorities as directed by the LESAS working group.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications

The following are the essential and desirable demonstrable experience, skills and qualifications we are looking to see from bidders. 

Experience

Essential

• Proven experience preparing and implementing strategic plan(s) for legal departments of charities.  Candidates will need to provide samples of work provided and references.

Desirable

• At least three years experience in managing and supervising advisers, working with vulnerable communities in London either in the charity sector or in a CAB or similar.
• Experience applying for Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (OISC) registration and knowledge of OISC Regulations.
• Basic knowledge of Solicitor Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations including those for Not SRA-regulated practices. 
• Experience identifying funders and securing grants.
• Knowledge of provision of legal services offering legal aid and applications for legal aid contracts. 
• Experience building and developing partnerships and relationships with other organisations as well as attracting, recruiting and coordinating pro-bono volunteers.
• Knowledge of the challenges faced by the Latin American communities in the UK.
• Experience and familiarity with immigration advice as a caseworker.
• Knowledge of Advice Pro.

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Ability to prioritise work.

Desirable

• Bilingual English-Spanish speaker with advanced Spanish language skills.

Qualifications

Essential

• An academic or vocational qualification in Advice or Law.

Desirable

• Solicitor in England and Wales regulated by the SRA or OISC Level 2 or above.
• Practical experience depending on the length and on which areas can compensate for lack of qualifications.

Commission management

LESAS Working Group will be responsible for managing the commission. 

Application

Please send your CV and your response that can include an outline method statement (no more than 800 words) with how you suggest the Deliverables can be achieved as well as:

1. your interest in consulting with LAH;
2. your relevant experience as per the skills and competencies outlined above.

Budget

The budget available for this assignment is in the range of £10,500-£11,500.

Timescale

All activities must be completed by late spring 2021.

Correspondence

Please send the email to vacancies@casalatina.org.uk with the subject “Legal and Social Welfare Advice (LESAS) Response to Tender.”

Deadline for submitting applications: 22nd of December 2020 at 12pm

Interviews will be held between the 4th and 7th of January 2021

Start date of the consultancy: No later than 18 January 2021