- BY Free Movement
Job ad: Legal Casework Manager at The Unity Project
The Unity Project (TUP) supports people who are facing poverty and homelessness because their immigration status allows them ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF). We believe NRPF should not exist and we are working to end it. Until then, we seek to minimise its impact by supporting people to make the ‘change of conditions’ (CoC) application to access public funds.
TUP is a small organisation that has achieved systemic impact through the clear strategic focus of our casework. As the number of people affected by NRPF continues to grow, we are looking to take our casework service to the next level so that we can support more individual applicants and strengthen our strategic impact.
We are seeking an experienced and qualified immigration advisor to manage our legal casework. You will develop our specialist casework service – promoting its effectiveness and ensuring we provide compassionate support to applicants while meeting all regulatory requirements. You will supervise our dedicated team in London, overseeing their professional development and personal well-being. You will also focus on the strategic impact of our project, working closely with our Strategic Casework Lead and external partners to achieve systems change through litigation and other channels.
Link to apply: https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/the-unity-project/legal-casework-manager/998048?tsId=8
Please submit your CV and cover letter (no more than two pages) via the above link by 23.30 on Sunday 05/01/25. Please address all the points in the person specification which are marked as assessed at Application stage.
We use an anonymised recruitment process, so names and basic demographic information will be redacted from applications before shortlisting. Please do not include this information in the body of your cover letter.
We plan to hold interviews in the weeks beginning 27/01/25 and 03/02/25. We will discuss accessibility requirements in advance.
The contact email for this application is recruitment@unity-project.org.uk in case you have questions or issues using the Charity Job website.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Legal Casework Manager
Responsible To: Director
Location: London (with some remote working)
Working Hours: 35 hours per week (hours may be negotiable)
Remuneration: £45,500
Main Purpose of Job
- Manage the organisation’s legal and advice services (up to and including OISC Level 3), ensuring that they are carried out effectively, compassionately and strategically
- Supervise and support the organisation’s casework team
- Work with the Strategic Casework Lead to ensure that our casework service retains a clear strategic focus on systemic change
Specific responsibilities
Management of legal and advice services
- Supervise TUP’s casework service, ensuring it is compliant with the OISC regulatory framework
- Ensure the quality and consistency of the casework service and its operation in line with TUP’s wider values, aims and objectives. This involves overseeing the whole casework pipeline from point of referral to case closure:
- Maintaining oversight of our client care processes
- Overseeing the initial triage process to ensure that the overall caseload allows the service to operate at a manageable and effective capacity
- Supervising and supporting the casework team to ensure that we give excellent legal advice, support and training
- Reviewing applications and advice letters prepared by colleagues as needed
- Have personal conduct of a limited caseload of complex Change of Conditions work
- Provide decision making on complex issues arising from our casework
- Work with the team to develop TUP’s resources and protocols
- Oversee monitoring and evaluation of the casework service and provide casework reports for the Director and Board of Trustees, attending meetings as required
- Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead for TUP and ensure the safety of all applicants
Supervision and support for the casework team
- Oversee recruitment of casework staff in collaboration with the Director and Board
- Maintain direct supervision responsibility for casework staff, including running regular supervision sessions, annual appraisals and developing appropriate work-plans
- Lead weekly casework team meetings and actively participate in team meetings
- Work with the casework team to ensure that everyone receives excellent, relevant training and development opportunities
- Manage relationships with contractors and other external legal advisors who support the casework service
- Demonstrate ability to work effectively and collaboratively with colleagues and participate in a team
- Build and maintain relationships with the TUP volunteer team, including by being present at Tuesday casework sessions
Strategic focus on systemic change
- Work with the Strategic Casework Lead to set the strategic direction of TUP’s casework, with the aim of bringing about systemic change through litigation and other approaches
- Maintain up to date knowledge of relevant developments in law, policy and Home Office practice and share this with the casework team so that our service remains responsive
- Work with legal aid firms and the Strategic Casework Lead to initiate and support strategic litigation where relevant
- Ensure that TUP collaborates and shares experience with relevant external organisations
Organisation and values
- Actively contribute to organisational strategy and development, in collaboration with the wider team and with oversight from the Director and the board
- Promote a culture of partnership working with applicants, including by actively seeking their feedback and using that feedback to improve our service
- Challenge inequality and discrimination (which both enable the NRPF policy and are exacerbated by it) where you see it
- Uphold organisational values and follow all organisational policies and procedures
- Be proactive concerning personal development and wellbeing. Prioritise a healthy work-life balance, reflect actively on work done, and seek to improve on self-identified weaknesses
The above is not an exhaustive list of duties. You may need to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the organisation and overall organisational objectives.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
| Criteria | Requirement | Assessed at |
| Qualifications and experience | ||
| Accredited immigration advisor (OISC Level 3 or equivalent) or solicitor | Essential | Application |
| At least five years’ experience of delivering immigration advice and casework at any level | Essential | Application and Interview |
| At least three years’ experience of line management | Essential | Application and Interview |
| Experience of working with and communicating with vulnerable clients | Essential | Application and Interview |
| Lived experience of the impact of ‘no recourse to public funds’ and the Change of Conditions application process* | Desirable | Application |
| Legal knowledge and skills | ||
| In-depth knowledge and experience of immigration law, policy and practice relating to ‘no recourse to public funds’, including experience with Change of Conditions applications | Essential | Application and Interview |
| A comprehensive understanding of all relevant regulatory and quality standards, in particular the OISC Code of Standards. | Essential | Application and Interview |
| Ability to manage an advice service, providing high quality, professional support to clients | Essential | Interview |
| High level of spoken and written English, excellent legal drafting skills and an ability to formulate complex written arguments | Essential | Application and Interview |
| Understanding and experience of public law and strategic litigation | Essential | Application and Interview |
| Thorough and reflective understanding of child and adult safeguarding practice | Essential | Interview |
| Prior experience working as a safeguarding lead | Desirable | Application |
| Ability to identify strategic legal and policy opportunities arising from TUP’s casework | Desirable | Interview |
| Experience and aptitude using various IT software including Google Workplace and Lamplight | Desirable | Application |
| Ability to speak a community language | Desirable | Application |
| Managerial skills | ||
| Ability to manage, motivate and support a diverse team | Essential | Application and Interview |
| Ability to set priorities and training needs for the team | Essential | Interview |
| Ability to maintain and develop collaborative working relationships with colleagues and external partners | Essential | Interview |
| Experience of managing budgets | Desirable | Application |
| Personal qualities | ||
| A good understanding of, and demonstrable commitment to, the work, aims and principles of TUP – including a commitment to pursuing change through policy work, advocacy and other forms of engagement | Essential | Application and Interview |
| Demonstrable interpersonal skills and ability to support others with patience and empathy | Essential | Application and Interview |
| Ability to draw boundaries and be aware of own emotional wellbeing when working with applicants experiencing stress | Essential | Interview |
| Adaptive and reflective, able to think strategically and explore new ways of working | Desirable | Interview |
The successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK and will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate. A criminal record is not necessarily a barrier to recruitment but should be disclosed on application.
*The Unity Project welcomes applicants who have experienced the immigration system firsthand, including having been through the Change of Conditions application process. We recognise that you may not wish to disclose this information in your cover letter and we want to emphasise that you are under no obligation to do so. At interview stage, we will not ask direct questions about your lived experience, however you will be welcome to include it in your answers. If you have any questions about this or need additional support with the application process for any reason, please contact recruitment@unity-project.org.uk
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