About us: 

The Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London (RAMFEL) is one of the largest immigration and asylum advice charities in the UK, supporting refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants to access justice. An OISC level 3 accredited organisation, we represent clients at all stages of the immigration and asylum process, up to and including the Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

We also actively campaign for a fairer and more humane immigration system. RAMFEL caseworkers therefore have the opportunity to work on systemic and strategic challenges and support broader advocacy work.

 We particularly welcome and encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals, and those who are migrants or refugees, and who have lived experience of the impact of UK immigration policy and/or of rough sleeping.

Purpose of the role:

We are establishing a new legal aid casework service and looking for an experienced Advisor to fulfil the LAA supervisor role for a new Immigration and Asylum legal aid contract. Additionally, they will handle their own caseload funded by Legal Aid, with a primary focus on asylum cases. Currently, as the department is in its initial stages, the supervisor will not be responsible for team management. However, this situation is expected to change in the future.

Whilst we strive to make the legal aid contract as financially viable as possible, we are aware of the financial difficulties involved. Our primary focus is on delivering a high-quality service and utilising legal aid to support our clients. We are committed to invest in the setup of our legal aid work and will ensure the caseload is managed whilst work is undertaken to set up our contract. The role gives an opportunity to assist some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

We are particularly keen to hear from people who have both an interest in setting up new services and have current experience of running their own immigration and asylum publicly funded caseload.

We are only considering applicants with relevant legal experience (IAAS supervisor).

Relationships: Reports to the Head of Services.

Hours of work: The role is primarily a full-time position, requiring 37.5 hours per week. However, for the right candidate, we may consider accommodating part-time working hours. Given the nature of RAMFEL’s work, there may be instances where the Supervisor will need to exceed the standard hours. In such cases, compensatory time off can be arranged with the Head of Services

Terms: £37,500 – 45,000 per annum depending on experience. 28 days annual leave plus statutory holidays and 6% pension contribution

Other benefits: Cycle to work scheme, tech scheme, and employee assistance program.

Place of work: The normal place of work will be at the People’s Place 80-92 High Street, Stratford E15 2NE and occasionally the Ilford office. We are currently asking staff to come to the office 40% of the time as part of a hybrid working scheme.

Specific Responsibilities

This is a new role at RAMFEL.

Case management

• Undertake legal aid casework on asylum and immigration matters
• Manage own caseload, working to advance the best interests of the client in a timely and sensitive manner
• Comply with professional standards and accreditation
• Ensure that all work complies with the requirements of the LAA in relation to Legal Help, Controlled Work and Legal Aid Certificated matters as appropriate
• Manage clients’ expectations by discussing deadlines, outcomes and timing
• Deliver legal advice phone line/outreach surgeries/drop in as and when required
• Brief counsel, attend conferences and court with counsel
• Maintain a full and orderly file with comprehensive attendance notes of all meetings, attendances and telephone calls

Performance and Resource Management

• Responsible for all aspects of Immigration & Asylum Legal Aid work including providing technical expertise and guidance to other team members
• Manage and supervise Solicitors, Trainee Solicitors and Caseworkers to manage appropriate caseload types and complexities (in due course)
• Conduct file reviews as per RAMFEL’s File Review procedure and SQM requirements
• Ensures all relevant organisational systems, such as our database and annual leave booking system are used appropriately within the team
• Where appropriate, apply for LAA Case Funding for controlled and certificated work and ensure timely and accurate billing of all concluded matters
• Maintain financial records and financial information as may be required by the LAA

People and Culture

• Recruit, induct, manage and develop Legal Aid staff and volunteers, participating in regular management support and appraisals
• Supply relevant information on service delivery to the CEO and Head of Services to ensure there are robust working practices and specialist support in place to ensure the wellbeing of all staff and volunteers is maintained and enhanced
• Assist with delivery of appropriate training and development in the department

Service User Inclusion

• Ensure opportunities to volunteer or work within the service are accessible to a diverse community, reflecting the nature of our service users
• Ensure sufficient Service User feedback is gathered to underpin effective service delivery

Relationship Management

• Build collaborative and effective relationships across the team and work well with staff across the organisation
• Work with the CEO, the Head of Services to manage relevant external relationships with partners from across the sector locally

Risk Management

• Maintain and update risk assessments related to service delivery in collaboration with other relevant managers. Ensure that policies and procedures from the operations manual are followed, alongside relevant regulations (including Health & Safety)
• Ensure rapid escalation and management of identified risks and ensure learning is embedded in operational models, in particular observing internal policy on safeguarding

Systems & Service monitoring

• Ensure teams accurately, swiftly and appropriately utilise our database and any other agreed IT systems in line with organisational procedures and approaches, using reporting from these systems to inform operational decision making
• Ensure that any reporting and monitoring requirements are met in full

General responsibilities

• Ensure that all of RAMFEL’s Policies and Procedures are adhered to at all times
• Engage with the Head of Services to create and follow a training plan to keep up to date with changes in law, policy and guidance to ensure clients receive accurate and high-quality advice
• Participate in regular supervisions and team meetings
• Work with the Head of Campaigning to identify developing immigration and asylum law issues / challenges and develop strategic litigation in line with RAMFEL’s mission;
• Attend the office on a regular basis (hybrid working)
• Act as a positive ambassador for the Charity at all times
• Working with volunteers when necessary
• Undertake any other duties that may be reasonably required

Person Specification 

Education/qualifications

As we are an OISC regulated organisation (registered with the SRA as a non-regulated entity), the applicant must either be:

• A Solicitor who holds a practising certificate and is accredited with the Law Society (IAAS 2);
• A Senior Caseworker (non-Solicitor) who is IAAS Level 2 regulated

They must ideally also hold an Advanced Accreditation with the Law Society to be able to supervise other advisors’ work.

 Experience/knowledge

• 3 years of experience in providing high-quality advice and representation to clients with immigration & asylum matters
• 3 years of experience in working in a legal aid provider environment
• Experience of undertaking publicly funded work under a legal aid contract, including of Exceptional Case Funding, in the immigration and asylum category
• Accreditation as an IAAS supervising senior caseworker or the skills and experience to attain accreditation within 3 months of appointment
• Experience of using the LAA’s Client and Costs Management System including applying for legal aid certificates, costs and scope extensions and civil billing
• Knowledge of and empathy with the backgrounds and experiences of asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants
• Experience in using clients’ databases
• Experience working with interpreters supporting clients with complex matters

Skills

• Strong management skills
• Highly organised individual
• Aptitude for grasping complex issues rapidly
• Ability to demonstrate good client-facing skills
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office
• Communicate effectively at all levels, both verbally and written
• Supportive team player

 Personal attributes

• A dynamic and innovative self-starter
• Commitment to the aims and objectives of RAMFEL
• Positive, resilient, enthusiastic, and proactive approach
• Ability to demonstrate behaviour in keeping with RAMFEL’s core values of Teamwork, Respect, Integrity and Fairness
• Ability to keep professional boundaries

Desirable

• Lived experience of the impact of asylum/immigration policies and practice
• Fluency in other languages
• Experience supporting and developing volunteers

 Application process

We will only be shortlisting candidates who have submitted a CV and a cover letter explaining why they are applying for the role.

The interview consists of an interview (approx. 45 mins) and a written exercise (45 min).

The closing date for applications is Thursday, 21st September at 5pm.