JOB TITLE:   Statelessness Project Caseworker

LOCATION:  Asylum Aid Office (London)

RESPONSIBLE TO:  Statelessness Project Supervisor

CONTRACT:  Permanent, part-time (22.5 hours per week) (possibility of up to full time – 37.5 hours per week)

SALARY:  £34,000 p.a. (pro rata)

BENEFITS:  27 days holiday (pro rata) plus 4% matched pension contribution

START DATE:  ASAP. Subject to references

BACKGROUND

This is an exciting opportunity to join the team at Asylum Aid to work on our award-winning Statelessness Project. This innovative project works in partnership with 11 city law firms, who generously provide Pro Bono legal support to take on statelessness cases to ensure that people affected by statelessness are able to achieve legal status and a route to citizenship in the UK.

For over thirty 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 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

The ideal candidate will be an OISC Level 2 accredited caseworker or a solicitor or barrister with experience of advice on asylum and protection claims and ideally some experience of statelessness work, although full training on statelessness will be provided. Experience of supervising or training others with no specialist legal knowledge would also be a great advantage.

As the Statelessness Project Caseworker, you will have the opportunity to become an expert in an under-represented area of the law that is becoming more relevant and visible. The Asylum Aid Statelessness Project is one of only 2 specialist providers of free advice on statelessness in England & Wales – there is no legal aid for statelessness applications in England and Wales.  It is a unique combination of free advice and expertise and is made possible by our collaboration with corporate law firms.

You will work with the Stateless Project Supervisor to provide supervision to pro bono lawyers as well as running your own small caseload. You will have the opportunity to engage in and support research and policy advocacy to promote the rights of stateless people, and work on building capacity to increase the number of stateless people who can access high quality legal representation, the first step to securing their status.

As is the nature of this sector, the role will be exposed to a high volume of traumatic and distressing material and, whilst you will be supported by the Statelessness project supervisor and surrounding team, you should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of good self-care principles in an intense work environment.

Equal Opportunities

The Foundation and Asylum Aid is an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer. We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates as 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 at every level within the organisation.  We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups and those with lived experience of the UK immigration system.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Registered with OISC at level 2 in immigration OR a qualified solicitor or barrister in England & Wales with experience of immigration and asylum work;
• Experience of working with people with insecure immigration status, including victims of torture, trafficking and gender-based violence, and unaccompanied children;
• Right to work in the UK.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Experience of providing legal advice and representation to stateless people, particularly in relation to applications under the Statelessness Determination Procedure in Part 14 of the Immigration Rules;
• Experience of Administrative Review, ideally in relation to Statelessness applications
• Experience of supervising others in the provision of immigration advice, including those who are not immigration specialists;
• Experience of working with pro bono lawyers or other volunteers;
• Senior Caseworker (Level 2) accreditation under the Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS);
• OISC level 2 registration in asylum & protection if not a qualified solicitor or barrister;
• Experience of providing advice and representation under the immigration legal aid contract;
• Experience of working with a Case Management System;
• Experience of working in partnership with external organisations, including pro bono lawyers;
• Experience of contributing to policy advocacy work such as briefings and submissions to Parliamentary committees or attending stakeholder meetings;
• The ability to design and deliver training courses and workshops on related legal issues for a varied range of participants.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Legal Casework

• Supervise pro bono lawyers in providing advice and legal representation to stateless persons in the UK;
• Provide ad hoc and second tier advice on statelessness enquiries and referrals;
• Provide legal advice and representation to clients on statelessness cases, including applications for Administrative Review, and in other protection and human rights claims, trafficking referrals and family reunion as appropriate;
• Identify common problems and issues arising from the treatment of statelessness claims in the UK which are suitable to strategic challenges;
• Where appropriate, apply for legal aid funding for cases (including Exceptional Case Funding) and comply with all LAA requirements;
• Ensure that legal aid and other income is maximised, and targets are achieved;
• Maintain client files and records in line with file management procedures

     Other duties:

• Assist the Statelessness project supervisor in the management and coordination of the Statelessness project;
• Together with the Statelessness project supervisor, develop and deliver training for legal representatives and others on statelessness and related subjects;
• Contribute to policy advocacy and research relating to the situation of stateless people in the UK;
• Develop and maintain referral relationships with community organisations and advice projects as relevant to your work;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of Asylum Aid’s legal strategy;
• Comply with professional standards and accreditation, including OISC, SRA and LAA requirements.
• Keep abreast of relevant developments in statelessness, asylum and immigration law and practice;
• Ensure that any reporting and monitoring requirements are met in full;
• Attend and actively participate in internal and external meetings, events, and training sessions as appropriate;
• Adhere in full to all Asylum Aid’s policies and procedures;
• Undertake any other related activities as required.

Person Specification

In addition to the essential criteria and desirable criteria above, the ideal candidate will meet the following criteria for the post:

Knowledge

• Excellent working knowledge of immigration and asylum law and policy, and (at least) good understanding of Part 14 of the Immigration Rules as it applies to the determination of statelessness;
• Understands the requirements of OISC/SRA/Lexcel and LAA in relation to the conduct of cases, file management and supervision;
• Good understanding of LAA contract provisions, particularly in relation to controlled and certificated work in the immigration and asylum category, and exceptional case funding;
• Good awareness of the welfare and support entitlements of asylum seekers and those on immigration bail/without immigration status in the UK; and
• An understanding of the barriers migrants, stateless persons, refugees, and asylum seekers face regarding access to legal advice, reasons why they may become destitute and why this makes it more difficult to access advice and support.

Abilities

• The ability to manage a high number of cases at any given time;
• The ability to maintain a high level of client care;
• The ability to work co-operatively with colleagues and to develop relationships with external partners including referral organisations and pro bono partners;
• The ability to work autonomously, prioritise workloads and meet deadlines;
• The ability to analyse and assess detailed information, and to grasp complex issues rapidly;
• The ability to design and deliver training course and workshops on related legal issues for a varied range of participants;
• The ability to communicate effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds;
• The ability to deal empathetically and supportively with migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers;
• The ability to work outside normal office hours as required; and
• The ability to travel in order to carry out the responsibilities of the post..

Please note that the successful candidate will be offered the job subject to suitable references and an enhanced 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.

Please submit an up to date CV and covering letter by 9am Tuesday 1^st August 2023 . Your application should outline your relevant skills and experience, as well as how your previous experience matches the listed responsibilities and person specification to jobs@helenbamber.org. Please state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role. In setting the salary regard has been had to the NCJ payscales.

Interviews are scheduled to be held on 9^th and 10^th August 2023 at our offices in central London. For any queries, please contact Alison Pickup, Director of Asylum Aid, at alison.pickup@asylumaid.org.uk

We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage. No agencies.

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