RE: Application for Duty Scheme Co-Ordinator and Legal Advisor

Asylum Support Appeals Project Job Information Pack, May 2017

RE: Application for Duty Scheme Co-ordinator and Legal Advisor

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in applying for the post of Duty Scheme Co-ordinator and Legal Advisor at the Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP).

This pack contains the following information:

 Background information about the post  Job Description  Person Specification

You can find further information about ASAP’s work from our annual reports available on our website at www.asaproject.org.uk

The closing date for applications is 29th May 2017 Interviews will take place on 7th June 2017

Please email completed application to [email protected] with the header PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL or post them marked “private and confidential” to Hazel Williams, ASAP, Studio 11&12, Container City Building, 48 Trinity Buoy Wharf, London, E14 OFN

If you would like to have an informal conversation about the post, please contact Hazel on 020 3716 0284 (ex 208)

Yours sincerely

Hazel Director 1. About ASAP

ASAP is a small national charity working in the area of asylum support law. Our aim is to reduce destitution of asylum seekers in the UK by defending their legal rights to food and shelter. We do this by running a duty scheme at the Asylum Support Tribunal in Docklands, through training, an advice line, and policy work such as producing research reports and lobbying. Since its official launch in June 2005, ASAP has developed an entirely new approach to many of the issues surrounding housing and welfare support for asylum seekers using our legal expertise and evidence-based policy and lobbying work.

Currently, ASAP employs the following staff; - Director - Solicitor - Duty Scheme Co-ordinator and Legal Advisor - Duty Scheme Assistant - Finance and Operations Officer - Legal Researcher and Adviser - Women’s Legal Adviser - Training Co-ordinator and Legal Advisor - Training Administrator - Legal Advisor (temporary) We are also supported by roughly 35 solicitors and barristers who assist us with our Duty Scheme as Volunteer Advocates.

2. Purpose of the post

We are looking to recruit a crucial member of the ASAP team. The Duty Scheme Co-ordinator is responsible for running the ASAP duty scheme of roughly 35 solicitors and barristers who provide free advice and representation to destitute asylum seekers at the Asylum Support Tribunal in East London. This exciting role requires the post holder to assist the solicitor in recruiting, training and supporting the duty scheme volunteer advocates on an ongoing basis. The post holder will have daily contact with the volunteers, advising them on cases and ensuring there is appropriate cover for representation at the Tribunal.

As well as working with our volunteer advocates the post holder will develop relationships with the 600+ members of our Asylum Support Advice Network which is predominantly made up of advice workers across the UK who make referrals to the duty scheme for representation. You will be expected to work with these agencies supporting them with referrals to our service, as well as assisting with the quarterly meetings of this network.

As a member of the ASAP legal team, you will provide legal representation to destitute asylum seekers at the Asylum Support Tribunal, cover ASAP’s second tier advice line and deliver ASAPs training both face to face and through webinars. 3. Job Description

Post: Duty Scheme Coordinator Responsible To: Director Salary: NJC Scale PO1-33 - £32,796 including inner London weighting Hours: Full time 35 hours per week Location: ASAP offices in East London

Purpose of the Post

 Coordinate the duty scheme on a day-to-day basis ensuring rota, referral and signposting systems run smoothly  Coordinate and provide ongoing support to volunteer advocates participating in the duty scheme and supervise office–based duty scheme interns  Support ASAP’s solicitor in the recruitment and training of volunteer advocates  Provide legal advice on asylum support to advice workers and solicitors via ASAP’s second tier Advice Line, representing at the Asylum Support Tribunal and the provision of training  Promote the duty scheme and Advice Line to refugee organisations and advice agencies to increase the number of referrals and calls  Co-ordinate the work of the Asylum Support Advice Network  Manage the Duty Scheme Assistant

A. Substantive work

Duty Scheme coordination and development

1. Coordinate the work of the duty scheme overseeing rota coverage and managing and developing referral and signposting systems.

2. Support ASAP’s solicitor in the recruitment and training of volunteer advocates

3. Be the first point of contact for volunteer advocates on a day-to-day basis dealing with queries, updating the ASAP members’ area, briefing on referrals and providing casework support where appropriate and referring onto ASAP solicitor where further support is needed

4. Build relationships with agencies assisting asylum seekers to increase referrals to the duty scheme and users of the Advice Line

5. To represent ASAP on the AST user group and attend meetings as required. To be the primary contact for the AST and to build effective relationships and maintain open communication with AST staff. 6. To coordinate the work of the Asylum Support Advice Network

7. Oversee the work of ASAP volunteers/interns relating to creation and technical administration of the volunteer rota, and data entry of monitoring information from the duty scheme and advice line for internal and external use, and ensure user feedback of the duty scheme is collected in accordance with monitoring and evaluation requirements.

8. Manage the Duty Scheme Assistant, overseeing her work and carrying out regular supervisions and annual appraisals.

Provision of direct and 2nd tier legal advice

1. Where appropriate, provide legal information, advice and advocacy to asylum- seekers at the First Tier Tribunal on asylum support appeals and related legal issues.

2. Provide legal advice on asylum support and asylum support appeals to advice workers, refugee agencies and legal practitioners via ASAP’s second tier Advice Line.

B. Other

1. To contribute to the Legal team’s external factsheets and internal and external briefings as needed and update the signposting guide

2. Where appropriate take part in peer file reviews and observations and volunteer advocate observations to maintain quality of file management, advocacy and advice

3. Where appropriate, provide training on asylum support appeals to advice workers, refugee agencies and legal practitioners in London or regionally

C. General

1. All work carried out will be in the best interest of asylum-seekers and refugees and in accordance with ASAP’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy

2. Attend and actively participate in team meetings and ASAP events

3. Attend professional development training as required

4. It will be expected that any worker will be available to work some evenings and occasional weekends (for which Time Off in Lieu will be given).

5. It will be expected that all workers will uphold the ethos and protect the good name of the ASAP, working in line with ASAP policies and procedures 4. Person Specification

Essential Desirable Skills, Experience of legal advice work Knowledge and/or Experience and experience of asylum Knowledge support appeals

Knowledge of asylum support for Experience providing advice asylum seekers and refused asylum specifically about access to seekers asylum support, immigration and/or housing, welfare or benefits Ability to monitor and keep up to date with legal and policy developments Experience representing or supporting vulnerable A commitment to asylum/ human individuals rights/social justice issues Experience of providing second tier advice

Experience of working in a voluntary sector organisation

Experience of managing volunteers

General Work Demonstrable ability to work in a Skills small team in a cooperative, flexible and supportive manner

Ability to manage own time by prioritising tasks and meeting competing deadlines.

Ability to complete tasks to a high standard without continuous supervision.

Working Willingness and ability to work Arrangements occasionally outside office core hours, including occasional weekends

Equal Understanding, awareness of and Opportunities commitment to the principles and practice of equal opportunities and diversity