Background

Refugee Action Kingston (RAK) is a well-established charity dedicated to supporting refugees and asylum seekers from anywhere in the world who find themselves in the Royal Borough of Kingston and neighbouring boroughs. Since its foundation in 1991, RAK has been the main provider of direct services to refugees and asylum seekers as well as promoting refugee rights.

RAK aims to support refugees through the process from their initial reception in the borough through to final integration into the local community in order to enable them to live a fulfilling life and become accepted and active participants in our local communities. We achieve this by accomplishing a variety of outcomes for refugee and asylum-seeking families through delivering a holistic service including advice, information, counselling, education, training, and assistance in access mainstream services and employment opportunities to help them rebuild their lives.

Purpose of the Post

Refugee Action Kingston provides free and independent information and advice on a one-to-one basis to refugees and asylum seekers on immigration (Level 3), welfare benefits, education, training, employment, housing, access to health and social care. Where we cannot help we refer clients to solicitors and other specialist help.

The purpose of this job is to provide an effective and efficient face-to-face Immigration Advice to OISC level 3, within the aims, policies and principles of Refugee Action Kingston, working to the Advice Quality Standard (AQS) and to the IAA standards. And to provide consultancy and advice to colleagues on Immigration and Asylum issues.

Duties and responsibilities:

Casework

• Provide face to face Immigration and Asylum advice and casework to IAA Level 2

• Act for the client where necessary by liaising with the immigration office, external agencies and other Immigration Advice providers in progression of a case.

• Negotiate and advocate on behalf of clients with third parties as appropriate, both verbally and in writing.

• Assist clients with other related problems where they are an integral part of their case and refer to other advisers or specialist agencies as appropriate

• Know and understand the limits of Level 2 IAA Advice and be prepared to refer or signpost onwards when work reaches these boundaries.

• Ensure that all casework conforms to RAK Advice Service office standards and policies, the Advice Quality Standard (AQS) requirements and the IAA standards.

• Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring, and report preparation

• Write and maintain notes on individual client cases, manually and electronically. To ensure files and appropriate records are kept in accordance with good practice and standards.

• Follow all policies and procedures relating to the advice service and work within the limitations expected of the service.

Professional Development

• Attend internal and external training courses as appropriate. Staff are expected to keep themselves informed on current issues relating to their work.

• Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures and attend appropriate training as agreed with the manager.

• Read relevant publications

• Prepare for and attend supervision sessions, actively participate in staff meetings

• Contribute to the development of the advice service

Administration

• Be self-administrating and comply with existing procedures for statistical recording, record keeping and document production using IT based case management systems
• Ensure that all work conforms to service administrative policies and procedures.
• Assist the Director with monitoring and evaluating the project.
• Prepare and present reports on the Project to funders and the Management Committee as requested.
• Maintain confidential and secure personnel records on beneficiaries, as required.

General responsibilities

• Represent Refugee Action Kingston at external meetings as agreed with the Director.
• To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required.
• Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service
• Actively support and promote the principles of equal opportunities
• Uphold the aims and principles of RAK Advice Service and ensure that funder’s requirements are met and observe agreed policies on child safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality etc.
• Maintain close liaison with relevant external agencies, and represent the service as appropriate
• Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends