INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

Transcription

1 Page1 INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS North Kensington Law Centre (NKLC) is seeking to recruit a full time Immigration Supervisor accredited under The Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS) SUMMARY JOB DESCRIPTION Position Main Purpose Immigration Supervisor To supervise the immigration/asylum work in the Law Centre with a specific responsibility for delivering the LAA immigration contract To ensure the quality of advice within the Immigration Department is of an appropriately high standard To manage the organisation of the casework within the Immigration Department To provide advice, casework and representation to clients Salary Hours Place of Work Accountable to 33,000 pa (plus pension contribution) 35 hours per week Unit 15, Baseline Studios, Whitchurch Road, London W11 4AT Senior Solicitor North Kensington Law Centre (NKLC) is seeking to recruit a full time Immigration Supervisor accredited under The Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS) The ideal candidate will be a qualified Solicitor or Immigration Caseworker with LAA Level 2/OISC Level 3 and Supervisory accreditation. The successful candidate will have thorough experience in publicly funded immigration/asylum work under a Legal Aid Contract. The role holder will be responsible for building up and managing an existing and new caseload and supervising the Immigration Team

2 Page2 BACKGROUND TO THE ROLE NKLC has experienced significant change in its operating environment also to the demand for its services. Cuts to funding in Legal Aid work have forced us to change the way that we work in order to survive. NKLC has sought to diversify our income streams and increase non-legal Aid sources of funding. This has led to significant restructuring and an office move. We have also piloted new ways of serving the community, including the use of fixed fee, low cost charges so that we can preserve access to justice for those in and around our area. Against this backdrop, the tragic events of the fire at Grenfell Tower on 14th June 2017 resulted in the need for a substantial increase in the need for our services. While we sought to respond to this crisis, we also tried to maintain continuity of service to existing and new, non-grenfell cases. Thanks to the efforts of staff and supporters, we have managed to meet these challenges. We are now planning ahead to meet the likely ongoing need - greater than ever - for high quality legal services to help the community in North Kensington and surrounding areas to assert their legal rights. This post is being created partly to respond to the increasing workload at NKLC, as well as to changes in responsibilities and progression for other staff in the wider team. ABOUT NORTH KENSINGTON LAW CENTRE North Kensington Law Centre was founded in 1970 and was the first Law Centre in England to provide access to justice for the local community through the provision of high quality legal advice and representation. Now located in new offices near Latimer Road station, the Law Centre continues to focus on meeting the needs of the most vulnerable members of the community in North Kensington and beyond while providing a broad range of legal services and advice in the areas of housing, immigration, crime and prison work as well as employment and welfare benefits. Further information about NKLC can be found on our website at HOW TO APPLY Applicants should complete the application form which can be downloaded from our website and send it by to info@nklc.co.uk The closing date for applications is 6pm on Wednesday 21st March Initial interviews will take place in the week commencing Monday 26th March 2018.

3 Page3 Candidates invited for interview may be asked to make a short presentation on a subject which will be communicated before the interview. There may also be a test. We regret that we will be unable to consider applications received after the deadline. NKLC is committed to equality of opportunity. All applicants will be considered on their merits, regardless of race, colour, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, disability or socio-economic status.

4 Page4 DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION Accountability and Supervisory Responsibilities Responsibility for your own caseload of asylum and immigration clients as well as supervision of others in the asylum and immigration team in accordance with the LAA, Lexcel, SRA and OISC. The Law Centre s Fee-Paying Immigration work is regulated by the OISC and although individual Solicitors are regulated by the SRA the Immigration Supervisor must ensure that OISC regulations are also met. To undertake the responsibilities of monitoring compliance with LAA contract requirements and delivering on NKLC s obligations under its Legal Aid contract for asylum and immigration work Ensure that caseworkers/solicitors working under the asylum and immigration LAA contract understand the conditions and are working to meet them Ensure that the caseworkers carry out fee paying work understand the OISC requirements and are working to meet them Ensure the Immigration Team are meeting financial billing/new Matter Start targets and time recording Ensure the Immigration Team receive training as required and are kept updated on changes in asylum and immigration law. Support the Director and Senior Solicitor in reporting and responding to the Management Committee and trustees individually Legal Asylum and Immigration Casework Responsibilities To provide good quality and accessible legal advice, representation in asylum and immigration law in accordance. To undertake advocacy/instruct appropriate counsel to represent clients in both the First Tier Tribunal and Upper Tier Tribunal including preparation and research prior to the hearings. To advise and assist client s in submitting applications to the Home Office and Entry Clearance Posts as appropriate. To advise and assist clients in bringing Judicial Review claims where necessary. To conduct casework including recording all casework activity and using our case management system To give second tier advice to other advice agencies on issues relating to immigration law. To keep up to date with changes in asylum and immigration law and to monitor the effect on the community.

5 Page5 To carry out file reviews in accordance with the Lexcel/LAA Contract requirements. To be responsible for meeting financial billing targets and time recording To provide advice and assistance to clients in accordance with the Law Centre s guidelines and priorities and professional ethics. General Responsibilities Attend staff and trustee meetings from time to time Contribute to internal processes, such as appraisals and training as needed Implement all staff policies as set out in the staff handbook Any other tasks that may reasonably be required by the Senior Solicitor or Director.

6 Page6 PERSON SPECIFICATION The ideal candidate will have thorough working knowledge of publicly funded immigration/asylum work under a Legal Aid Contract and will be responsible for building up and managing an existing and new caseload and supervising the Immigration Team The ideal candidate will possess the following qualities: Abilities Proven ability with managing a team Excellent written and spoken communication skills A quick learner, able to develop new skills to meet the needs of the organisation Attributes Problem solver, able to find new and innovative solutions to existing issues Strength in managing relationships with a wide variety of Stake Holders A self-starter, able to work both under own initiative and in pursuit of an agreed strategy and plan Enterprising and able to identify potential funding opportunities A commitment to providing access to justice for all Sensitivity to the needs of our client base The ideal candidate must possess the following qualities: Be a qualified Solicitor or Immigration Caseworker accredited as a Supervisor under The Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS) and be either IAAS Level 2 or OISC Level 3 accredited. Meet the LAA Immigration Supervisor Standards: o Those acting as supervisors must demonstrate that they are competent to do the following: o Allocate cases according to the complexity of the case and competence of the caseworker o Monitor progress with cases to ensure that they are managed effectively, as appropriate to the experience of the individual

7 Page7 o Provide regular and constructive feedback to individuals on their performance o Work with individuals to agree appropriate objectives and performance standards o Provide opportunities for individuals to discuss progress and performance o Help individuals to identify their own development needs, and support individual development. o Ensure that individuals maintain and develop their knowledge of the law o Ensure individuals are aware of the nature and purpose of file management systems o Monitor effectiveness of file management systems o Review file management systems and make necessary changes o Review the quality of services and advice provided in individual cases and provide feedback o Undertake effective appraisals of staff o Awareness of relevant guidance, e.g. from Law Society, SRA, ILPA, OISC o Ensure that discrimination is not present in the workplace Have at least 3 years recent casework experience in asylum and immigration law. Have up to date knowledge Asylum & Immigration Law with experience of Judicial Reviews Have Experience of working under a LAA contract, including billing and time recording requirements. Have an ability to explain the law clearly and simply both orally and in writing. Can work under pressure and meet deadlines. Have robust IT skills including the ability to use IT skills to self-generate work material effectively and efficiently utilising , internet and word processing. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. You must have the ability to self-supervise and supervise the immigration team You will be ambitious and driven with good knowledge of the Legal Aid Contract and Immigration Specification Have Experience of giving advice and representation appeal tribunals. Have an understanding of and commitment to the role of Law Centres in the provision of legal services.