Job Description

About Paiwand

Registered Charity Number: 1139972

Registered Company Number: 6632483

IAA Number: N201000017

Afghan Association Paiwand is a registered charity and limited company founded in 2002 to work with vulnerable refugees, migrants, and asylum-seeking communities to help them integrate into society and uplift and empower them by providing support and guidance, thus enhancing their life chances and choices. Paiwand aims to benefit all refugee communities in the United Kingdom by reducing poverty, advancing education, and relieving suffering. Paiwand supports all refugees and migrants to the UK, not just Afghans.

Paiwand is a refugee community organisation that works to benefit the refugee and migrant communities in the United Kingdom by reducing poverty, advancing education, and relieving suffering through the provision of several services, including advocacy, supported housing, mental health, youth programmes and others. It currently assists over 2000 beneficiaries each year throughout north London.

ORGANISATION'S AIMS

Paiwand aims to assist and enable refugees and asylum seekers to have their views considered by the organisations who make decisions which affect them. The service provides people with advice and support in several areas including housing, welfare benefits, legal rights, education, immigration, and mental health. We aim to enable refugees living in Northwest London to successfully integrate and access services by providing support, information, and representation across a range of areas, in response to client needs. The immigration service provided by Paiwand is both free and independent.

IMMIGRATION Advisor (qualified IAA L2/3 -JOB PURPOSE

Paiwand seeks an enthusiastic, result-oriented, strategic IAA Level 2-3 Asylum and Immigration Adviser to assist clients in preparing and submitting asylum and immigration applications, such as visa applications, work permits, citizenship and passport or travel document applications and fundraising events at Paiwand. The candidate will work under the direct supervision of the Operations Manager and the Chief Executive Director.

The post holders main aim is to maintain, expand the Immigration Programme at Paiwand. We currently provide one-to-one specialist advice, casework, and practical support to London-based migrant and refugee clients in the areas of immigration & asylum (up to IAA L2). We require an immigration casework manager who is trained to IAA level 2-3 to manage all our immigration activities including remote working services, partnerships and networking, managing and supervising volunteers and immigration advisors. The standard probationary period for this job is 6 months but in some circumstances we reserve the right to extend it for a longer period.

Paiwand currently provide one-to-one specialist advice, casework, and practical support to London-based migrant and refugee clients in the areas of immigration & asylum (up to IAA L2).

Paiwand holds a Fee Charging IAA license and is looking for innovative individuals to assist with developing a fee charging services in addition to our free service.

Key responsibilities:

To review the current immigration service. This includes working with

the director and other managers to develop assessments, policies, procedures, and case management tools.

To be able to assist with designing an additional fee-charging service besides offering free immigration advice

Provide one-to-one specialist advice (including immigration advice to OISC L2) and support to London-based migrant and refugee clients by phone, email, and face to face and video calls.

Assist with recruiting and managing volunteers

Provide thorough follow-up immigration casework and support where appropriate. and provide clear and accurate signposting, referrals, and active referrals, where possible and appropriate.

Assist in evidencing the impact of work done, including recording, monitoring and reporting against project targets.

Work with colleagues in Paiwand to maintain and develop our holistic approach and commitment to human rights, community development, diversity, and best practice in working with vulnerable migrants.

Work closely with our funders and OISC to ensure we meet our funding and compliance obligations on time.

To develop and manage effective remotely delivered services that leave no vulnerable clients behind.

Develop and update the Immigration Advice Handbook for sustainable record of the project activities, policy, and procedures. This should also reflect relevant legal framework, monitoring and evaluation tools and annual reports and surveys.

To keep an eye on funding opportunities and help with expanding the project

To participate actively in overall Paiwand's affairs such as networking and event organisation.

To promote the service regularly on all social media channels

To present Paiwand services to a wider audience if necessary

To participate in organizational Core activities which will be explained during the interview

Skills and Qualifications:

Be innovative and creative with new ideas especially in terms of expanding immigration service

Trained as a solicitor or as a level 1 or 2 OISC adviser

Project management

Experience developing case management procedures in line with OISC code of standards is desirable.

Experience providing supervision to OISC trainee immigration advisers

Be able to speak and write English fluently. Knowledge of foreign languages is also a plus.

Committed to assisting the refugee and migrant community in line with Paiwand's values, policies, and procedures.

A degree in law or law practice qualification in UK or other Common or civil law jurisdiction is desirable.

To be able to attend emergency meetings and events if necessary

Person Specification:

Humble, tolerant, hardworking, and meticulous

Strong sense of empathy for vulnerable clients

Ability to work or collaborate with other staff and volunteers

To have people skills and to be able to encourage volunteering

A 'To Do' Attitude

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: From 32,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Casual dress Flexitime Free parking
Education:

Bachelor's (preferred)
Licence/Certification:

IAA Level 2/3 (required)
Work Location: In person