Job Description

Terms of employment

Job Title: Refugee and Migrant Adviser

Location: E

ntraide has two main offices located in Solihull and Chelsmley Wood. The successful candidate will be based either in Solihull or Chelmsley Wood and will be required to travel to the other office as needed.

This is an in-person, on-site role with

no

hybrid or remote work options available.

Salary and benefits: 26,780 per annum

Additional Benefits:

Pension contribution up to 5% of total salary Refund of work-related travel expenses at the rate of 0.45 per mile if using own car Comprehensive training and opportunities for career advancement.

Hours:

35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (with an hour break).

Contract:

12-month fixed term with a strong possibility of extension

Probation Period:

6 months

Annual Leave:

24 days plus statutory bank, increasing to 29 days after 5 years employment with Entraide.

Enhanced DBS:

Employment in this post will be subject to a satisfactory police clearance being obtained. Because of the nature of the work for which you are applying, this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (exception) Order 1975 and you are, therefore, not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are 'spent' under the provision of the Act.

Notice:

1 month's notice of termination of employment on either side.

About Us

Entraide is a well-established charity based in Solihull. Our aim is to promote the wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers in Solihull and across the West Midlands and to facilitate their integration into society. We are currently the only refugee specialist organisation in Solihull providing support to around 1000 clients a year from 30 different countries of origin. We are regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) to provide advice at Level 1 Immigration and Level 2 Asylum & Protection.

We operate four main services: Casework, Integration support, befriending, and Children and Family Activities. We also support Ukrainian refugees who arrive in the borough under the government's Homes for Ukraine Scheme. This includes input around maintaining effective boundaries, conflict resolution and working with people who have experienced trauma.

About the role

We are seeking to recruit an adviser to provide advice, practical support and advocacy to people seeking asylum, refugees and other vulnerable migrants in Solihull and the surrounding area. The service is focused on connecting people with information and essential services where they exist, and on providing advice, advocacy, and casework interventions where there are gaps in provision, to avoid homelessness and destitution. This involves things like helping them to apply for asylum support from the Home Office, finding legal aid funded immigration solicitors, applying for benefits, applying for housing, helping them access health care, social services provision, education, and employment, providing emotional support, providing basic immigration advice if or when accredited, supporting asylum seekers to apply for asylum support by completing ASF1 applications, etc.

The ideal candidate will be someone highly motivated who has a passion and commitment to support the empowerment of refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants through casework so that they can successfully integrate into society and start rebuilding their lives. Experience of advice work dealing with asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants is therefore essential.

Main Duties and Key Responsibilities:

You will be working under the supervision of the Service Manager. However, you will be expected to perform most of the duties outlined below independently and in a team. These include:

1. Running our drop in and outreach service together with colleagues and volunteers, providing one to one advice and practical support to individuals and families, assisting with phone calls, the completion of forms and taking practical resources, etc

2. Undertaking outreach visits to asylum seekers, refugees, and other vulnerable migrants- undertaking initial assessments and providing advice, support and signposting as necessary.

3. To provide professional and effective advice and guidance to a broad range of

Entraide service users in particular welfare benefits, housing, health and other generalist advice areas

4. To support asylum seekers to apply for asylum support by completing AS1 applications in partnership with Migrant Help

5. Responding to emergencies and crises such as new arrivals and evacuations

6. If/when qualified, providing immigration advice in line with our registration with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA- formerly OISC)

7. Workload management of clients who require specialist advice and support, ensuring that cases are progressed effectively and closed in agreement with the client once identified issues have been resolved.

8. Ensuring all details on visits and contact with clients are recorded onto our database and spreadsheets, and consent is always obtained.

9. To assist/support the team and the management to meet the needs of the beneficiaries and achieve targets in line with funders' requirements.

10. To ensure that safeguarding concerns are identified and responded to appropriately.

11. To offer support and supervision to volunteers and contribute to learning opportunities to ensure that volunteers have the skills and knowledge required for the role and are aware of and operate within policies and procedures.

12. To continuously build knowledge and understanding of client needs and factors that can impact an individual's ability to access relevant services and support.

13. To keep up to date with changes in government policy, legislation and service provision that may affect the signposting, information, advice, and support needs of our clients.

14. To build knowledge of relevant internal and external services, contributing to internal service directories.

15. To create links and work effectively with Entraide colleagues and relevant third-party services to assist our clients in meeting immediate needs and access all entitled support in a timely and appropriate manner.

16. To work with colleagues to ensure that issues affecting our clients are identified, shared, and progressed through appropriate avenues to influence change.

17. To attend role-related training and workshops and contribute to the development of the service.

18. To represent the project internally and externally at partnership frontline meetings for best practice.

19. Referring and signposting service users to specialists' support services and other activities internally and externally.

20. To maintain professional boundaries, impartiality, and confidentiality always.

21. To keep appropriate, accurate and up-to-date records in the agreed format on the main database on time.

22. To develop positive and effective working relationships with the Service Manager and colleagues, including attending and contributing to meetings.

23. Adhere to Safeguarding, Code of Conduct, Lone Working policies, and other legislation in relation to work.

24. Adhere to the Data Protection policy and maintain a high level of confidentiality.

25. To carry out all work in line with the organisational policies and procedures.

26. To carry out any other reasonable tasks commensurate with the role to meet the needs of the organisation and service users.

Equalities and Diversity

27. To provide services with due regard for equality and meeting the needs of all potential and actual service users.

28. To gain an understanding of different perspectives to work effectively with people from all walks of life.

29. To work with respect and tolerance for all colleagues, service users, and to value diversity and difference

H

ealth & Safety

The post holder is responsible for:

30. Cooperating with Entraide in delivering all legal responsibilities in respect of your own and your colleagues', service users' and visitors' health and safety whilst at work.

31. Adhering to and familiarising themselves with Health & Safety Policy and procedures.

32. Carrying out individual risk assessments to ensure that you do not expose yourself or others to unnecessary hazards in the workplace.

Flexibility

To deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is needed, and the post-holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. Such duties will, however, fall within the scope of the job. The job description will be subject to periodic review with the post-holder to ensure it accurately reflects the duties of the job.

Equal Opportunities Statement

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and pride ourselves on having a diverse workforce. As part of its recruitment policy, Entraide intends to ensure that no prospective or actual employee is discriminated against based on race, sex, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, employment status, class, disability, age, religious belief, or political persuasion, or is disadvantaged by any condition or requirement which is not demonstrably justifiable.

Person Specifications

The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including cultural sensitivity and the ability to quickly build positive relationships. The post-holder will have the following qualifications, skills, and experience:

Experience-

Essential

A breadth of experience of providing casework, advice, information, and advocacy services for refugees and people seeking asylum in UK, including assessment, action planning and case management. Experience of delivering casework with vulnerable service users Experience of supporting and supervising volunteers in client-facing service delivery. Experience of providing advice, casework, and advocacy services for people in the "move on period" following a refugee status grant. Experience of cross-agency partnership and collaborative working Experience of supporting vulnerable children and adults in accessing services Experience of working as part of a team in a fast-paced environment Experience of working with individuals presenting homelessness, destitution, and those with limited English language skills.

Desirable

Advice related qualifications, e.g. IAA (Formerly OISC) level 1

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

Essential

An understanding of the advice and support needs of asylum seekers and newly granted refugees in UK, and a working knowledge of responding to them. A good knowledge of the UK immigration system relating to refugees, and the asylum support system, and a willingness to keep up to date with changes. A good knowledge of statutory and community support services available to refugees and people seeking asylum in UK. The ability to establish good working relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders. The ability to ensure services are delivered in an accessible, impartial, and confidential manner. A good knowledge of mainstream welfare, asylum support systems and housing legislation affecting vulnerable adults. Knowledge of rights and entitlements of asylum seekers, refugees, and the roles of statutory and non-statutory agencies Excellent written and verbal communication skills, sufficient to communicate accurately and clearly with a range of audiences in writing and over the phone, utilising interpreters professionally and effectively. Excellent listening skills and the ability to empathise as well as establish boundaries. Ability to provide sensitive, safe, and empowering support to people in vulnerable situations. The ability to plan, manage and prioritise workload, and to meet targets. To have a flexible and creative approach, a commitment to continuous service improvement and a willingness to adapt to changing needs. Knowledge of IT systems; Ability to use office, email, internet, an ability to use MS Teams and Zoom in the role. An understanding of the importance of data protection, IT security, word processing, database & spreadsheet packages. An understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities in direct service provision.

Desirable

Ability to provide sensitive, safe and empowering support to people in vulnerable situations IAA Level 1 or a willingness to train for and obtain this qualification. Flexible approach to working patterns and duties. Educated to UK degree level or relevant / equivalent experience. Lived experiences of being a refugee.

Personal Attributes

Essential

1. The ability to effectively manage your own workload, setting medium- and long-term plans and objectives.

2. Commitment to anti-oppressive and anti- discriminatory practice.

3. Driven and willing to make a difference beneficiaries' lives.

4. Commitment to follow directions and policies.

5. A self-starter with a positive can-do attitude.

6. Adopt a friendly, supportive, and approachable attitude.

Other:

Desirable

1. Car owner/driver or ability and willingness to travel across Birmingham and Solihull to various sites and locations.

To apply:

Please complete our application form and send it to: info@entraideuk.org.uk .

All successful candidates will be subject to satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service and previous employment Checks before commencing their employment with Entraide.

Application deadline: 28/01/ 2026 at 11:59pm

.

For more information or an informal discussion about the opportunity please contact:

Ahmad Ahmad - Service Manager on 07931932607 or Felix Kupay- Chairperson on 07948602313

Please note:

Interviews will be organised on a rolling basis, and we will close this advertisement as soon as we have appointed a suitable candidate so please don't delay applying if you think that you are the right candidate for this role.

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

Pay: 26,780.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension
Work Location: In person