Job ad: accredited immigration adviser, Citizens Advice Portsmouth

Accredited Immigration Adviser (OISC level 3 or IAAS level 2)

Hours: 37

Salary: £35k pa

Type of contract: 6-month fixed term with strong possibility of further extension

Location: Citizens Advice Portsmouth head office / remote

Our Purpose

To provide the information and advice that people need and to improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives.

Our Values 

  • Empowering people to make informed choices and to take more control over their lives.
  • Improving lives and communities through the power of information and advice.
  • Continually improving and evolving our services and making them accessible to all.
  • Valuing everyone in the organisation.
  • The benefits of volunteering: both for the community and for the volunteers themselves.
  • Working in partnership to achieve our aims and objectives.

Our Vision

We want to be recognised as the best provider for advice, information, and advocacy in the Portsmouth area: through best people, training, and processes.

Purpose of the role

This is a busy and exciting time to join Citizens Advice and we are at the forefront of service delivery across several specialist areas. The post will support the existing delivery of immigration advice and the development of new Immigration advice services.

Job Title   Accredited Immigration Adviser
Reports To   Operations Manager
Accountable To  Chief Officer
Location  Citizens Advice Portsmouth Head Office/remote
Hours  37 hours per week
Salary £35k pa

Main duties and responsibilities include:

  • Along with the Leadership team, drive the development of an exciting new immigration advice service.
  • Deliver immigration law advice, providing casework and advocacy where needed.
  • Supervise our team of immigration advisers, working proactively to ensure advice delivered is technically sound, appropriate and within agreed deadlines.

Role function 

  • Develop and maintain administrative systems for case recording, regularly review cases, monitoring of own workload, information retrieval and statistical recording of caseload as specified
  • Maintain and keep up to date clear and understandable case sheets, records, files and statistics
  • Undertake detailed advice and assistance on immigration/ asylum matters
  • Prepare for and represent at hearings, where appropriate
  • Monitor immigration advice delivery
  • Develop and maintain reference and background information around immigration and asylum issues
  • Deliver second tier support to paid staff and volunteers on appropriate immigration Issues

Performance, Personal Management and Administration: 

  • Work flexibly to provide adequate cover for all aspects of the service
  • Take ownership for monitoring own workload
  • Be responsible for performance management at an individual level through self-management; delivery of goals and tasks set; delivery of contractual requirements; targets and outcomes; and reporting progress
  • Actively engage in opportunities for learning and development at an individual and team level
  • Comply with operational management systems of supervision, objectives, appraisal, and induction
  • Comply with data collection procedures and reporting to ensure effective recording of performance monitoring, outcomes, and service user information

Service Development: 

  • Assist with the development of the service
  • Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, as required
  • Identify and feedback improvements to services and systems

 Training: 

  • Ensure through reading, training, and consultancy that your own level of knowledge around Immigration is up-to-date and that this information is disseminated
  • Ensure your own accreditation/ training requirements are reviewed/ met
  • Identify your own training needs in conjunction with line manager and be prepared to undertake appropriate training
  • Deliver training (internally and/ or externally), either through formal training sessions, or ‘on the job’ coaching to colleagues

General Duties:

  • To present a professional appearance, help maintain an orderly working environment, and act at all times to uphold the good reputation of Citizens Advice locally and nationally
  • To ensure service users’ and professionals’ experience of Citizens Advice Portsmouth is positive including by taking personal responsibility for answering ringing telephones and promptly dealing with inappropriate behaviour by staff, volunteers, or service users
  • To attend meetings at appointed times, maintain professional service user records and meet deadlines
  • To work flexibly across the whole service, including providing late working cover/ support as required
  • To work within professional boundaries maintaining safety and appropriate confidentiality at all times
  • To comply with all published Citizen Advice Portsmouth policies and procedures
  • To work flexibly to undertake such other reasonable duties and responsibilities, at any location within reasonable daily travel from your main place of work
  • Participate in undertaking periodic reviews of this job description for consideration by the Trustee Board To undertake any other tasks as directed by Leadership Team.

Closing date: this position will be closed as soon as a suitable candidate is identified

If you are interested in this opportunity, please email Sana Aamir at hr@caportsmouth.org.uk and request an application pack.

Please note that if you do not hear from us within 2 weeks of applying, it is likely that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Citizens Advice Portsmouth is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all applicants who meet the person specification irrespective of sex, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, age, or disability.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
All criteria are Essential unless otherwise indicated A: Application – assessed at application stage
I: Interview – assessed at assessment/ interview stage
Experience (through paid or voluntary work) A/I
Experience of delivering immigration law advice in a social welfare context A/I
Experience of managing a high caseload A/I
Experience of flexible working according to business demand balancing multiple priorities A/I
Experience of communicating effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide range of people A/I
Experience of accurately drafting letters, reports and complex applications and presenting work in a clear layout A/I
Experience of working within an advice and information organisation within the third/ charity sector (desirable) A/I
Experience of facilitating training sessions to range of audiences (desirable) A/I
Knowledge  
Understanding and awareness of the relationship between immigration and other areas of Social Welfare Law A/I
Demonstrable understanding of the changing landscape of Brexit and the impact of EU residents A/I
A thorough understanding of professional boundaries and the issues surrounding confidentiality A/I
Qualifications and Training   
Accredited to at least OISC Level 2/ IAAS Level 2, at time of application (evidence required) A/I
A commitment to continuous professional development, including a willingness to develop knowledge and skills in required areas A/I
Skills and Abilities   
Ability to research, interpret regulations and explain them to clients and colleagues and to produce clear advice and empowerment A/I
Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to deal appropriately with a range of people via face-to-face, telephone and digital communication methods A/I
The ability and willingness to liaise with outside agencies, and build effective working relationships with stakeholders A/I
Ability to contribute as a member of the staff team but also work on own initiative and without close supervision A/I
Ability to monitor and maintain own standards, work on own initiative, prioritise own work, meet deadlines etc A/I
Ability and willingness to assimilate new information and learn new skills quickly including information technology. A/I