About the role
We are seeking an experienced and qualified immigration advisor to oversee the strategic direction of our casework and systemic work for the coming year.
The Unity Project (TUP) supports people who are facing poverty and homelessness because their immigration status allows them ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF). We believe NRPF should not exist and we are working to end it. Until then, we seek to minimise its impact by supporting people to make the ‘change of conditions’ (CoC) application to access public funds. As part of this work, we continually develop new casework approaches to make CoCs more accessible to more people. By taking a strategic approach to our casework, we have opened up new routes for people to move through the process, and achieved greater recognition of groups with particular needs. We have also supported numerous strategic legal challenges which have prompted significant changes to the immigration rules and guidance related to CoCs.
In this cover role, you will lead The Unity Project’s strategic work to improve the accessibility of the CoC process. You will be responsive to changes in the external context and identify strategic priorities to focus on in our casework. You will hold our strategic external relationships, in particular with law firms, advice agencies and Home Office representatives, and you will oversee our strategic litigation support. You will share our expertise with the sector through second-tier advice, training workshops and peer support forums. Our strategic work is rooted in direct casework, and so this will also be part of your role. You will be responsible for TUP’s casework provision for applicants who submit their own CoC applications independently, and you will support with other strategically significant cases as required.
About The Unity Project
Who we are
The Unity Project is a small charity that supports people with ‘Change of Conditions’ (CoC) applications required for access to public funds.
Why we exist
We want everyone living in the UK to have equal access to the welfare system. We exist to challenge the 'no recourse to public funds' (NRPF) policy in order to end it and, until then, minimise its impact.
Our values
We aim to be:
* Representative of and accountable to people who are navigating or have navigated the systems we want to change.
* Sustainable, so we can continue our work as long as it is needed.
* Trauma informed, recognising the impact of prior traumatic experiences and promoting an organisational culture which is safe, transparent, collaborative and responds empathically to each individual’s needs.
* Rooted in community, as we believe that strength comes from relationships of solidarity and mutual support.
* Equitable to all who give their time to the project.
* Tenacious, innovative, reflective and adaptable in our casework.
Benefits
* Salary - £46,849 pro rata
* Flexibility - We work together in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Beyond that we can be flexible about how you meet your hours.
* Annual leave - 35 days inclusive of bank holidays, plus a regular Christmas closure period (subject to board approval)
* Pension - 5% employee contribution, 8% employer contribution
* Clinical supervision - All staff have access to monthly clinical supervision
* Wellbeing - All staff have a personal wellbeing budget to spend as they need
* Professional development - We organise regular all-staff training sessions to address needs identified by the team, and every staff member has an individual training budget for their own professional development. We aim to support all staff to grow and shape their roles in line with their career aspirations.
* Immigration support - On a case by case basis, we may be able to offer legal assistance with the immigration applications necessary to sustain this employment in compliance with UK immigration law.
* Working environment - We are a small and friendly team of staff and volunteers. We believe that effective opposition to the hostile environment is rooted in our relationships with each other and our community.