Part time, 14, 21 or 28 hours per week
18 months contract, renewal subject to funding
Starting salary: £24,350 (£26,500 with London weighting) pro-rata
Hybrid – home/office based
Deadline 02/10/23 – Interviews in London on 25/10/23
Job description
There are about 2,000 LGBTQI people claiming asylum in the UK every year because of their sexuality, gender identity or intersex status. When they come to the UK they are still not safe. They are often abused in refugee accommodation by other refugees who come from the same or similar countries to the one they are escaping; they become homeless and depressed; they are rejected by their ethnic community and live in poverty. Micro Rainbow’s work also shows a dramatic need for employability and moving on support. When LGBTQI asylum seekers are granted refugee status, they are often given only 28 days to find new accommodation and a job. 28 days are not enough to prepare for a new life in a new country. This is a critical point for many refugees: without the right support they are at risk of homelessness, exploitation and depression.
The Outreach and Moving on Officer job involves meeting with LGBTQI asylum seekers on a regular basis to establish their suitability to access Micro Rainbow’s housing and moving on programmes. It also involves supporting them while they live in Micro Rainbow’s safe houses and to move on from our safe houses.
The ideal candidate is someone with lived experience of the asylum system and/or homelessness, someone who is passionate about equality and has the ability to connect and empathise with vulnerable people whilst maintaining strict professional boundaries. Micro Rainbow will provide training and on-going support.
We will consider applications for two, three or four days a week from candidates based in London and/or the West Midlands. The ideal candidate will already have another part time job or other sources of income that will compensate for the part-time nature of this position.
Tasks and responsibilities
- Replying to new enquiries by email, speaking to LGBTQI asylum seekers on the phone, booking and undertaking risk assessments;
- Making referrals to other organisations and partners for counselling, housing, legal and other support;
- Coordinating and attending the social inclusion activities of Micro Rainbow;
- Assisting LGBTQI asylum seekers to move into Micro Rainbow housing and to find alternative accommodation when their NASS ends and they need to move out of their NASS accommodation;
- Delivering the one-to-one moving on work of Micro Rainbow including, for each beneficiary, sessions on opening a bank account, registering for Universal Credit, drafting a moving on plan;
- Supporting Micro Rainbow’s residents regularly by phone and in person; the latter may require travelling to Micro Rainbow’s safe houses;
- Assisting refugees to find mentoring, employment, access training or education and referring them to relevant organisations and companies;
- Keeping the CMS up to date and undertaking admin and office tasks as required;
- Supporting the team as required.
Any other task that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Micro Rainbow’s operations and impact.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Ability to show empathy and connect with vulnerable people.
- Outgoing, personable.
- Fluent in written and spoken English.
- Demonstrable commitment to LGBTQI equality and refugees.
- Excellent IT skills (internet, Outlook, MS Office package).
- Excellent attention to details.
- Ability to work well as part of a small team.
- Willingness to undertake DBS and CTC checks.
Desirable:
- Knowledge of refugee issues.
- Knowledge of LGBTQI issues.
- University degree.
- Previous experience in similar work is desirable, but Micro Rainbow will provide full training.
- Ability to network and forge new partnerships.
- Interest in becoming OISC level one accredited.
- Lived experience of the asylum process and/or homelessness.
LGBTQI refugees are strongly encouraged to apply.
