Are you passionate about helping people and delivering a quality service?
Consider the role of Settlement Support Adviser at Reed in Partnership!
In 2019 Reed in Partnership were awarded the Advice, Issue Reporting & Eligibility (AIRE) support project to help refugees, who have received a positive decision from the Home Office, settle into their new life, working in partnership with Migrant Help UK.
We partner with Migrant Help to provide independent advice and guidance to assist refugees in England to move through and understand the process.
If a refugee receives leave to remain in the country, they can use Positive Move On Support to aid their integration.
Our advice is impartial and independent and delivered through a series of contacts during a set time period. During this period our advice covers housing and welfare, national insurance, mainstream welfare and employment and other local provision.
Please note this is a 6 Month fixed term contract
What the job is about:
Settlement Support Adviser is responsible for providing advice and assistance to Service Users to aid them in moving-on from Asylum Support effectively, following a positive Asylum Decision. This service is provided predominantly over the telephone, to potentially vulnerable participants.
A Settlement Support Adviser will provide advice and guidance on a variety of topics, including access to accommodation, applying for a National Insurance Number and welfare, access to the labour market and other relevant public services, local support networks or voluntary organisations.
Settlement Support Advisers will deliver our services predominantly over the telephone at fixed Reed in Partnership locations.
A Settlement Support Adviser will work towards strict targets and guidelines in accordance to the programme obligations and Reed in Partnership process.
Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:
Advice & Guidance
- Providing information to the Service User on the length of their ‘grace period’ prior the cessation of their Support, and confirming that the Service User understands after this date their eligibility for Accommodation and/or Subsistence payments will cease.
- Advising and providing information to the Service User on the steps they must take to secure access to accommodation and mainstream welfare payments prior to the expiry of their eligibility for Support and National Insurance (NI) number
- Booking an appointment on behalf of the Service User with the local Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) office for a ‘work focused interview’ at a date and time the Service User can attend
- Ensuring the Service User understands the reason and details for the appointment, including the appointment date and time and where to attend
- Advising and providing information to the Service User on the documentation required for the DWP appointment
- Following-up with the local DWP office to validate the Service User’s attendance at the appointment and gather feedback about the meeting
Signposting
- Signposting Service Users who require housing to the relevant Local Authority housing team, in the area in which the Service User is accommodated
- Providing information on, and signposting Service Users to relevant public services, local support networks and voluntary sector and/or community based organisations which are available to offer assistance in their local area. This will include organisations which may be able to assist the Service User in accessing appropriate housing and employment
- Welfare or “English for Speakers of Other Languages” (ESOL) courses post-Asylum Support.
Relationship Building and Stakeholder Management
- You develop relationships and liaise with the relevant Local Authorities, to ensure that the move-on advice and information provided to Service Users reflects their local environment, and aligns with the operating policies and procedures of the relevant Local Authorities. Including in relation to the eligibility of the Service User for social housing, or other forms of housing provision within the Local Authority area.
- Ensuring after a Service User has received their asylum decision from the Authority, their Accommodation Provider is aware of the Authority’s decision
- You will work with their Accommodation Provider to deliver consistent communications to the Service User regarding the date of the cessation of their Asylum Support, and the steps the Service User must take to secure access to housing and employment or welfare post-Asylum Support
- Relevant information and intelligence regarding the needs of the Service User and potential sources of housing for the Service User post-Asylum Support is shared with the Asylum Accommodation Provider
What’s in it for you?
Alongside a generous base salary (pro-rata for part time), and great flexibility with your working schedule, we offer training, development, and progression opportunities. All travel for sessions will be reimbursed, and you will have access to the full range of Reed in Partnership benefits, which include:
- 25 days annual leave (pro-rata for part time) plus statutory bank holidays
- Hybrid Working
- Reed Pension Scheme
- Award Winning Management & Leadership training
- Professional & Personal Development Funds
- Bi-annual pay reviews
- Plus much more that can be found Here
With the chance to dramatically make a difference to the local community, this role offers immense job satisfaction.
Required Skills and Experience:
Essential Attainments:
- Experience of working in an Advice & Guidance, customer facing environment, working to minimum service levels e.g. Welfare Adviser, Immigration Adviser, Support Care Adviser
- Experience of working with multiple stakeholders
- A minimum of 2 A-Levels or an equivalent Level 3 Diploma.
- GCSE English Language at a minimum of a Grade B (or equivalent Level 2 qualification). OR achievement of a Level 2 in Literacy Assessment at interview stage.
Desirable Attainments:
- Experience within a contact / call centre.
- Experience of working in a performance target driven environment. Examples of such experience may include working as an Adviser on a similar contract, being a Recruitment Consultant or experience of Business Development roles, sales targets in a retail business or call centre etc.
- Experience of providing advice, support or services to customers via telephone.
- Experience of working in a fast paced environment.
- Experience of exposure to vulnerable client groups. These client groups may include asylum seekers, incapacity benefit claimants, single parents, those with criminal records, mental health groups, ex-services, specific ethnic minority or faith groups and those with specific disabilities.
- Degree or relevant qualification. Degree topics may include psychology, sociology, and social care/science.
- Level 2, 3 or 4 NVQ in Advice & Guidance or equivalent.
- Fluency in another language would be beneficial
Essential Criteria:
- Settlement Support Advisers’ attributes include Achievement Orientation, Accuracy Orientation, Advice and Guidance, Empathy and Empowerment, Honesty and Integrity, Planning and Decision Making, and Team Orientation.
- Technical skills include strong administration skills, good computer/technology skills, basic numeracy skills and good written communication/record keeping skills.
- Personal interests include interest in people and willingness to learn.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Excellent Telephone skills
Desirable Criteria:
- Knowledge of Asylum/welfare/benefits system.
- Personal interests include interest in career and self-development.
- Personal circumstances include willingness to work flexible hours (e.g. to meet the needs of the Service User and help run activities outside of normal working hours).
- Access to a car, with a valid driving licence and a willingness to travel, as there will be occasional face to face appointments.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to
Disability Confident.
