Job Title: Refugee Services Policy and Operations Lead Officer
Salary range: £40,854 to £49,503 per annum
Fixed term (12 Months) Fulltime
Location: This role will be a hybrid of home and office-based working. You will be required to work from Richmond and Wandsworth Council.
Do you want to shape how the Council supports refugees and people affected by forced migration?
Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable people?
This is an exciting new opportunity to work within a newly established team in Adult Social Care and Public Health who approach an evolving policy area with positive energy and compassion for sanctuary-seeking residents. Our aim is to make the boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, no matter where you were born.
About the role
This is a dynamic and interesting role with an opportunity to develop your skills across a number of different areas.
Policy development:You will act as one of the Better Service Partnership’s sanctuary policy experts, briefing the team on national policy changes and emerging best practice from other local authorities.
Respond flexibly to emerging needs and projects:You will work with other council teams to deliver new projects, such as delivering grant funding, Schools of Sanctuaries and support for sanctuary seekers with No Recourse to Public Funds.
Delivering the Sanctuary strategies:You will work with the Programme Manager to ensure the cross-council Sanctuary action plans are delivered on time and to budget, collating updates from services for quarterly Oversight boards.
Work collaboratively with voluntary sector:You will develop strong links with voluntary and community groups across Richmond and Wandsworth, through quarterly partnership meetings and ongoing collaboration on voluntary sector delivery plans.
Identify opportunities: You will build relationships with other council teams and identify opportunities to work proactively together to improve outcomes of sanctuary seekers across Richmond and Wandsworth.
Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Knowledge and understanding of local authorities’ responsibilities relating to refugee, resettlement and asylum policy, including Ukraine, Afghan and Syrian schemes.
Experience of developing policy and delivering projects.
Ability to communicate effectively and authoritatively both orally and in writing, with councillors, officers, partner organisations and the public.
Experience of successfully managing own workload in an environment where deadlines and priorities frequently change and are often conflicting.
Being an innovative problem solver who can create, initiate, identify and develop new opportunities and ideas
Closing Date: Sunday 17th November 2024
Shortlisting Date: w/c 18th November 2024
Interview Date:w/c 25th November 2024
Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.
We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.