Advice and Support Worker

Advice and Support Worker - 1 year post
Job Description

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Advice and Support Worker (1 year post)
37.5 hours per week
£31,537 p/a (NJC Scale 6, level 18)
Advice Manager
1 month on either side; 3 month probationary period
25 days, plus bank holidays
GARAS drop-in centre
As soon as possible, ending on 15 June 2027

This post offers someone with experience of advice work the chance to become part of a
medium  sized,  trauma-informed,  approachable  and  professional  organisation.  You  will
be  working in a challenging environment where no two days are the same, alongside a
committed team of staff and volunteers.   The Advice and Support Worker will work with
the  Advice  Manager, other members of the team and advice volunteers in providing an
equal service to all our clients.

Main purpose of the job:

To offer independent, impartial and non-directive advice and information on immigration
and  welfare  matters  for  refugees,  asylum  seekers and other migrants. The post holder
will  be  expected  to  maintain  GARAS’s  Advice  Quality  Standards  (AQS)  for  general
advice and to attain the Asylum and Immigration Standards at the appropriate level and
to meet the relevant IAA standards.

Specific duties:

Advice work
1.  To offer advice on immigration and welfare matters (e.g. housing, benefits, health,

education, training and employment).

2.  To negotiate on behalf of clients with other agencies (verbally or in writing).

3.  To maintain clear boundaries for the advice work of GARAS.

4.  To develop links with Health Workers, Counsellors and relevant voluntary agencies

5.  To build connections with the Home Office, Migrant Help, Local Housing Provider,
Police, Social Services and other Statutory Agencies to ensure clients receive the
care and support they require.

6.  To work with the Advice Manager in developing and maintaining effective information

systems.

7.  To work effectively with volunteers in delivering the advice service.

8.  To stay up-to-date with new information and sources of information.

9.  To ensure that GARAS policies, in particular confidentiality, are implemented.

10. To keep full, accurate and up to date case records and statistics in accordance with

GDPR, The Data Protection Act and GARAS’s requirements.

General
1.  To assist the Advice Manager in providing briefing, support and training for staff and

volunteers doing advice work.

2.  To receive supervision from the Advice Manager and attend team briefing and

de-briefing meetings for support.

3.  To enable communication between volunteers, staff and clients to be maximised.

4.  To attend relevant training including IAA Level 1 as required.

5.  To work actively with the Advice Manager, the Director and volunteers to improve the

quality of service offered, participating in the development of service provision.

6.  To adhere to the standards of AQS (general support level), and other relevant

regulations and standards.

7.  To attend occasional Executive Committee meetings if relevant.

8.  To perform other duties subject to discussion with the Advice Manager and Director.

Professional Development

1.  Keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures and undertake
appropriate training particularly with migration, benefits and housing.

2.  Undertake cultural awareness training where appropriate and understanding of

UK processes in order to assist clients get to grips with life in the UK.

Administration

1.  Use IT, maintain accurate records and GARAS diary.

2.  Prepare for and attend supervision sessions, team meetings, staff meetings and

meetings with external partners.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

1.  To demonstrate commitment to the aims, principles and policies of GARAS.

2.  Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for your own safety

and that of colleagues.

3.  To maintain relevant professional boundaries.

4.  To undertake any other duties and tasks as may lie within the scope of this post.

Essential

●

IT skills – proficiency in Google Workspace, with WhatsApp, customer
relationship management (CRM) systems and other relevant IT programs

●  Experience of advice work, in a paid or voluntary capacity, with people in

sensitive and emotionally demanding situations, e.g. transition, uncertainty, loss

●  Ability to efficiently grasp individual needs and give effective, non-directive advice

●  Ability to achieve Competence in the Immigration Advice Authority’s advice

standards in Asylum and Protection at Level 1, within the 3 month probationary
period

●  Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment

●  Commitment to refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants, and awareness of

the issues facing refugees in the UK

●  Commitment to and understanding of confidentiality in practice

●  Commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities in practice

●  Commitment to teamwork and communication, with an ability to prioritise and

think clearly under pressure

●  Excellent active listening skills and an ability to work empathetically

●  Understanding of the importance of professional boundaries

●  Good administrative & organisational skills

●  Ability to liaise effectively with voluntary and statutory agencies, and good

negotiating skills

●  Fluency in spoken English and good written English, sufficient to provide advice
in English, to advocate and negotiate on behalf of clients, to write formal letters
and case records

  Desirable

●  Knowledge or experience of the benefit and housing systems

●  Understanding of the requirements of the Advice Services Quality Mark

●  Knowledge of one or more languages commonly spoken by refugees in the UK

●  Experience of working with interpreters, face to face and/or on the phone

●

IAA Level 1 or IAA Level 2 or above accreditation.

Application deadline: 10th May 2026
Interview Date: actively interviewing throughout the application time period up to 24th
May 2026