LATIN AMERICAN WOMEN’S RIGHTS SERVICE (LAWRS)

Job Description

JOB TITLE / Employment Rights Advisor
REPORTS TO / Housing, Money and Debt Coordinator
HOURS PER WEEK / 7 hours per week
SALARY / £12,24 (+13% to cover holiday pay)
RESPONSIBLE FOR / A small team of volunteers
OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Employment Rights Advisor will provide advice, guidance, information and sign-posting to LAWRS service users in the area of employment rights; and to record and complete the relevant follow-up casework administration that will inform the policy and advocacy work of LAWRS’ Policy and Communications Coordinator – Employment Rights.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.  To provide initial advice and information in the area of employment rights, ensuring that users’ inquiries/cases are dealt with efficiently, and that they encounter a friendly, warm and welcoming environment when visiting.

2.  To ensure appropriate responses to additional requests, including arranging for appointments, referrals to specialists agencies (e.g. law centres and solicitors) or in-house referrals, in accordance to LAWRS’ referrals procedure.

3.  To enter all details and notes of enquiries and cases accurately in AdvicePro, complete a case file for all new users /case matters, and ensure follow-up information is up-to-date within a week after the drop-in. To adhere to the standards and quality assurance measures of LAWRS (AQS level 2).

4.  To promote the benefits of LAWRS’ membership to all users.

5.  To take joint responsibility for the smooth operation of LAWRS’ services, under the guidance of the caseworker/supervisor on duty.

6.  To ensure complex cases or those which LAWRS cannot deal with (due to legal restrictions, licences or areas of expertise) are referred to the appropriate organisation, in line with LAWRS’ signposting and referrals policy. To refer all other complex matters or those requiring follow-up to the relevant caseworker expediently.

7.  To adhere to LAWRS’ feminist principles, its approach to empowering women to pursue and achieve their goals themselves and to promote women’s empowerment throughout your work.

8.  To maintain impartiality, a non-judgemental attitude and confidentiality at all times, including outside of LAWRS. To adhere to LAWRS’ policies and procedures, and if in doubt, consult with the caseworker on duty.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS:

Essential

1.  A qualification or equivalent experience in advice and casework in the UK.

2.  Excellent understanding of the needs and circumstances of Latin American women in the UK.

3.  Excellent understanding of employment rights in the UK, and of the main issues affecting Latin American women employed in manual areas of work (e.g. cleaning, catering, hospitality).

4.  Ability to speak Spanish and English, or Portuguese and English, both spoken and written.

5.  An ability to find creative and resourceful solutions to problems.

6.  Experience of frontline work in the voluntary sector (paid or unpaid).

7.  Highly developed interpersonal skills.

8.  Highly developed organisational skills, able to work under pressure and to prioritise own workload.

9.  Excellent command of English and Spanish, or English and Portuguese, both spoken and written.

10.  Ability to type competently, excellent working knowledge of computer packages (Word, Excel and PowerPoint), and ability to use the internet for desk research.

11.  Ability to integrate equal opportunities principles to day-to-day work and commitment to women’s equality and to non-oppressive working practices.

12.  Ability to be flexible and work as part of a team.

Desirable

1.  Good working knowledge of English, Spanish and Portuguese.