Housing and Destitution Casework Intern

Hackney Migrant Centre

Hackney Migrant Centre is a charity that runs a weekly drop-in for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. We offer immigration, housing and welfare advice, as well as health advocacy, and signposting and referrals for issues we do not cover.

Role description

Hackney Migrant Centre is recruiting for a Housing and Destitution Internrole within the Destitution Support Team (DST). Hackney Migrant Centre’s DST is a collective of volunteers working together to deliver high quality destitution relief casework and to develop routes out of destitution.

Working alongside HMC’s Destitution Coordinator, the Housing and Destitution Intern will specialise in providing destitution and housing support for visitors who find themselves homeless and/or destitute.

Main responsibilities will include

  • Assisting with the delivery of casework, including carrying out thorough assessments of our visitors’ circumstances, writing detailed referrals and letters to Local Authorities, and advocating for our visitors’ rights and entitlements.
  • Being responsible for referrals to emergency accommodation (shelters, hostels, etc.)
  • Liaising with housing and community care law firms and third sector organisations to ensure the best possible outcomes for our visitors.
  • Assisting the Destitution Coordinator in recording outcomes on our database as well as monitoring and evaluation, e.g. gathering and analysing data re: visitors’ experience of destitution, feedback on the support received, tracking cases and outcomes, etc.
  • Exploring accommodation options and developing relationships with homeless shelters and hosting schemes.
  • Attending forums and external meetings as and when required on behalf of HMC.
  • Contributing to campaign and policy developments.
  • Assisting the DST with other destitution and homelessness-related casework as and when required, including accessing social services’ support for destitute families and their children.

You will

  • Develop / improve your advocacy and casework skills
  • Develop specialised knowledge of destitution, homelessness and NRPF issues, as well as broader knowledge of housing and immigration issues affecting our visitors
  • Gain experience in monitoring and evaluation

We can offer

  • Internal training
  • Access to relevant external training opportunities
  • Travel expenses up to £4.50 (one-day bus pass)
  • Lunch expenses of £5 per day
  • Supervision and support
  • Support with CV writing and job applications

Commitment

We would like someone for a period of at least 6 months, for two full days a week (Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am-5pm). On Wednesdays you would take part in the running of our drop-in session, supporting the Destitution Coordinatortodeliver front-line advice and advocacy. On Thursdays you will be in the office working alongside the Destitution Coordinator and the Destitution Support Team (DST).

If you are interested in applying, please send your CV and a short expression of interest outlining any relevant experience and skills, why you are interested in this role and your availability to

The deadline for applying is 9am on Thursday 7th December 2017.