Policy & Project Support Officer - Refugee Services

Are you an experienced administrator or project officer wanting to shape how the Council supports refugees and people affected by forced migration? Are you looking for a role where your contributions make a difference in the lives of vulnerable sanctuary seekers? This is an exciting opportunity to work within the refugee service team in Adult Social Care and Public Health at Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. We approach the developing policy area surrounding sanctuary seekers with positive energy and compassion to ensure we 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

You will need to be pro-active and motivated to find solutions to support the team to deliver the best outcomes for sanctuary seekers. You will have strong administration skills and the ability to work independently as a self-starter with the ability to manage your workload. Due to the nature of the team, the deliverables will change, and you will need to have the ability to respond flexibly to emerging needs and projects. This role involves policy and project support relating to refugee support but does not involve case holding. You will not be supporting individual refugees or sanctuary seekers through care pathways. This is a dynamic, interesting, and varied role with an opportunity to develop your skills across several different areas working with internal and external stakeholders.

You will be required to:

• Build strong relationships with key council services and voluntary sector & statutory partners to ensure sanctuary seekers receive the best possible support.
• Focus on contributing to new projects including support to deliver new workflows and projects, such as grant funding and Schools of Sanctuary.
• Support the team to stay up to date on key national and local issues affecting sanctuary seekers, contributing to briefings and strategies as needed.
• Support the team’s key meetings, partnerships, and Boards including setting meeting dates, booking meeting rooms, preparing agendas, and taking minutes.

This is a hybrid working role; you will be required to work from Richmond and Wandsworth Councils and from home. You will need to attend the offices twice a week or the equivalent of 40 percent of your working hours.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge and understanding of local authorities' responsibilities relating to refugee resettlement, including Ukraine, Afghan, and Syrian schemes and asylum.
• Experience of supporting meetings, including drafting agendas, preparing reports, and minute taking.
• Experience developing policy.
• Experience of working on projects.
• Skilled written and verbal communicator with the ability to communicate sensitively and clearly.

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. This campaign is anonymised.

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 expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

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.