Vacancies

There are various ways that you can get involved and join our mission to show solidarity and support for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in the UK. More than 2,000 people a year rely on our community organisation in Edgware, London. Whether you want to donate or volunteer to work with us, we are hugely grateful for all your help. Get in touch today to discuss what we do.

Afghan Association Paiwand Community Advocacy Project

Job Title:                        Senior Community Advocate

Purpose: The aim of this three year project is to improve the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers in Brent, Barnet, Ealing and Harrow who have experienced trauma. 

Contract Length:             12 months with possible extension

Hours:                                 21 hours per week

Salary:                                 £16400 gross

Location:                            Edgware Office and remote working

We are recruiting a part-time position for a Community Outreach Advocate to support Community Advocacy Project. The Community Advocacy Project works with refugees, asylum seekers and migrants across London to provide advocacy support on issues of Housing, Welfare Benefits, Legal advocacy, Health etc. In addition to advocacy, the project aims to raise awareness among the refugee community about their rights and entitlements in the UK. We aim to enable refugees living in North West London to successfully integrate and access services by providing support, information and representation across a range of areas, in response to client needs. The advocacy service provided by Paiwand is both free and independent. The overall objective of the project is to empower vulnerable members of the community and reduce destitution.

Duties and responsibilities:

Client Work

• Manage and lead casework for our outreach clinic in Harrow once a week.
• Provide face to face interviews with clients, conduct initial assessments, provide high quality advocacy service, which meets quality standards and prioritising needs of clients accordingly
• Organisation and delivery of workshops to clients on housing, benefits, welfare system and their rights and entitlements.

• To assist clients in accessing appropriate services e.g. social work services, benefits advice, housing advice, health services, employment advice, culturally specific services; providing general advise on issues of their rights and entitlements, health services, housing, welfare benefits etc.

• To support and, if required, represent clients in meetings and reviews. Liaise with local authorities on need basis

• Manage a portfolio of cases facilitated by assertive engagement, strength based assessments and the delivery of high quality interventions.

• To follow the wishes of clients and support their right to make their own decisions, encouraging clients to self-advocate where possible and support them in doing so.

• Maintain a system of record keeping and data production with a view to grant funder’s and evaluator’s requirements. To ensure that all records kept are compliant with the Data Protection Act.

Supervision and Training

• To support the Advocacy team and assist the Community Advocacy Manager to supervise the team of volunteer community advocates to ensure that the service being provided to clients is consistent and of a high standard.
• To assist in providing feedback and guidance to volunteer Community Advocates. 

Programming

• To assist in implement and revise a work plan for the Community Advocacy program
• To maintain an in-depth understanding of local, regional, and global trends.
• To work with the Advocacy team to identify gaps in services and work with potential partners responding to such needs.

Administration

• To attend staff meetings and other internal meetings as appropriate.
• To provide quarterly reports to Outreach locations.
• To ensure that clear, accurate and comprehensive records of all client contacts and interventions are maintained and that follow up work is carried out promptly and efficiently.

Person specification & experience needed:

• Educated to Degree level, with a background in social work, law or social sciences preferred.

• Experience in delivering advice on housing, welfare, benefits, immigration or debt.

• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills

• Excellent listening skills

• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Packages, Outlook and the Internet.

• Ability to work within all agreed policies and procedures

• Ability to deliver services in a non-judgemental and empathetic manner

• Ability to set personal priorities, objectives and deadlines while maintaining a focus on the key service priorities

• Experience in conducting needs assessments and develop support plans with clients.

• Ability to work on own initiative, without supervision

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team

• Ability to maintain personal and professional boundaries and demonstrate emotional resilience

• Keen to acquire new skills and demonstrate a strong commitment to learning and continuous professional development for self and others

• Basic knowledge and understanding of the migrant and refugee crisis, sensitivity and empathy towards the community

• A basic understanding of UK’s welfare framework, benefits and public funds, immigration procedure etc. is desirable
• Be flexible to work in different centres, when required, including evening and weekend working
• Awareness and commitment to safeguarding practices and policies, and the ability to promote safeguarding among clients and colleagues
• Knowledge and understanding of the Data Protection Act 
• Ability to speak another language other than English including Pashto, Dari, Farsi or Arabic is desirable but not essential
• Adhere to Paiwands’ Equality and Diversity, policy and anti-discriminatory practice in all areas of our work

We would ask the chosen candidate to commit to 3 days a week; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. If selected, a DBS check will be required. 

Interested candidates should forward their CV and a cover letter to mariam.baraky@paiwand.com with a subject stating the Job role i.e. “Senior Community Advocate” by 15th October 2021 23:30 pm.

Community Advocacy Project Manager:
Mriam Baraky

Mariam.baraky@paiwand.com

Afghan Association Paiwand Mental Health Project

Job Title:                        Mental Health Counsellor

Purpose: The aim of this three year project is to improve the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers in Brent, Barnet, Ealing and Harrow who have experienced trauma. 

Contract Length:             12 months with possible extension

Hours:                                 18 hours per week

Salary:                                £14500-£17852

Location:                            Paiwand Office & Outreach Centres

Aims of the post:

The aim of this three year project is to improve the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers in Brent, Barnet, Ealing and Harrow who have experienced trauma. Asylum seekers and refugees often present with complex, inter-linked issues needs due to forced to flee their home countries. Experiences which often include loss of family members, home, culture; surviving torture, rape and violent incidents; coping with lack of recognition in society, and concern about loved ones left at home or missing. Once in the UK, clients often tend to suffer from high levels of stress relating to the complex asylum process in the UK. They worry about accommodation, money, education, access to legal advice, detention, fear of deportation or destitution and homelessness.  

The counsellor to operate within Paiwand’s mental health advocacy team. Paiwand mental health advocacy project operates at our office base, local community centres and colleges, working through interpreters where necessary to address complex needs as presented by clients.

Main Duties:

• To conduct one to one counselling sessions to encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, and help them to develop insight into themselves and their relationships.
• To plan and facilitate psychoeducation support/therapy groups, identify and enrol eligible clients for such groups.
• To work with the clients in the development of skills and culturally appropriate strategies for dealing with their emotional problems and assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes.
• To participate in the activities of drop-in centres and active case finding in conjunction with the Mental Health Advocacy Project Manager.
• To develop positive links with primary care, voluntary and statutory care providers and further develop referral, casework and monitoring procedures.
• To maintain good working relation with the mental health and community advocates
• To gather information about clients through interviews, observation using the standard tools and prepare/ maintain all required counselling records and reports.
• Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
• To abide by and promote Afghan Association Paiwand’s Equal Opportunities policy
• To take positive action to encourage the participation of service users who experience discrimination for reasons of gender, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or health status.
• To work in accordance with Afghan Association Paiwand’s policies and procedures, including the confidentiality policy, health and safety policy and advocacy guidelines
• To complete and submit the counselling clients recording forms including referral sheets.
• To attend and participate in clinical supervision
• Be proactive in accessing training and personal development opportunities
• To keep informed of new developments in counselling particularly as they relate to the refugee and asylum communities.
• To uphold and promote the good name of Paiwand.

Person specification

Essential skills and Experience

• Applicants must be a qualified psychologist, psychotherapist, or counsellor (at least completed level-4 diploma) with BAP, BCP, or UKCP-CPJA and BACP registered.

• Extended years of experience working alongside, refugee and migrant groups.

• Ability to speak any one of the following languages: Pashto, Dari/Farsi, Arabic, Urdu.

• Strong interpersonal skills.

Please note that, we will be monitoring the progress of this project regularly and may change the list of tasks accordingly.

           To send your CV or for more information, please contact:  

Mental Health Advocacy Project Manager:
Dr Farooq

ghulam.farooq@paiwand.com

Afghan Association Paiwand Community Advocacy Project

Job Title:                  Community Advocacy Volunteer

Purpose:   We are recruiting for a Community Advocate Volunteer to join our team as we prepare for arrivals from Kabul as part of the announced Resettlement Scheme which has not yet begun. 

Part-time:               2 days per week

The Community Advocacy Project works with refugees, asylum seekers and migrants across London to provide advocacy support on issues of Housing, Welfare Benefits, Legal advocacy, Health etc. In addition to advocacy, the project aims to raise awareness among the refugee community about their rights and entitlements in the UK. The overall objective of the project is to empower vulnerable members of the community and reduce destitution. We ideally would ask the volunteer to commit to 2 days a week for a minimum of 6-month. The working hours are flexible and can be planned with the Advocacy Service Manager. If selected, a DBS check will be required. Please note we will be only providing you with a reference after the completion of a 6-month commitment. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Conducting initial assessments, provide high quality advocacy service, which meets quality standards and prioritising needs of clients accordingly
• Manage a caseload in a flexible and holistic way, responding to each individual needs and circumstances on a one-to-one basis through advocacy
• Signpost clients to appropriate services/organisations & follow up to ensure support is being received
• Support people to access their statutory rights and entitlements
• Liaise with local authorities on need basis
• Maintain efficient up to date records and data base

Duties & Responsibilities that do not require DBS check: 

• Case research using case studies provided by Advocacy Manager
• Handling media platform and creating innovative content for Instagram and Facebook page (prior to be discussed with Advocacy Manager)
• Partnership and network research, searching for possible organisations that can be potential partners or collaborative work can be established.
• Looking out for potential funding opportunities.

Person specification:

• Able to critically analyse client’s needs and prioritise to get the best results in the shortest possible time
• Utmost sensitivity and discretion, understand and maintain confidentiality
• Organised, essential problem-solving skills, good time management and able to work under pressure
•  Basic knowledge and understanding of the migrant and refugee crisis, sensitivity, and empathy towards the community
• A basic understanding of UK’s welfare framework, benefits and public funds, immigration procedure etc. is desirable

Please note that, we will be monitoring the progress of this project regularly and may change the list of tasks accordingly.

           To send your CV or for more information, please contact:  

Community Advocacy Manager:
Yusra Ali

yusra.ali@paiwand.com

Afghan Association Paiwand Young Refugees Mentoring Project

Job Title:                  Volunteer Mentor

Purpose:   Paiwand’s Mentoring Project aims to address the specific needs of young refugees, asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors in North West London who are in need of one-to-one and group social, academic and community support.

Liaising with:         Education project Manager/partner schools

Part-time hours:               1-3 hours per week

We are looking for volunteer mentors to work on a one-to-one basis with vulnerable young refugees, asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors, aged 11-18 years old, in Northwest London (Harrow, Brent, Barnet). The large refugee communities residing in these boroughs point to a clear need to address the wellbeing of the young members of these communities. The young people referred to our project are at particular risk of the following:

• Academic underachievement;
• Social/school exclusion;
• Being NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training);
• Radicalisation;
• Involvement in Gang and criminal activities (Including drug misuse);
• Mental health and emotional struggles.

In response, the Project aims to support, encourage and productively challenge young people to define and work towards their personal goals. The role will give volunteers an opportunity to become trained as mentors, and to gain experience working with young refugees with complex needs. The mentoring project currently operates two different ways: Schools mentoring or community mentoring. Schools mentoring involves mentors meeting their mentees at their school during school hours whereas community mentoring is organised between the mentor and mentee at an appropriate time and place outside of school hours.

Requirements:

• To be passionate and motivated to improve the lives of vulnerable young refugees in Northwest London;
• Excellent listening skills;
• Experience of working with young children is an advantage, but not necessary;
• Volunteers should be able to travel to and meet at Paiwand’s office in Edgware and other areas of North West London;
• Commitment to weekly meetings for minimum of 2-3 months
• Full training will be provided. Attendance is compulsory to complete the recruitment process.
• The role is subject to enhanced DBS disclosure.
  
  Please note that, we will be monitoring the progress of this project regularly and may change the list of tasks accordingly.
  
             For more information and application form please contact:  

Education Project Manager:
Maryam
mentoring@paiwand.com

Afghan Association Paiwand Film Festival

Job Title:                  Volunteer Film Festival Organiser Assistant

Purpose:   Paiwand is proud to present London's 3rd Afghan International Film Festival. The film festival aims to explore the narratives of Afghan refugee, asylum seeking and migrant communities or issues relating to the rich cultural, political and social history of Afghanistan.

Liaising with:       LB Film Academy

If you are passionate about films and filmmaking, we would lvoe to have you on our team of volunteers! We are open to entusiastic individuals who can help us every step of the way to organise this exciting event!

If you have already been involved in such an event, or if you want to experience new things, then join us!
   
           For more information and application form please contact:  

Film Festival Manager:
Raman

filmfestival@paiwand.com