Rights in Practice Advisor - Welfare Benefits We are looking to appoint an Advisor (Welfare Benefits) for our Rights in Practice Team based at our Coventry Office. This is a fixed term role initially for 12 months. Expand You will be joining Central England Law Centre at a critical time in developing new approaches as we build a new normal post-Covid-19. During Covid-19 we quickly redesigned our frontline support to set up and run a helpline for the general public and for organisations supporting some of those most socially excluded in Coventry. This approach put legal rights at the centre of the city’s response to Covid. We began to produce and distribute a weekly legal rights pack to other organisations that provides advice and support and updates regulations and guidance in relation to our key specialist areas of Family, Housing, Welfare Benefits, Employment, Immigration and Community Care. We want to build on this to develop key partnerships with organisations who share our values and to sustain this new approach. We have secured funding initially for 12 months for this work to continue. The role of Rights in Practice Advisor is crucial to the organisation. Reporting to the Rights in Practice Team Leader, you will be a key member of the small team providing front line legal rights-based support to clients and organisations in Coventry. The role is central to the law centre’s operations and you will get involved in the full breadth of the day-to-day work of the charity. Based on the types of enquiries we have received; we’re looking to appoint one advisor with specialist welfare benefits knowledge. This expertise will be a resource for the whole team. You will be the first point of contact for some clients, most of whom will be struggling with multiple issues. You may be the first person many of the clients will have spoken to about their issues and being able to put them at ease in a professional, yet warm and friendly manner is incredibly important. You will help build trust and engagement from the very start. You will also be the first point of contact for our partner organisations supporting people in difficult situations. You will promote legal rights approaches to solving problems and support other organisations in using legal rights and in building their knowledge and skill to do this. The role is varied but will involve handling new client enquiries, understanding their situations, providing information and support, liaising with law centre legal teams and partner organisations and acting as an advocate for the work the charity does. You will also help us in developing a network of organisations committed to using legal rights to tackle complexity and vulnerability. Identifying and supporting a small group of organisations who are keen to develop their legal rights approach with clients, and who will benefit from your support and expertise in building this. Please see the job description for more details Rights in Practice Advisor - Welfare Benefits JDF This post is full-time working 37 hours per week and is for a fixed term of 12 months initially. The salary will be £26,396 - £30,298 per annum (dependent on experience). The role is based at Oakwood House, St Patrick’s Road, Coventry; 5 minutes from the railway station, and our terms and conditions include flexible working hours; 28 days holiday (rising to 35 days after 5 years’ service) plus 8 statutory days and pension scheme membership. For an application pack please email [email protected] Closing date: 10.00am on Monday, 28th September 2020 Interviews: week commencing 5th October 2020
Trustee Position - Unpaid We are seeking three new trustees to join our high-calibre Board and executive team in governing the organisation and leading our strategy. Expand This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to an award-winning organisation which leaves no stone unturned in the quest for social justice for society’s most disadvantaged people. You will be joining an experienced Board of Trustees from a wealth of backgrounds, all with a shared interest in access to justice. Ideal candidates will bring skills in finance and/or local knowledge of Birmingham and have experience of playing a strategic leadership role in a complex organisation contributing to non-executive governance. You may not have been a Trustee before. If that is the case we support all our Trustees to develop with a full induction programme and bespoke training and ongoing support. The Law Centre takes every opportunity to provide services to meet community need and to fill the gaps left by the cuts to legal aid and other funding. We have taken a decision not to charge for our services and have attracted a wide range of funding whilst remaining true to our fundamental principles. Apparent disasters like the closure of the former Birmingham Law Centre, have been turned into opportunities, and Britain’s second city now benefits from the new Birmingham Community Law Centre thanks to the Central England Law Centre team. Strong governance, finance expertise and local knowledge is essential for our mission, we believe that our strategy and reach can be developed and expanded even further with the right guidance. If you would like to discuss this opportunity in more detail please contact our CEO [email protected] Come join the team! Further information CELC Trustee vacancy background information CELC Trustee role and person outline