RAD Legal Services

Jobs

Thank you for your interest in applying for a job with RAD Legal Services. We currently have vacancies for a Communication Assistant / PA and a Social Policy Officer; details can be found below.

Communication Assistant / PA
Base: Cardiff

Salary: £18k to £22k per annum plus pension
Hours: Full-time 37.5 hours per week

RAD Legal Services has successfully received funding to deliver legal services across England and Wales to improve access to legal advice for Deaf people. The existing team consists of a Solicitor, six Caseworkers and a Social Policy Officer. We provide specialist advice to Deaf people in their preferred language, and offer legal advice and support in the areas of immigration, welfare benefits, housing, employment, debt, discrimination, tribunals and accessing services.

We are seeking to employ a Communication Assistant/Personal Assistant for our office in Cardiff to provide communication and admin support for the Legal Services Supervisor.

Running seven projects worth £700,000, the Legal Services Supervisor (with British Sign Language as his preferred language) is constantly on the move and needs someone who is able to manage his diary, answer calls/emails and ensure that he is in the right place at the right time. As a Solicitor dealing with complex legal matters under pressure and to tight deadlines, the Legal Services Supervisor also needs someone to ease the burden of administrative tasks associated with management so as to allow him to focus on casework.

You will already have Level 2 or 3 BSL, a sound knowledge of Microsoft software and some experience of providing communication services in an office environment. A confident telephone manner is essential as the role will involve dealing with third parties on various legal issues. This would be an ideal post for an experienced PA or administrator looking to develop their BSL skills. As well as supporting the Legal Services Supervisor, you will work alongside our existing admin team undertaking some admin roles, fielding calls and dealing with administrative duties.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Rob Wilks (details below).

Download:

Send your application form to:

Private & Confidential
Addressee Only
Rob Wilks
Legal Services Supervisor
RAD Legal Services
British Sign Language Cultural Centre
47 Newport Road
Cardiff CF24 0AD

SMS: 07738 802686
Fax: 07092 098568
Email: rob.wilks@royaldeaf.org.uk.

Closing date: 4 September 2008
Interview date: 11 September 2008

Social Policy Officer
Base: Shoreditch

Salary: £18,963 - £25,000 per annum plus pension
Hours: Full-time 37.5 hours per week
Duration of contract: Until March 2009.

RAD Legal Services consists of a Solicitor and six Caseworkers who provide specialist advice to Deaf people in their preferred language, and offer legal advice and support in the areas of immigration, welfare benefits, housing, employment, debt, discrimination, tribunals and accessing services.
We have recently received funding from the Equality and Human Rights Commission for a Social Policy Officer to provide support to RAD in social policy and strategy development and implementation. This involves extensive liaison with partners within the social policy consultation network including a range of both statutory and voluntary groups, interviewing clients on relevant social policy issues, producing reports, and facilitating the inclusion of deaf people in forums, consultations and events.

This is a new opportunity for a Social Policy Officer to join our friendly and highly committed team. The post is integral to the delivery of a wide range of social strategies and policies and demonstrates RAD’s commitment to partnership working.

Preferably educated to degree level you will be a good team player and excellent at getting your message across. You should have relevant experience in either the public or voluntary sector which demonstrates you understand the complexities of social policy and can network effectively to achieve.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Dave Shields (Tel: 020 7613 3841, Fax: 07092 857965, Email: david shields@royaldeaf.org.uk.

Send your application form to:

Addressee only
Daniela Miller
RAD Head Office
18 Westside Centre
London Road
Stanway
Colchester CO3 8PH

Closing date: 18 August 2008
Interview date: 26 August 2008

Volunteers

RAD Legal Services (”RLS”) is looking for volunteers, preferably with British Sign Language skills, in the following roles:

  • caseworkers;
  • administrators;
  • receptionists; and
  • campaigners.

Caseworkers

You are supported every step of the way. As a RLS caseworker you would:

  • interview clients;
  • help them negotiate with people such as creditors or service providers;
  • draft letters;
  • make telephone calls on behalf of clients;
  • refer them to other agencies; and
  • represent them in court and at tribunals.

Full training will be provided as appropriate.

Administrators

As a RLS volunteer administrator you would ensure the smooth running of our service, which would include:

  • word processing;
  • file management;
  • arranging events;
  • using databases and spreadsheets;
  • answering emails and phone calls; and
  • updating local information.

You will also provide adminstrative support to both our employed and volunteer caseworkers.

Receptionist

You would be the public face of RLS, meeting clients on a daily basis:

  • greet clients;
  • arrange appointments;
  • answer the telephone;
  • provide information on service to clients;
  • manage the waiting room; and
  • keep records.

Campaigners

By using evidence collected from the D/deaf and hard of hearing clients RLS helps, you could help bring about changes in local and national policies and services which can benefit everyone, even those who have never used RLS.

  • complete and collate evidence forms recording clients problems;
  • identify and raise relevant issues in the advice surgeries;
  • train staff and volunteers in identifying issues and completing evidence forms;
  • conduct research and write reports;
  • get involved in media campaigning; and
  • liase with other Deaf organisations.

You can work at our main office at Morrell House, or at an outreach surgery with one of our caseworkers at either Brixton, Harrow, Islington, Romford or West Ham. We plan to set up more outreach surgeries elsewhere in London in the near future.

Benefits

  • Reasonable travel expenses to and from your place of work will be paid.
  • You will be invited to attend our monthly team meetings with the whole Advice and Advocacy (”AA”) team.
  • Regular casework supervision during which your casework is discussed and file reviews carried out.
  • Training as and when required.

How to apply

If you are interested in becoming a RLS volunteer, please download the application form and send it to:

Dave Shields
RAD Legal Services
96a Curtain Road
London
EC2A 3AA

Fax: 07092 857965
Email:david.shields@royaldeaf.org.uk

For more information, please contact Dave Shields.