Experience

Asylum Support Appeals Project

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Deputy Director

  • Oct 2020 - Present

  Supporting the Director to provide leadership and strategic direction to ASAP in accordance with its aims and objectives. Responsible for the delivery and, in conjunction with the Director, the development of ASAP’s advice and representation services. Line management responsibility for four staff members, including recruitment, induction, supervision and appraisal. Representing ASAP at service-related meetings, events, conferences and other opportunities to ensure that the organisation has a positive public profile. Actively developing stakeholder relationships with relevant organisations to represent the interests of ASAP and its beneficiaries

• Director (maternity cover)

  • Aug 2019 - Oct 2020

  Provided leadership and strategic direction, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees, in order to achieve the organisation’s aims and objectives. Had overall management responsibility for ASAP’s work, staff members and resources – successfully leading ASAP through the major changes to our service and working practices triggered by Covid-19. Co-chair (with the Home Office) of the national stakeholder group on asylum support. Oversaw ASAP’s policy and lobbying strategy on asylum support issues . Oversaw ASAP’s financial management, included setting and managing the budget and audit of annual accounts. Responsible for updating ASAP’s fundraising strategy and submitting funding bids in accordance with it . Ensured that service delivery and reporting requirements of all funders were fully met

• Women's Legal Advisor

  • Oct 2013 - Aug 2019

  • Undertook advocacy and influencing work with the Home Office to improve asylum support policy for women, with a focus on its response to domestic abuse• Represented asylum seekers appealing against Home Office decisions on their financial support and accommodation, at the First Tier Tribunal (Asylum Support)• Delivered training to advice workers, legal practitioners and frontline staff around the UK on asylum support law and policy• Provided second tier telephone advice on asylum support law and policy



Winchester Advocacy Project

• United Kingdom

• Manager & Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)

  • Oct 2009 - Sep 2013

  • Supervised a team of four staff advocates and 13 volunteer advocates providing advocacy support for people with a learning disability or mental health problem • Annual service planning, including developing new services and sources of funding • Service monitoring and reporting to the key stakeholder (Hampshire County Council) • Recruitment and training of staff and volunteers • Provided statutory advocacy (IMCA) for people judged to lack mental capacity to make a life changing decision



Southampton Women's Aid

• Non-profit Organizations

• Helpline Co-ordinator

  • Sep 2007 - Aug 2009

  • Designed, developed and managed a volunteer-staffed helpline for women experiencing domestic abuse. • Wrote project plan, agreed targets and timescales with funder (Volunteering England) • Drafted relevant organisational policies (eg. Volunteer Policy) • Recruited volunteers, designed and delivered volunteer training programme • Designed, developed and managed a volunteer-staffed helpline for women experiencing domestic abuse. • Wrote project plan, agreed targets and timescales with funder (Volunteering England) • Drafted relevant organisational policies (eg. Volunteer Policy) • Recruited volunteers, designed and delivered volunteer training programme



Asylum Aid

• London, England, United Kingdom

• Asylum Support Caseworker

  • Oct 2001 - Sep 2007

  • Provided welfare rights casework for female asylum seekers and their families • Delivered training sessions for external groups on the asylum support system in UK • Contributed to project research on position of female asylum seekers in UK • Served as Trustee (Asylum Aid representative) of Asylum Support Appeals Project. • Provided welfare rights casework for female asylum seekers and their families • Delivered training sessions for external groups on the asylum support system in UK • Contributed to project research on position of female asylum seekers in UK • Served as Trustee (Asylum Aid representative) of Asylum Support Appeals Project.



Refugee Council

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Deputy Team Leader

  • Jan 2000 - Aug 2001

  • Supervision of team of advice workers in a busy day centre, providing advice and information to asylum seekers on the National Asylum Support Service. • Supervision of team of advice workers in a busy day centre, providing advice and information to asylum seekers on the National Asylum Support Service.



English Language Schools in Poland and Ecuador

• Krakow, Poland & Quito, Ecuador

• English Second Language Teacher

  • Sep 1996 - Jun 1998

  Teaching English to adult professionals in various companies Teaching English to adult professionals in various companies