Immigration adviser

SIAU is recruiting an IMMIGRATION ADVISER, IAA Level 2 or 3, to specialise in work with vulnerable people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, to join our existing advisers and volunteers.

SIAU is a small local charity, currently with two part-time workers, providing specialist legal advice, assistance and representation to people who live, work or study in Slough and neighbouring areas, and their families, who have difficulties with UK immigration, nationality or refugee law and practice. We have done this work for over 20 years. Our work is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority.

Slough Borough Council has agreed to fund a third worker, three days a week, working closely with their homelessness teams and other Slough voluntary organisations dealing with homelessness, to provide immigration advice and services to people whose immigration status makes it harder to access support in moving on from homelessness.

Please send your cv and a letter explaining your experience and qualifications making you suitable for this job and why you would like to work with SIAU, and contact details for two referees, to SIAU by 26 October 2026.

Interviews, in person, and including a written exercise, will be in the week beginning 2 November 2026.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Purpose: To ensure that quality immigration, nationality and refugee law advice is given to people in Slough who are homeless or vulnerable and threatened with homelessness. SIAU's office is in Chalvey, Slough and the work is based there though some working from home is also possible.

Responsibilities:

1. To provide advice, assistance and representation to individuals in Slough who are homeless or threatened with homelessness and who have issues in relation to UK immigration, nationality and refugee law and practice. To provide telephone, written and face-to-face advice on these areas. To undertake casework and representation.

2. To keep full and up-to-date records of advice work and casework using SIAU's Charitylog database and reporting in writing to the Trustees and to Slough Borough Council as required.

3. To report to the Immigration Advice Authority as required, to ensure that SIAU meets its legal responsibilities.

4. To liaise with the other SIAU advisers and Trustees and the SBC project manager, to supervise and direct the work of any administrative and casework support volunteers.

Skills and experience:

1. IAA Level 2 or 3 qualification.

2. Knowledge and experience of work in UK immigration and nationality law, including the EU Settlement Scheme.

3. Ability to relate to people from different communities. Good spoken and written English necessary; ability to speak one of the major languages in the Slough community, Urdu or Panjabi, desirable.

4. Ability to work on one's own and to draw on the experience of the Trustees and others as needed.

5. Ability to keep up to date with changes in law and practice.

Key task: To provide immigration and nationality law information, advice and representation from SIAU primarily to people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, in line with policy as agreed with the Trustees and the Slough Borough Council project manager

Tasks: in conjunction with the other advisers, and with Trustees

To provide advice as appropriate

To respond to enquiries as appropriate

To carry out casework as appropriate

To carry out appeals work as appropriate - if Level 3 qualified

To ensure that full records of the work are kept

To delegate duties as appropriate

To provide outreach work and training with community groups as appropriate

To ensure that relevant IAA standards are met and maintained

To supervise volunteers

To manage day to day finances

To manage day to day office organisation

To produce reports as required, for Trustees and Slough Borough Council and other funders

To liaise with outside bodies as required

Salary: £30,000 pro rata (£18,000 for 3 days a week)

Hours per week: 21 over 3 days a week, preferably including Monday, and including core hours 10 - 3

Place of work: Hybrid: SIAU office in Slough at least one day a week, and from home, by arrangement, if desired

Holiday: 25 days per year pro rata, plus bank holidays

Supervision: The Chair of Trustees will act as line manager.

Slough Borough Council funding for this post is initially for a year, starting as soon as possible, but may be extended subject to satisfactory performance.