Resource

Asylum Aid is partnering with the Justice Together Initiative to provide in depth training for OISC Level 2 advisers who want to deliver casework at OISC Levels 2 and 3, particularly in complex asylum, human rights and trafficking cases.

We offer in-depth training, shadowing opportunities, intensive legal supervision, monthly group clinical supervision, and peer support groups for up to 4 advisers. We will also assist trainees, managers and organisations to develop processes and procedures to support complex casework in line with the requirements of OISC and the Legal Aid contract. The programme is delivered through a mix of in person and remote methods.

Our vision is that by working in partnership with organisations across England and Wales we can support the development of a more sustainable advice sector, with more capacity to provide complex advice and to develop advice services.

As our programme prepares for its third intake, we are seeking expressions of interest from organisations who want to support their OISC Level 2 advisers to gain confidence and expertise in working in more complex cases. Cohort 3 will run from January 2025 for one year. It begins with 3 months of training and shadowing opportunities, followed by 3 months of intensive casework supervision, before concluding with 6 months of remote supervision and peer support. A detailed breakdown of the programme structure can be downloaded below.

Expressions of interest should be submitted by Thursday 31 October 2024.

For more information about the programme and how to apply, please read the FAQs and download the document below.

FAQS

Is the programme open to advisers who do not already have OISC Level 2 accreditation and would like to work towards this?

No, the programme is aimed at advisers who are already registered with OISC at Level 2 or above but would like to increase their confidence and skills in doing complex casework.

Is the programme open to advisers who have OISC Level 3 accreditation but feel they could benefit from more experience with complex casework?

Yes – having OISC accreditation at Level 2 or 3 but not having much practical experience of doing work at that level is what we hope this project will support people with.

Where will the 3-month training programme be delivered?

In-person training will be delivered in two 1-week blocks, likely at Asylum Aid’s offices in London. During both weeks of in-person training, we have a budget to contribute to trainees’ travel and accommodation costs. Remote (online) training will take place 1-2 times per week over the 3 months, in combination with regular opportunities to shadow Asylum Aid caseworkers and supervisors.

What will a typical training day look like? Can existing casework be managed alongside training?

During the in-person training (2 weeks total), sessions are scheduled to last 6 hours, with a typical day beginning at 10am and finishing around 4pm. A one-hour lunch break is scheduled each day, and short mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks are also offered. This equates to 4-5 hours of training each day. This should allow for a couple of hours at either end of the day for existing work, but it’s advised that the majority of casework is reallocated within your organisation during the two weeks of in-person training in order for you to get the most from the sessions.  

In-person training will be interspersed with remote (online) training sessions over the course of 3 months to reduce the impact of the programme on normal working patterns, as well as to allow time for trainees to begin applying the training to their casework.

Will the programme be a full-time commitment during the remote training, shadowing and supervision periods?

During remote (online) training and shadowing, it is expected that there will be more time for managing a caseload as normal. Online training sessions will be scheduled for 1-2 days per week over a 3 month period, alongside opportunities (both in-person and remote) to shadow Asylum Aid staff. We plan to offer trainees as much shadowing as possible to maximise exposure to complex casework delivered by experienced Asylum Aid legal staff over the 3 months, but this can likely fit around other work.

During the 3-month intensive supervision stage, one-to-one sessions will be scheduled for an hour on a weekly basis, providing time to discuss current work and complex cases, allowing time for a normal caseload alongside. During this period the supervisor will be available to review written work, conduct file reviews and discuss cases to support trainees in applying learning from the training and increasing their confidence.

For the remaining 6 months of the programme, work can be carried out as normal, with the added benefit of a peer support group and monthly remote sessions with your supervisor at Asylum Aid.

Where will the shadowing sessions be delivered?

We hope to deliver shadowing once a week during the 3-month training and shadowing period, with a mixture of in-person and online shadowing opportunities available overall. Over 3 months, there will be the chance for trainees to shadow experienced caseworkers at Asylum Aid and put into practice knowledge from the training sessions.

How will the 3-month supervision period, peer support meetings, and ongoing support be delivered?

The 3 months of intensive supervision, when trainees will be undertaking their own casework, will include a weekly 1:1 with their supervisor which will alternate between in-person and online. The peer support group, held fortnightly over the first 6 months, will take place both in-person and online. In months 7-12, there will be a monthly peer support group which we anticipate will be held mainly online, although trainees can decide what works best for them. During this period, they will also have access to their supervisor for 2nd tier support by telephone/remotely but will not have the same structured weekly supervision sessions as before.

What is on offer to managers and organisations?

Managers from each organisation will receive a group capacity-building session each month for 12 months which will cover training on organisational processes, casework systems and document templates, as well as assistance with developing processes and procedures consistent with requirements of the OISC and the Legal Aid contract. Thematic reflections from group clinical supervision will also be shared with managers to enable organisations to learn about how to support staff and avoid burnout.

Can there be any flexibility in how and where the programme is delivered?

We will work with trainees once selected to tailor the training, shadowing, and supervision so that it works as much as possible with their commitments and work schedules. We do believe some of it needs to be in person and that this will likely involve coming to London, but we would also expect our supervisor to travel to trainees, with an overall mixture of in-person and remote commitments.

How do I submit my Expression of Interest?

Please send an Expression of Interest of no more than 2 A4 pages via email to Susie France (susie.france@asylumaid.org.uk) telling us about your organisation, the communities you work with and the proposed trainee’s reasons for wanting to participate in the programme, and a copy of their CV.  The application deadline is Thursday 31 October 2024.  More details about what we require and the criteria against which your application will be scored can be found in the document below.

Click on the arrow below to download more information.