Coventry City Council’s Migration Team is an innovative and dynamic team that is focussed on meeting the needs of newly arriving communities in the city and supporting integration.  The team works with internal and diverse external partners to deliver projects and other interventions based on our migrant needs assessment and other evidence related to the barriers faced by new migrants.  

Coventry was one of the first cities to welcome Syrian refugees in 2014, and the team leads a partnership in delivering a resettlement programme welcoming some of the most vulnerable individuals fleeing conflict and persecution from Syria and the Middle-East.  Work is centred on enabling refugees to make Coventry their new home, living with dignity and respect as well as contributing positively to our vibrant and growing city. 

Building on Coventry’s history of welcoming new arrivals into the city, we work towards maintaining a strategic overview of our refugee and migrant population including people seeking asylum dispersed to the City.  With over £3.5m already brought into the city, from external funding we establish collaborative partnerships to maximise interventions to promote community cohesion and enable everyone to contribute towards making Coventry a place where people choose to live, learn and work. 

The Migration Team celebrates diversity while also ensuring rights, opportunities and responsibilities are understood. Projects including: 

• Building Bridges 

• Ignite Integration Programme, and  

• MiFriendly Cities  

aim to promote a more holistic approach towards integration by involving local communities, maximising skills and cultural awareness and creating opportunities for social and economic growth in the city.

It’s great to know that you are interested in working with us at Coventry City Council. As a prospective employee, it is important that everyone who works for us is committed to our One Coventry values and shares our commitment to becoming a more diverse and inclusive organisation. 

Our Values are:

To work as Liaison Officer between the City Council, the Home Office, and other relevant stakeholders in managing a caseload of asylum seekers and refugees supported under s.95 and s.4 of the Asylum and Immigration Act in the City.

The successful candidate will:

• Welcoming newly arrived asylum seekers in our City and support them with available provision
• Facilitate the smooth transition of new refugees from government-supported accommodation into mainstream society during their 28-day ‘move on’ period
• Manage a caseload of asylum seekers supported under s.95  and s.4 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1999 and have had their asylum claim determined to provide a holistic support service by: providing information and guidance to those granted asylum or other leave to remain in the UK on how to access mainstream service
• Connecting those asylum seekers awaiting a decision to support available if a positive decision is made on their asylum claim
• Support the successful integration of adults and families granted asylum by minimising rates of homelessness, rough sleeping, poor health, economic hardship and social isolation and improving proficiency in English language
• Work closely with local and West Midlands based statutory and voluntary sector organisations to find the best available provision for each asylum seeker individual and family
• Keep the good working relationship with stakeholders and partner organisations and liaise with them in an effective way to support the interest of the Council and the client base

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with experience of working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers who is natural self-starter with a can-do attitude.

The ideal candidate should have good interpersonal and excellent communication and written skills, be able to work on their own initiative, have a meticulous approach and attention to detail with the ability to meet deadlines.

The successful candidate should have:

• Good understanding of national legislation related to consideration and determination of claims for asylum under UK law and the support provided by the Home Office for individuals and families awaiting decisions (Asylum and Immigration Act 1999)
• Good knowledge and understanding of best practice in the engagement and support of asylum seekers and refugees
• Experience of working with vulnerable clients and developing successful relationships
• Key stakeholder engagement skills to establish key relationships and share learning resource to meet the needs of this role
• Experience of engaging and working with diverse communities
• Ability develop tools and processes to monitor the effectiveness of the support delivered to the clients
• Able to demonstrate an impartial, non-judgemental attitude relating to the circumstances presented by asylum seekers and promote their best interests

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'

Coventry is a lively, multicultural city, which embraces old and new. Around the modern city centre there are traces of history everywhere – in the old city walls, the timber-framed buildings and the reconstructed medieval Spon Street. But Coventry has always had an eye on the future, and is now firmly focused on regenerating and re-inventing itself to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. With major developments and new projects taking place right across the city, Coventry City Council is the place to be!

There's a huge buzz about the city – Coventry ranks as the 8th best city to live, work and do business in the UK, and is the UK City of Culture 2021 ! We believe this will help put Coventry on the map for all the right reasons. You can feel the sense of local pride throughout the city as we build towards this momentous year. It also offers a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to those joining us to play their part in it.

We genuinely believe that Coventry City Council is a special place. You will be joining Coventry City Council during an exciting time to become part of a team that contribute to achieving our visions for the city. We have made our council a place where we look after our people, making sure you're happy in your work and given everything you need to succeed. We've created friendly, welcoming workplaces where everyone is working towards the same cause, providing the best possible services for the city of Coventry.

As a council with improvement at its heart, we’re committed to making life better for the people who live and work in Coventry. We’re equally concerned with the quality of life enjoyed by our people, so by joining us, you won’t just be helping the community, you’ll be helping yourself too.

Not only do you get to work alongside great people that are helping to improve services for our community we offer great benefits too! For your valued contribution we will provide a fantastic benefits package including;

• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous annual leave allowance starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days
• Pay progression through multiple increments
• Outstanding local government pension scheme
• Learning & Development with access to certified courses.
• Access to an award winning Occupational Health Team
• Vibrant employee networks