Personal Advisor - UASC

Birmingham Children's Trust; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

DBS fees paid

Annual leave 30–33–35 days

Salary sacrifice car scheme

Free parking on-site

Benefits scheme (LGPS, discounts)

Job summary

Birmingham Children’s Trust is seeking a Personal Advisor to support unaccompanied asylum‑seeking young people as they transition from care to adulthood in the UK.

You will build trusting relationships, co‑produce Pathway Plans and help navigate immigration, education, housing and health services while promoting resilience and independence.

Qualifications

• Ability to build trusting relationships with unaccompanied asylum‑seeking young people.
• Strong advocacy and communication skills with diverse professionals.

Responsibilities

• Build positive relationships with unaccompanied asylum‑seeking young people.
• Support transition to independence and access to services.
• Co‑produce and review Pathway Plans.
• Help navigate immigration and legal processes.
• Promote education, employment and training opportunities.
• Visit young people regularly and work with their networks.
• Advocate for wellbeing, housing, health and education services.
• Respect cultural identity and individual needs.
• Collaborate with interpreters, legal representatives and agencies.

Skills

Relationship building

Advocacy

Communication

Partnership working

Job description

Help Shape Bright Futures for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Young People

At Birmingham Children's Trust, within our Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) Service, we are looking for a passionate and committed Personal Advisor to support young people as they transition from care into adulthood and navigate life in the UK.

Our Personal Advisors play a vital role in helping young people build confidence, develop independence, understand their rights and entitlements, and achieve their aspirations. We are seeking individuals who share our ambition to deliver the very best support and improve outcomes for young people aged 16-25 who have arrived in the UK without the care of a parent or guardian.

We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection.

This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children's Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must reside within a suitable commutable distance around Birmingham and have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.

In this role you will:

• Build positive, trusting and meaningful relationships with unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people.
• Support young people to develop the skills, confidence and resilience needed for independent living.
• Co‑produce and review Pathway Plans that reflect the aspirations, strengths and goals of young people.
• Support young people to understand and navigate immigration, asylum and legal processes.
• Promote engagement in education, employment and training opportunities.
• Undertake regular visits and work collaboratively with young people and their support networks.
• Advocate for young people and help them access services that support their wellbeing, housing, health, education and independence.
• Champion the voice of young people and ensure their cultural identity, lived experiences and individual needs are recognised and respected.
• Work in partnership with interpreters, legal representatives, community organisations and other agencies.

Connections Count

At Birmingham Children's Trust, relationships are at the heart of everything we do. Our practice model, Connections Count, recognises the importance of strong, enduring relationships in helping young people overcome adversity and achieve positive outcomes.

We are committed to delivering trauma‑informed, strengths‑based and relationship‑focused practice. We understand that many unaccompanied asylum‑seeking young people have experienced trauma, displacement, loss, separation and uncertainty.

We are looking for people who:

• Are passionate about improving outcomes for unaccompanied asylum‑seeking young people and care leavers.
• Have an understanding of the challenges faced by young people seeking asylum and adapting to life in a new country.
• Understand the impact of trauma, loss, displacement and adverse childhood experiences.
• Can build authentic relationships that promote trust, safety and belonging.
• Are resilient, adaptable and committed to strengths‑based practice.
• Have excellent communication, advocacy and partnership‑working skills.
• Can work effectively with a range of professionals and agencies.
• Maintain high aspirations for young people and support them to achieve successful outcomes.
• Value diversity and can support young people from a wide range of cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds.

Our aim is that every young person feels cared for, cared about and supported to care for themselves. If you share our commitment to empowering unaccompanied asylum‑seeking young people to thrive, achieve their ambitions and build successful independent lives, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and make a lasting difference to the lives of Birmingham's young people seeking safety, stability and opportunity.

What We Offer:

• We pay your DBS application fee and reimburse your update service fee
• A generous annual leave package of 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 5 years of service and 35 days after 10 years of service.
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme which gives you the chance to drive a brand‑new car for an affordable fixed monthly amount as part of a salary sacrifice initiative. With no deposits or credit checks required a range of all‑inclusive driving packages
• Free on‑site parking at our offices on One Avenue Road (Aston) and Lifford House (Stirchley). We also provide onsite electric car charging ports which are free to use!
• Full access to our amazing internal employee benefits scheme including, Occupational Health services, Rewards Schemes, Benefits discounts (including the Blue Light Card), Health & Fitness and Personal Wellbeing support and much more!
• Flexible and hybrid working policy - we are well adapted to a hybrid model of working which includes a combination of time spent in the office and at home and we offer a variety of working patterns, to support the needs of the Trust and to ensure a positive work/life balance for our employees
• You will receive a generous local government career average pension scheme in line with the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Discounted gym memberships with Pure Gym and Nuffield Health

Help us to change children and young people's lives!

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city's most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.