Trainee Advice Worker

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 26,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Pension scheme

Enhanced sick pay

Job summary

Suffolk Refugee Support in Ipswich is seeking a Trainee Advice Worker to help clients access the Advice Service. You will provide practical support, advocate for refugees, and signpost to other agencies. The role involves outreach, record-keeping and training to develop skills.

The position is part-time (21 hours/week), fixed-term for 1 year, with a salary of £26,010 per annum pro rata (£15,606 actual). Close date and interview dates are provided in the posting.

Qualifications

• Experience working with refugees and asylum seekers is essential.
• Ability to understand UK asylum processes and legal entitlements.
• Commitment to anti-discrimination and inclusive practice.
• Knowledge of UK benefits systems or willingness to learn.
• Experience working in a multicultural team.
• Strong written and spoken English skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical support with forms, phone calls, letters and appointments.
• Advocate for refugees and asylum seekers as needed.
• Engage in community outreach and maintain records.
• Learn through training and mentoring to develop competence.

Skills

Refugee experience

UK asylum system

Discrimination awareness

Benefits knowledge

Multicultural teamwork

English proficiency

Communication skills

Advice provision

Initiative

Multitasking

MS Office

CRM systems

Tools

CRM systems

MS Office

Job description

• Suffolk Refugee Support
• Address: Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3EP
• Salary:£26,010 per annum pro rata (£15,606 actual)
• Hours:Part time, 21 hours per week
• Contract:Fixed Term Contract for 1 year, required as soon as possible
• Reference:0938

Suffolk Refugee Support is looking for a Trainee Advice Worker who will be responsible for helping clients to access the Advice Service. Their role is to deliver appropriate help and assistance, either directly, via volunteers or by signposting to other agencies.

The job will involve providing practical support with forms, phone calls, letters and appointments, while advocating for refugees and people seeking asylum. It will also include community outreach, record-keeping and learning through training and mentoring.

What you will need:

• Personal experience of, and ability to connect with, the refugee community of Suffolk
• Understanding of the experiences of people seeking asylum in the UK and commitment to upholding their legal rights and entitlement
• Awareness of the level of discrimination faced by refugees and asylum seekers in the UK
• Knowledge of the UK benefits systems or willingness to learn
• Experience of working within a multicultural team
• Good written and spoken English
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to give advice and support in a sensitive manner including when English is not the first language of the client
• Ability to use own initiative to solve problems as well as contributing to team plans and joint activities
• Ability to multitask and manage a varied and full workload
• Proficiency in working with Microsoft Office packages and using a CRM database. Diligent and timely approach to admin work.

About us

Suffolk Refugee Support aims to enable all asylum seekers and refugees in Suffolk to live integrated, fulfilled and contributing lives in their new communities. We provide a welcoming environment where clients can access help, advice, support and practical services to be healthy and safe and begin to rebuild their lives. We work with external agencies, community and voluntary sector organisations, health providers and others to enable our clients to access a range of support. We are based in Ipswich, but our services operate increasingly across Suffolk as refugees and asylum seekers are housed across the county.

What we will offer you:

• Competitive salaries
• Contributory pension scheme, up to 6% Employer contribution in addition to Employee contribution
• Enhanced sick pay scheme after successful probation period

For more information

To find out more, please contact us by calling 01473 400785.

Closing date: 12pm, 22 October 2026

Interview date: 29 October 2026.