Caseworker / Senior Caseworker

A rare opportunity has arisen for a political Senior Caseworker / Caseworker based in the Member of Parliament’s constituency of Erith and Thamesmead which falls within the Borough of Bexley and Greenwich. This is a full time permanent role, but consideration will be made for someone who is looking for a part time role of no less then 3 days per week. This position may involve occasional evening or weekend work, so please only apply if you are willing and able to work these hours. You must also be proactive, organised, reliable, and have sympathy with the aims and values of the Labour Party. About the role The position of Senior Caseworker (or Caseworker depending on experience) is based in the constituency office and the successful person will have substantial experience within a casework, advocacy, or an advisory role. You will lead casework and constituency operations and be responsible for ensuring that constituents, including those with significant levels of need, receive an excellent service from the MP’s office. Key tasks include: Deal with large numbers of standard queries, as well as assisting on more complex cases from members of the public by phone, email, social media or face to face.  Draft responses to constituents Gather relevant information to assist with resolving cases Log all cases; monitor progress and ensure all identified actions are taken Assist surgeries and other meetings and follow up as appropriate Attend constituency meetings as appropriate There may be a requirement for the role holder to work outside of the normal working hours and travel to Westminster occasionally. About the responsibilities In the role of Caseworker, duties include to: Lead and manage casework and constituency functions Managing the constituency team as well as a large caseload of complex cases Attend surgeries, tribunals and other meetings as appropriate Liaising with government, local government and organisations to help resolve constituents' problems Retaining records and information confidentially and in line with the Data Protection Act Ensure all cases and decisions are properly documented Writing clear concise reports containing analysis, explanation of findings and conclusions Making appropriate action plans to include monitoring and communication procedures Help to develop local or national campaigns out of issues that arise through casework Assist the MP with other duties as required. Senior Caseworker responsibilities - in addition to the above, include: Lead and manage casework and constituency functions Managing the constituency team as well as a large caseload of complex cases Writing clear concise reports containing analysis, explanation of findings and conclusions Making appropriate action plans to include monitoring and communication procedures Help to develop local or national campaigns out of issues that arise through casework About you To be successful for the role of Caseworker or Senior Caseworker, you will ideally have / be: Previous casework experience, in an MP’s office or elsewhere A self-starter with proven experience of supervising and managing others in a fast-paced environment (for Senior Caseworker role) Excellent written and verbal communication skills Strong organisational capability, including workload management and an ability to operate under pressure Proven track-record of excellent people and customer service skills Ability to deal with people in a sensitive and confidential manner A good level of proficiency with software systems and the ability to rapidly become familiar with new packages as required for the role Desirable A good understanding of the political environment and a knowledge of local issues in the constituency Previous campaigning experience Experience of advising in areas such as housing, welfare benefits or immigration issues or community advocacy work. A full, clean driving licence About the rewards For the role of Caseworker, there is a salary on offer of: Caseworker - £24,000 to £36,413 per annum Senior Caseworker - £32,000 to £43,740 per annum Part-time salaries are pro rata