Job Description

If you have a strong understanding of the impact of the violence, racial inequity and systemic injustice on marginalised communities and are passionate about empowering those most affected to create a change, then we can’t wait to hear from you!

ABOUT US

The 4Front Project is a member-led youth organisation empowering young people and communities to fight for justice, peace and freedom. The organisation was established in 2012 to provide a platform for those who have been impacted by violence to create change. We support members with experiences of violence and the criminal justice system to create change in their own lives, communities and society.

Over the last eight years, we have pioneered an approach that empowers those most directly harmed by violence and the criminal justice system to be at the forefront of a grassroots movement for change. Our holistic model has been designed specifically to support young people aged 13 - 25 with complex needs as a result of multiple systemic disadvantages and disproportionate exposure to serious violence. By advocating for a holistic approach to build peace, we are transforming the way in which society understands how to support young people who have been affected by violence and shaping the agenda around how to tackle the systemic causes of it. 

We acknowledge the impact of racism and discrimination on our members and actively work to dismantle these systems, whilst supporting members to recognise their strengths and identify systemic barriers to their progress. In this way, we support 4Front members to make changes in their own lives, whilst exploring the inequity they’ve experienced and amplifying their voices to create systemic change. Becoming a member means joining a powerful youth-led movement for change that is transforming the way peace and justice are understood by centring healing, rather than punishment.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed Legal Support Worker to hold the state to account and empower 4Front members to fight for their rights and challenge discrimination and misconduct in the criminal justice system. This new role combines a range of skills including supporting 4Front members, liaising with lawyers, youth advocacy, developing legal access and administration. No legal qualifications are required and legal experience is desirable but not essential. You will support 4Front members to explore civil and criminal remedies for police and prosecution failings and misconduct and holding the state to account. You care deeply about justice, equity, and people and are willing to go the extra mile. You are an excellent communicator. You are incredibly organised and skilled at managing, processing and prioritising information. You understand the emotional impact of injustice and inequity on marginalised young people and are committed to helping them access accountability and closure. You are dedicated to developing a thorough understanding of social injustice and actively addressing it. You see courage in vulnerability and believe in building the resilience of young people. Most importantly, you are committed to peace and you fundamentally believe in the potential to change, both at an individual and societal level. You will be a visionary leader, seeing your work at The 4Front Project as a crucial part of your identity and purpose in life. You will be committed to upholding our vision, mission, principles and values at all times. You will be bold, actively contributing to a workplace culture that centres justice, healing, change and hope. You will play a fundamental role in supporting 4Front members to access justice and accountability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build  trusting relationships and provide consistent, reliable, high quality support services tailored to meet the needs of young people with complex needs

• Protect vulnerable 4Front members and accommodate their mental health, learning difficulties, disabilities, and other needs by creating a safe and supportive environment where they feel accepted and welcomed

• Support the coordination of the 4Front Legal Clinic 

• Liaising with the 4Front Lawyers Group to ensure members can access legal support and information

• Work in partnership with Youth Support Workers to hold criminal justice agencies, local authorities and housing providers to account in relation to their own policies, processes and procedures 

• Provide administrative support to enable the Youth Support Workers to deliver their advocacy support services

LEGAL SUPPORT

• Discuss police incidents with 4Front members

• Support young people during police incidents where appropriate

• Support 4Front member to initiate complaints to the IOPC / MPS

• Establish whether the circumstances of each incident should be referred to a solicitor

• Refer cases to approved lawyers in our legal group and liaise with solicitors

• Track and monitor cases and developments following up with key stakeholders

• Provide  administration of complaints and act as the first point of contact

• Secure necessary documents from members to progress their case

• Provide support to members if they are arrested and acting as an Appropriate Adult in the police station when required

• Provide advocacy and representation for members in court through in-person testimony and written support

• Liaise with the local authority to facilitate engagement with members and families

• Liaise with legal professionals to improve communication between members and their lawyers

MONITORING

• Collect and maintain appropriate records using our database system, and ensuring that these are accurate, up-to-date, completed in a timely manner and secure

• Ensure all data is securely held in line with GDPR and our Confidentiality Policy and Consent Policy.

• Record data to support the monitoring of incidents and issues

• Produce monthly reports which detail statistics on key issues of importance to 4Front members

• Support the wider team to streamline reports into the system when concerns or incidents are raised through our community services

BUILDING AWARENESS & DEVELOPING THE SERVICE

• Lead on the development of relevant information and resources to ensure members and their families understand, process and are aware of their rights

• Work closely with members to involve them in service design, delivery and evaluation ensuring that their voices are heard

• Support members and their families to understand the policies, processes, and procedures that impact them

• Support members and their families to understand legal processes, legal rights and entitlements (understanding conditions and ramifications, necessary appearances, roles of each agency)

You will also provide cover on occasion and undertake any other duties that may reasonably be requested of you outside of this role description.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL

• First-hand experiences of the issues we address through our work
• An understanding of social justice issues, systemic inequality and injustice, including the impact of the criminal justice system on marginalised communities
• An understanding of safeguarding and child protection frameworks
• Experience supporting people who identify as Black British, African, Caribbean and Mixed Heritage and a thorough understanding of the specific issues that affect these communities
• Proven experience of managing and processing complex information and documents
• Excellent teamwork skills and experience of supporting and motivating others
• Experience of working robustly within challenging and unpredictable environments as well as effectively managing change

DESIRABLE

• A law degree or other legal qualifications
• Experience supporting young people that have experienced injustice, inequality and other disadvantage
• Experience of working in an organisation which promotes the rights of vulnerable communities with multiple disadvantages
• Experience advocating on behalf of young people who have experienced injustice, inequality and disadvantage
• Experience liaising with legal services, criminal justice agencies, statutory services and other institutions
• Experience of monitoring and evaluation systems to collect data and measure impact
• A valid driving license and a car

HOW TO APPLY

THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS THURSDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2020 AT 12.00PM

We would like this position to start as soon as possible. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, so we encourage early applications. 

To apply for this position, please send:

1. A comprehensive and relevant CV

2. A supporting statement addressing the person specification 

3. And either:

• An essay answering the questions below (no longer than 750 words for each question). 

• A video of you addressing the questions below (no longer than 8 minutes in total).

1) What do the words ‘justice’, ‘peace’ and ‘freedom’ mean to you and how have these concepts impacted your view of the world? 

2) What are your top three priorities for building equity in our society and how would you go about it?

3) What does empowerment mean to you and how do you feel it can be incorporated as a principle in your work?

This will be reviewed by 4Front Members, Staff and Trustees.

There is a 3-stage selection process:

1.  An initial video interview (30 mins)

2. An interactive in person interview with 4Front Members and Staff (including a preparation task)

3. A final round interview with the Board of Trustees.

We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate against candidates who may have previous convictions. We will also make reasonable adjustments for employees that may have access requirements.

Please ensure you quote the job reference number in the subject line of your email.