Safe Space Network Volunteer Representative

About the Organisation

The Safe Space Network is a department within the Community Harm and Exploitation Hub in Southwark. The Network’s aim is to provide a holistic information, advice and support service to young people; with a focus on promoting anti-violence and contributing to the strategies addressing the symptoms of serious youth violence within the Borough. One part of this work is to provide an impartial and independent advocacy service to young people and their families, advising them through the exclusion appeal process.

About the Role

A core part of the volunteering will involve students undertaking training as ‘Volunteer Representatives’ (VR) which will enable them to carry out their functions as a VR. Students will work on cases in pairs.
During the course of the programme, students will:

• Attend SSN Advocacy Training Day on 31 October 2020, 10am-4pm 
• Receive additional advocacy training by qualified Education Solicitor 
• Learn about the school exclusion appeal procedure, the process of advising on school exclusions and challenging it.
• Advise and represent parents whose child(ren) are at risk of permanent exclusion from school.
• Advise and represent parents whose child(ren) have been excluded from school.
• Draft written arguments (centrally based on judicial review principles) with the aim of delivering those arguments at Governors Disciplinary Committee meetings and Independent Review Panel hearings.
• Take part in school exclusion reintegration meetings, assisting with facilitating negotiations with schools to obtain fair, practical and workable plans and outcomes for the child or young person.
• Obtain supervision from experienced advocates with expertise in exclusions, SEND, and social capital.
• Be responsible for their own cases, from beginning to end, managing caseload, time management, and other commitments.

Areas of Law Covered

• Public law
  Education law

Venue for Volunteer Work

VR work will largely be carried out remotely, unless otherwise stated. Representatives will often have access to SSN’s office in order to conference with parents in a safe and confidential environment.

Skills Gained

Student will gain the following non-exhaustive skills during the placement:

• Advocacy (Written and Oral).
• Conferencing.
• Drafting
• Legal research.
• Negotiation.
• Mediation.
• Develop skills as a reflective practitioner.

Training and Supervision Provided: 

SSN holds a one-day training session for placement students.  The training will be held virtually and will take place on 31 October 10am-4pm.

Please note the training is a full day and is compulsory to undertake the placement.  

Students will also be asked to undertake Advocacy Training provided by the Centre for Access to Justice. The training will either be one two-hour session or two one-hour sessions. This training will take place in Early November. 

During the placement, students will have access to support from SSN staff as well as relevant resources. 

Students will also be asked to watch a series of short skills based training videos provided by the Centre for Access to Justice prior to beginning their placement. 

Time and Student Commitment: 

Upon signing up to the placement, SSN takes this as a commitment by students to
undertake the following:

1. Commit to the programme for minimum 3-6 months.
2. Commit 4 – 6 hours per week on preparing case work.
3. Commit to completing the compulsory feedback form of their time at SSN.
4. Commit to writing a written reflection (600-1000 words) detailing their experience, casework examples (anonymised), skills gained, and impact they had whilst undertaking volunteering.

Please note that the nature of casework fluctuates and there may be weeks when more time is required, particularly when there is an upcoming hearing, and other weeks when less time is required. There will be some flexibility in when students can pick up cases. 

Eligibility 

This opportunity is open to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year LLB students as well as LLM students. 

There are 15 places available. 

How to Apply

To apply please complete the online application form. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend a short virtual interview with CAJ and SSN staff. 

The deadline to apply is  Wednesday 14 October, 5pm

Shortlisting will take place the w/c 12 October 2020. Interviews will take place in the w/c 19th October. Successful candidates will be notified at the beginning of w/c 26th October. 

For questions about the role or application process, please contact Shiva at s.riahi@ucl.ac.uk