Recruitment

Ellie Chowns MP is recruiting a part-time Caseworker or Senior Caseworker to further support her constituency work as the Green Party MP for North Herefordshire. To apply for this role, please send your CV (max 2 pages), together with a covering letter (max 2 pages) outlining how your skills and experience match the person specification, to ellie.chowns.mp@parliament.uk by 23:59 on Weds 13th November. Please specify ‘Caseworker Application’ in the subject line.

  • We are looking for an experienced Caseworker or Senior Caseworker to be part of Ellie Chowns MP’s constituency team with responsibility for managing a busy case load.
  • You will need excellent organisational and communication skills, the ability to be flexible and calm under pressure, and a strong understanding of the main issues facing constituents in North Herefordshire.
  • We actively encourage people from ethnic minorities and with disabilities to apply.
  • This post is fixed term until the end of the current Parliament, and is either 0.5 or 0.6 FTE (18.75 – 22.5 hours per week). We are open to flexible working. Some evening working and travel may be required.
  • The post is based in the constituency.

 

JOB TITLE Caseworker (CW) or Senior Caseworker (SCW) for Ellie Chowns MP
SALARY £30,000 (CW) or £35,000 (SCW) FTE; FT is 37.5 hours per week
HOURS 18.75 – 22.5 per week (0.5 – 0.6 FTE)
LOCATION North Herefordshire; office based at least some of the time

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (CASEWORKER)

  1. Assist surgeries and other meetings and follow up as appropriate.
  2. Attend constituency meetings as appropriate.
  3. 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. Ongoing communication may be required.
  4. Draft responses to constituents.
  5. Work with others on the team to schedule, arrange and publicise MP surgeries.
  6. Proactively progress cases and keep constituents informed.
  7. Ensure that each case is dealt with promptly, sensitively, confidentially and accurately.
  8. Gather relevant information to assist with resolving cases.
  9. Log all cases; monitor progress and ensure all identified actions are taken.
  10. Ensure records are kept and information managed confidentially in line with data protection legislation.
  11. There may be a requirement for the role holder to work outside of the normal working hours and travel for work occasionally.
  12. Undertake any other tasks that the MP requires to help them fulfill their responsibilities.

 

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES (SENIOR CASEWORKER):

  1. Critically analyse patterns of enquiries and articulate the findings in reports and communication with the MP and other staff members.
  2. Write and sign off responses to constituents.
  3. Lead the scheduling, arranging and publicising of MP surgeries.
  4. Liaise with government agencies, voluntary sector, and others to resolve constituency matters.
  5. Develop knowledge in specialist areas.
  6. Supervise other members of staff, including coaching and mentoring.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION (CASEWORKER)

  1. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  2. Excellent time management and organisational skills, including the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
  3. Ability to manage own workload and prioritise well.
  4. Ability to deal with issues in a confidential and sensitive manner.
  5. Works effectively in a small team.
  6. Previous experience of working in a case work or similar capacity.
  7. Political sensitivity and good understanding of the local context.
  8. Confident and competent using IT, including casework management software.
  9. A commitment to green values and social justice.
  10. Not a member of any other political party.

 

ADDITIONAL PERSON SPECIFICATION (SENIOR CASEWORKER):

  1. Ability to manage others’ workloads and prioritise well.
  2. Experience of managing staff or volunteers.

 

Please note that the employer for this role is the Independent Parliamentary Standards Association (IPSA) and not the Green Party of England and Wales.

Upon appointment you will be required to comply with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, undertaken by the Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO).

If you have any queries about the position, please contact ellie.chowns.mp@parliament.uk.