Interview Questions Flashcards
What do you know about our organisation and the populations it serves?
Detention Action is a charity dedicated to supporting people in detention and campaigning for detention reform.
This includes a team of caseworkers and volunteers advocating for and offering legal information, and practical and emotional support to people in detention, inc. migrants, asylum seekers, victims of trafficking.
By monitoring what is happening on the ground, Detention Action are able to use their expertise to campaign for policy and law reform.
For example, by challenging systemic injustices in the courts, DA successfully ended the Detainee Fasttrack System which significantly inhibited access to asylum
Or more recently, addressing the impact of detention on families and children through the Families For Justice campaign group and Separated Families Report or the best interest case against the Home Office.
Tell us about yourself
I am currently completing my Masters in Law and I graduated in History and International Relations at LSE last year, throughout my degrees I’ve paid particular attention to the rights of minorities - Muslim and black people and women
As i’ve addressed colonialism and systemic injustice in my studies i’ve also gained a passion for creating positive change and is why I have gravitated toward the charity sector.
I have a wide range of experience in charity, from my advocacy and support role at DA to leadership roles in my my family run charity beethere where we deliver aid for the homeless in the UK and in Pakistan and in co-founding my feminist organisation ‘Sisterhood’ which is focused on addressing intersectionality within the women’s movement.
To my campaigning and fundraising role as a donor care advisor where I pitch information about ongoing humanitarian crises and the projects the NGO implements across the world.
To undertaking an administrative role, applying and submitting reports to the charity commission and recording fundraising statistics on excel.
I have aspirations as an immigration or public lawyer and to gain more experience in the charity sector and on the ground would provide invaluable foundations for me to progress in my future career.
Why are you right for the role of casework coordinator, what skills and experience do you have?
My Experience as a support and advocacy volunteer at DA:
I have been a dedicated support and advocacy volunteer for nearly two years now, I’ve been able to deliver effective emotional and practical support throughout changing and unprecedented circumstances. The pandemic posed a huge challenge to the mental health and wellbeing of our clients: an even more strained healthcare service, an end to face to face visitation, long periods of isolation in an already isolating and hostile detention environment.
I was able to progress cases in a positive way despite these barriers, and comfort clients emotionally while maintaining a professional boundary.
For example, where a client was reluctant to take positive steps in his case, I was the one who built trust with him and gained the permission needed to make a legal referral, where other members of the casework team could not.
I am currently the most experienced volunteer, and I have dealt with a wide range of cases from flagging trafficking indicators, to recognising the type of accommodation application is relevant, to initiating safeguarding measures where a client seems to be in danger to himself or others, to legal and organisational referrals in the UK and outside of the UK.
I am now ready to monitor casework and maintain client relationships in a full time capacity and expand my responsibilities and develop my expertise further, take a lead in developing casework.
My legal background will enhance the role of casework coordinator:
I’m currently completing my MA in Law and I feel as if there is room on the casework team for someone to focus on legal referrals and ensuring clients are taking the correct steps in accessing their rights.
Especially with the Nationality and Borders bill coming into place there is less time and more pressure when taking legal action, which is the determinant part in helping our clients.
In the PLP JR Training, a point that stood out to me was the cruciality of a correct and full paper trail when representing a client to a judge, especially for late notice appeals or where there are imminent removal directions in place.
This is something I could potentially develop a specialist lead in.
As a vol, i’ve prioritised acquiring authorisation forms and asking for MPR’s ahead of time, PO form needed after finally getting hold of them on the phone, get details from client, needed this info to relay to sol for bail case.
Why do you want to work at Detention Action (why are you the best fit) ?
I’m passionate about minority rights and experiences:
What I respect about DA is their inclusion of the experiences of people in detention and the people the hostile environment affects by including the voices of people in the FFJ / AFJ campaign. Without the subjectivity of minorities and asylum seekers you can’t create the right change for them and you can’t represent them effectively.
I’m particularly passionate about this, it’s the reason I chose to write a dissertation addressing Muslim women, because an overwhelming amount of research into issues affecting BaME people is written by white people, how can someone outside of my lived experience accurately represent me and more importantly offer solutions to struggles I face without understanding the complexities and nuance of my identity and my experience.
My understanding of subjectivity is certainly something I can offer DA, most of our clients are ethnic minorities and it is important to understand their position and context to represent them in the right way.
For example, in my job at Human Appeal I’m able to raise awareness about the crises in Palestine in an accurate and effective way to donors because I’ve spoken to a colleague from Gaza who has lived through the conflict and blockade.
Equally, Detention Action is a part of a network of charitable organisations and law firms who actively challenge the law and introduce reform. This is something I have ambitions in and DA offers me the opportunity to gather evidence and contribute towards systemic judicial review cases.
For example, I’ve played an active role in the Best Interest case and am interested in Detention Action’s call for a more holistic approach to the legal system to approach nuanced cases such as where family, criminal, and immigration law intersect.
I’ve also referred a mother of a client to FFJ and had a meaningful conversation with her, and after reading the report I really want to take more of an active role in this side of DA too.
I would love to have a role in monitoring casework and recognising potential areas for judicial challenge.
How does your professional mission or goal connect with the work this agency performs?
At DA, I have learned that many solicitors and professionals are desensitised and distanced from the lived experiences of people in detention, as someone who has aspirations to be an immigration lawyer being a caseworker for DA can offer me the foundations and expertise from the ground to become an empathetic and skilled solicitor. I want to maintain that human element when advocating for clients and the role of casework coordinator will be the most valuable way to enter the sector.
Equally, Detention Action is a part of a network of charitable organisations and law firms who actively challenge the law and introduce reform. This is something I have ambitions in and DA offers me the opportunity to gather evidence and contribute towards systemic judicial review cases.
For example, I’ve played an active role in the Best Interest case and am interested in Detention Action’s call for a more holistic approach to the legal system to approach nuanced cases such as where family, criminal, and immigration law intersect.
I’ve also referred a mother of a client to FFJ and had a meaningful conversation with her, and after reading the report I really want to take more of an active role in this side of DA too.
I would love to have a role in monitoring casework and recognising potential areas for judicial challenge.
How do your interpersonal qualities and ability to communicate with others support your effectiveness as a caseworker?
How do you approach Sensitive Situations?
As a caseworker it is important to offer a voice of guidance and neutrality, in my role as a volunteer I have found my diplomatic approach useful in establishing effective communication. Many people in detention are understandably suspicious and alarmed when it comes to immigration authorities. By discussing a client’s situation in a non-combative or hostile way I have been able to gain their trust and gain permission to refer their case to solicitors where there was reluctance to do so. / build a rapport
My ability to adapt to arising circumstances on the phone has allowed me to make progress on cases despite difficulties. This is important as vulnerable clients can become distressed when discussing their case. For instance, when a client became aggravated and frustrated as I asked him questions about his legal position, I persisted but also was aware of his emotional and erratic mental state. I spoke to an officer about providing a solicitors form and acted on what I could, prioritising the client for the next task.
Can you describe a case where you had to set boundaries?
What aspects of the groups you work with do you find the most challenging?
Working with clients whose situation just doesn’t seem to be improving and witnessing their spiralling mental state can take a toll. For example, after talking with a client in a particularly difficult situation for a long period of time, repetitive hearings, case had very low merit, multiple failed referrals.
I began to feel anxious about talking to them. I felt like I was letting the client down but after discussing this at wrap-up, it was clear that signposting this issue was important for both me and the client, and having some space caused no detriment.
I built a rapport with a client on my caseload and we would regularly talk about our shared interests and he would give me advice as a young person. And he did begin to ask personal questions and this developed into wanting to meet up with me in real life and so on, in this case I had to let him know that I can only talk to him in a professional capacity and that some of his questions weren’t appropriate. I didn’t want to offend him or come across disingenuous but it was more important to make those boundaries clear.
How has your experience or education in social work prepared you for this job?
Communicating and building professional relationships with vulnerable clients.
For example, I’ve learned to speak and listen to people suffering with mental health from a relational perspective. I know how to navigate comforting clients and motivating them without offering false expectations. E.g. offering practical steps for a client whose case had very low merit but not guaranteeing referrals would be successful.
Understanding the immigration system in practice. E.g. the reality of not having access to solicitors, unsatisfactory treatment in detention - access to healthcare, insensitivity of Rule35, Reluctant professionals - PO’s w/ ill communication - not proactive in solving accommodation issues, flagging causes for action i.e. trafficking indicators.
Speaking with a wide range of stakeholders on the phone and through email my role as a donor care advisor at human appeal has allowed me to become adept at objection handling in a way that keeps clients on side, this has translated to speaking with professionals at DA.
I’ve come across professionals who are initially reluctant to speak to me but have introduced myself and explained the situation in a way which gets them onside and most of the time I’m able to successfully communicate with them.
Equally, in both roles I have to speak to people of different backgrounds and communicate in a way that is clear and easy to understand, for example I regularly interact with clients across language barriers and successfully communicate my message.
Can you describe a time when you succeeded at helping a client overcome a challenge?
Describe a time where you have resolved a conflict?
Describe a time where you went above and beyond?
Tell us about a time when you were involved in the decision-making process that, without your intervention, a project might have failed or had a less good result?
During my time as a donor care advisor at Human Appeal I have dealt with varying customer complaints, and often this can be a sensitive matter as many donors give charity on behalf of a loved one or to fulfil a religious obligation.
There was an instance where a project hadn’t been implemented within the time period promised and the donor was very upset, she initially wanted a full refund and had lost faith in our charity.
I was able to relate to her concerns and offer my assistance by taking proactive steps to talk to my team leader and the programmes team and speed up the process. I committed to ensuring evidence of her donation was sent to her prior to the usual report we send out to build that trust up again.
Can you share an example of when you had to read between the lines to assess an individual’s true needs?
Describe a time where you handled a disagreement?
Where a client was claiming his documentation was false and was afraid of what his home country would do to him if they believed the accusations, he didn’t want to do a legal referral, I had to ascertain that this person was obviously afraid of judgement and spoke to him in a reassuring and validating away in order to gain his permission to refer and to progress his case in a positive way.
As a volunteer, I have learned to pick up on indicators and be perceptive of a client’s situation in order to help them effectively.
For example, when I took a new referral I instantly questioned the client’s drug charge and asked follow up questions such as how he entered the country and whether he was ever forced to do anything. He said yes, and this was an obvious trafficking indicator. Because of this we were able to progress referrals quicker and ascertain whether he was in the NRM.
Ability to monitor practical, legal, policy changes relevant to people in Detention?
As a volunteer, I’m aware of an increasingly hostile environment as the nationality and borders bill comes into place which will be stripping appeal rights, introducing a ‘one stop process’ similar to the DTF. Recently, we’ve seen the premature impact of this with the rising number of DAC cases.
After studying EU law, I understand how freedom of movement and deportation rules previously worked and how the UK has substantially decreased the threshold for deportation with people with only 1+ years sentence automatically at risk of deportation.
Describe a time where you worked as a team?
As a volunteer, you’re constantly working as a team. Through the shared database I ensure clear notes and important details are left on the system. I think that is key to ensuring consistency and progress for our clients.
But also I have actively assisted other charities in the sector to facilitate our shared goals. For example, I am considerate of other organisations’ and firms’ capacity when making referrals and the impact of late referrals on organisations such as Hibiscus. I take this into account when speaking to clients and try to empower them to seek representation instead of promising to refer or if a client has an imminent removal signposting relevant organisations preemptively.
Where there is a pattern of behaviour, such as multiple clients testing positive for coronavirus I make sure to signpost this to a supervisor because I know charities sin the sector rely on shared information.
How do you work under pressure?
Describe a time where your skills have been tested?
I am very calm and composed under pressure, I attempt to act on what I have control over and seek advice when I’m in doubt.
As a volunteer, I’ve had to react to a client in a dangerous situation where they have indicated that they may harm themselves or others. In these situations I’ve been able to act quickly and calmly, speaking with the client to diffuse the situation while letting them know that I will have to break confidentiality. I promptly let a supervisor know about what’s happened and then went on to let a welfare officer know.
Describe a time where you managed a specific challenge and were proud of how you acted?
Describe a time where you have helped someone?
At the end of my tenancy, the agent refused to give back a large part of our deposit due to small wear and tear issues including false accusations of damage. I asserted my rights by taking matters to the DPS arbitration body and used evidence such as retail prices of bulbs, past emails, comparison photographs to challenge the agent and successfully did so. The charge was reduced from £500 to £65.
I used this experience, my legal knowledge, and my experience at DA to advocate for my friend who was living in a state of disrepair and the landlord was unresponsive. I created an email on her behalf asserting my friend’s housing rights to create a paper trail and informed her that she could contact the council to address the repairs.
The email worked to pressure the agents and the issues were addressed.
Strengths
Communicating with people of different backgrounds
For example, in both DA/Human Appeal I have successfully conveyed a message to clients and donors despite language barriers. I consider differing perspectives and identities for example when speaking with Muslim clients and donors I implement my own understanding to build Trust. I actively listen to clients and speak to them from a relational perspective.
Read between the lines and assess an individuals true needs
Where a client was claiming his documentation was false and was afraid of what his home country would do to him if they believed the accusations, he didn’t want to do a legal referral, I had to ascertain that this person was obviously afraid of judgement and fearful of his fate, I spoke to him in a reassuring and validating away in order to gain his permission to refer and to progress his case in a positive way.
Working under pressure
I remain calm and composed under pressure, working to act on what I have control over and seeking advice when in doubt.
For example, where client’s showed signs of being at harm to themselves or others I have quickly worked to diffuse the situation, letting them know that I may have to break confidentiality, letting a supervisor know before making contact with the welfare team.
Speaking with a wide range of stakeholders
on the phone and through email my role as a donor care advisor at human appeal has allowed me to become adept at objection handling in a way that keeps clients on side, this has translated to speaking with professionals at DA.
I’ve come across professionals who are initially reluctant to speak to me but have introduced myself and explained the situation in a way which gets them onside and most of the time I’m able to successfully communicate with them.
