Head of the Asylum, Protection and Future System Policy Unit
Government Recruitment Service | Sheffield | findajob.dwp.gov.uk |
The Role
The Asylum, Protection and Enforcement Directorate (APED) is an inclusive and friendly directorate, with a challenging and varied portfolio, incorporating asylum, removals, criminality and detention, compliant environment as well as the New Plan for Immigration.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead passionate and committed teams coming together as a new unit as part of One Home Office blueprint changes. It is also trailing a new way of working by having two Heads of Unit roles overseeing a larger policy portfolio.
This is a crucial time for the unit given the current challenges in this space and the significant parliamentary and media focus on asylum and ongoing reforms. This issue is subject to considerable public and Parliamentary scrutiny. The work is complex, high-profile, fast-paced and rewarding, offering the potential to make a real difference to the asylum system as well as the lives of asylum seekers and refugees.
The role also requires close working with a wide range of external partners and other government departments as well as other policy areas, legal and operational teams.
Key responsibilities include:
Capacity across Asylum and Protection policy is being broadened to respond to the current and anticipated challenges currently facing the asylum system. The coherence of the end-to-end asylum system and its ability to function smoothly is as central to the Government’s approach to illegal migration and is critical to meeting our international obligations.
The post-holder will work alongside the current full-time head of the Asylum and Protection Unit in having responsibility for the corporate oversight of the unit. They will also have separate areas of responsibility across the portfolio currently focussed on caseworking efficiency, accommodation provision and the development of the future asylum system and international strategy.
The post holder will be responsible for an exciting agenda and to be successful, will require good strategic thinking, a flair for innovative policy development, a good grip on detail, including having knowledge of the asylum system, evidence of strong leadership and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
However, it is also demanding and will require a high degree of resilience.
Asylum system
• Implement ministerial vision for transforming the asylum system.
• Lead development of a comprehensive package of reform for both adults and unaccompanied minors, to be introduced in legislation, Immigration Rules and guidance, to increase the fairness and efficacy of the asylum system so that it better protects and supports those in genuine need.
• Set a clear vision for how legislative reforms to asylum fit within broader policy on safe and legal routes, returns and third country processing.
• Working with operational colleagues to ensure decision making complies with policy framework.
• Ensure statutory responsibilities for unaccompanied asylum seeking children are met.
• Oversight of a significant amount of litigation at various stages in the judicial system, including at the Supreme Court.
Transformation
• Contribute to strategy for the future asylum system in accordance with ministerial vision, including with specific regard to:
• Asylum accommodation strategy – supporting the reduction in using hotels and building a policy framework to ensure alternative accommodation options can be used.
• Asylum decision-making system capacity, capability and transformation, including digitisation where efficient to do so.
• Oversee development and implementation of options to improve the removal and return of those with no right to be in the UK.
• Lead system reform for the framework for deciding and accommodating unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
• Engage in the debate over the evolution of relevant international frameworks impacting on asylum.
The Asylum, Protection and Enforcement Directorate (APED) is an inclusive and friendly directorate, with a challenging and varied portfolio, incorporating asylum, removals, criminality and detention, compliant environment as well as the New Plan for Immigration.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead passionate and committed teams coming together as a new unit as part of One Home Office blueprint changes. It is also trailing a new way of working by having two Heads of Unit roles overseeing a larger policy portfolio.
This is a crucial time for the unit given the current challenges in this space and the significant parliamentary and media focus on asylum and ongoing reforms. This issue is subject to considerable public and Parliamentary scrutiny. The work is complex, high-profile, fast-paced and rewarding, offering the potential to make a real difference to the asylum system as well as the lives of asylum seekers and refugees.
The role also requires close working with a wide range of external partners and other government departments as well as other policy areas, legal and operational teams.
Key responsibilities include:
Capacity across Asylum and Protection policy is being broadened to respond to the current and anticipated challenges currently facing the asylum system. The coherence of the end-to-end asylum system and its ability to function smoothly is as central to the Government’s approach to illegal migration and is critical to meeting our international obligations.
The post-holder will work alongside the current full-time head of the Asylum and Protection Unit in having responsibility for the corporate oversight of the unit. They will also have separate areas of responsibility across the portfolio currently focussed on caseworking efficiency, accommodation provision and the development of the future asylum system and international strategy.
The post holder will be responsible for an exciting agenda and to be successful, will require good strategic thinking, a flair for innovative policy development, a good grip on detail, including having knowledge of the asylum system, evidence of strong leadership and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
However, it is also demanding and will require a high degree of resilience.
Asylum system
• Implement ministerial vision for transforming the asylum system.
• Lead development of a comprehensive package of reform for both adults and unaccompanied minors, to be introduced in legislation, Immigration Rules and guidance, to increase the fairness and efficacy of the asylum system so that it better protects and supports those in genuine need.
• Set a clear vision for how legislative reforms to asylum fit within broader policy on safe and legal routes, returns and third country processing.
• Working with operational colleagues to ensure decision making complies with policy framework.
• Ensure statutory responsibilities for unaccompanied asylum seeking children are met.
• Oversight of a significant amount of litigation at various stages in the judicial system, including at the Supreme Court.
Transformation
• Contribute to strategy for the future asylum system in accordance with ministerial vision, including with specific regard to:
• Asylum accommodation strategy – supporting the reduction in using hotels and building a policy framework to ensure alternative accommodation options can be used.
• Asylum decision-making system capacity, capability and transformation, including digitisation where efficient to do so.
• Oversee development and implementation of options to improve the removal and return of those with no right to be in the UK.
• Lead system reform for the framework for deciding and accommodating unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
• Engage in the debate over the evolution of relevant international frameworks impacting on asylum.
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