Simon Dawson Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

After a restructure and staffing changes, I assumed managerial responsibility for the Youth programme: Advice Service, Youth Club and Youth Activities.Still acting as designated Safeguarding Lead and maintain the same responsibilities as the previous role.

Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

We secured funding for outreach services and then recruited a dedicated coordinator to manage that part of the programme. Currently, I am overseeing the Adult & Family Advice service within the office and leading a team of safeguarding officers.Office-Based Advice Service:As the overseer of the advice service, I ensure the smooth operation of daily activities within the office. This includes managing volunteer schedules, handling complex cases, and ensuring that clients receive timely and accurate advice.My role involves maintaining high service standards, monitoring casework, and ensuring compliance with organizational policies and procedures.Leadership of Safeguarding Officers:Leading a team of safeguarding officers, I provide guidance and support to ensure the safety and well-being of our clients, especially those who are vulnerable or at risk.This includes regular training sessions, case reviews, and developing safeguarding policies. I also ensure that all team members are up-to-date with current safeguarding practices and legal requirements.Additionally, I coordinate with other services and agencies to handle safeguarding concerns promptly and effectively, ensuring a collaborative approach to protecting our clients.By managing these aspects, I aim to create a supportive and effective environment for both clients and volunteers, ensuring that our services are comprehensive, high-quality, and responsive to the needs of those we serve.I am also responsible for ensuring our policies are up-to-date.Managing hardship fund:Oversight of AW’s hardship fund from various donors, ensuring compliance with the rules of each fund and making sure service users are receiving financial support during a critical time.

Oxford, England, United Kingdom

• Designated Safeguarding Lead – leading a team of safeguarding officers serving an organisation covering 3100 service users, 30 staff and 225 volunteers, 13 projects, programmes, and services (for more info please read annual review here)• Updating safeguarding policies. Organising and delivering training to new staff and volunteers. Checking compliance with safeguarding policies and procedures. Conducting safeguarding review meetings. • Conducting investigations into safeguarding incidents.• Coordinated advice and casework delivery to approximately 1000 refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable migrants.• Managing drop-in outreach clinics in centres close to 3 asylum hotels and managed outreach casework in asylum accommodation countywide.• Managing a team of three staff caseworkers, 25 volunteers and a budget of £265K.• Organisational lead on an innovative No Recourse to Public funds (NRPF) partnership housing project in partnership with Connections Support, Aspire, Soho Housing, Edge Housing, under Oxfordshire Homeless Movement. Find out more here• Responsible for casework delivery for Oxford City Councils Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme families, particularly, but not exclusively, renewing protection status.• Managing AW’s Refugee Rights Budget of £57K comprising of a hardship fund and destitution fund in partnership with British Red Cross.• In a working group to deliver a new casework management system.

Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

Support volunteers: Facilitate a friendly, high-quality advice service for asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants needing protection, ensuring tangible outcomes. Manage daily service operations and maintain clear, written documentation of service goals, activities, and achievements.Foster relationships: Promote trust, effective communication, and understanding between clients and volunteers.Manage budget: Oversee a small budget for service activities, including the allocation, distribution, and recording of small payments to alleviate destitution.Ensure accurate records: Guide volunteers in maintaining accurate records for ongoing casework, generating simple statistics and case studies. Monitor service quality, produce regular reports for funders and trustees, and recommend improvements.Coordinate with Volunteer Coordinator: to recruit suitable volunteers. Supervise and support both new and existing volunteers, addressing their development needs through recommended training.OISC registration support: Collaborate with Front-line Services staff to assist volunteers in becoming registered with OISC when appropriate.Provide information: Ensure volunteers and clients have access to up-to-date, written information on relevant topics. Establish clear procedures to guide volunteer work and ensure compliance.Facilitate communication: Support communication among volunteers by planning, organizing, and holding meetings.Expertise and training: Serve as an expert on relevant policy and practice, conducting regular training sessions.Build partnerships: Develop productive relationships with voluntary, statutory, and private organizations that support asylum seekers and refugees. This includes the Home Office, Asylum Help, legal professionals, health services, and local housing and social care authorities.External representation: Represent the organization at external meetings to advocate for and advance the interests of the service and its clients.

High Wycombe, England, United Kingdom

In my previous role, I was responsible for coordinating casework across two service delivery points located in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. I worked with asylum seekers, refugees, and vulnerable migrants, providing support and assistance to those in need.As part of a five-year Big Lottery-funded project called Routes to Resilience, I collaborated with Sanctuary Hosting, an emergency accommodation provider, and Citizen's Advice Reading, delivering Level 2 immigration advice to our clients.Additionally, I played a key role in managing destitution partnership work with other organisations throughout the region. This included working with various stakeholders to identify and address the needs of vulnerable populations facing destitution.

Woodstock, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

While studying a Masters and volunteering in the refugee and asylum sector (see voluntary experience)

Oxford, United Kingdom

Master Of Arts - Ma, International Political Economy, With Merit

Activities and Societies: Modules included and interests: - Applied Statistics - Politics of Global Finance - Global food systems - IPE.

Bachelor Of Arts - Social & Political Studies, First Class Honours

Activities and Societies: Winner Henry Smith Prize - awarded on the basis of the applicant's excellent work in economics and an essay.

National Diploma, Public Services

Activities and Societies: Modules include: Major crises and incidents, citizenship, understanding the public sector, law and legal.

Asylum & Protection Level 2 Accreditation, Immigration Accreditation

Asylum & Protection Level 1 Accreditation, Immigration Accreditation

Online Non-Credit Course (Coursera), Global Diplomacy – Diplomacy In The Modern World