CONSTITUENCY ASSISTANT WANTED FOR
JULIA LOPEZ MP
Member of Parliament, Hornchurch & Upminster
Starting Salary - £23 000 - 25 000 p.a. depending on experience
Hours - Full-time but potential for part-time or flexi-hours for the right candidate
Location – Hall Lane, Upminster (parking available but also near to public transport) Occasional work in Westminster.
Julia Lopez MP is looking for a constituency assistant/caseworker to join her busy new constituency office in Upminster.
Acting as the first port of call for all enquiries into the office, you will be a valued member of a close-knit team and play a critical role in providing helpful advice on and active solutions to our constituents’ concerns. The successful candidate will need to build strong, positive relationships with key local stakeholders such as Havering Council, Queen’s Hospital and schools, as well as community groups and businesses.
The applicant must also be keen to get out into the constituency to raise the profile of our work and ensure constituents are aware of what an MP can do for them. The successful candidate will be required to engage fully in local news and pinpoint where campaigns are required in the constituency. They will also be confident at organising events and meetings, including surgeries.
The new team member will require organisation, efficiency, initiative and a desire to help people and make a positive contribution to the community. Discretion is of the utmost importance and strong written English is a must.
Experience in politics or casework is not essential. Being friendly, switched-on, kind, approachable and professional is. We are prepared to train someone who shows an enthusiasm to join in and become a loyal member of the team. We are happy to be flexible with work hours and the position could suit someone looking to get back to work within school hours. Induction will take place in Westminster and Upminster.
Please email your CV and a one-page covering letter outlining why you are interested in the role and what skills you can bring to the team to Joanna Thomas – jo.thomas@parliament.uk
Key Responsibilities
• Attend surgeries and other meetings to assist Julia and the team in dealing with constituents’ issues. Cases tends to include housing, health, tax, immigration and policing concerns.
• Deal with daily queries from members of the public by phone, email, letter or in person, taking the appropriate initial action to resolve, document or escalate their concerns or enquiries.
• Manage own caseload and progress of casework, ensuring all cases are logged, updated with any actions taken and outstanding queries are followed up.
• Assist with the work of other colleagues if and when required, and keep Julia informed of important cases and upcoming local issues.
Upon appointment, we will likely apply for a parliamentary pass to allow the new team member to work on occasion from our Westminster office. To secure a pass, the successful candidate will be required to comply with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, undertaken by the Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO). See Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO) page for further info.
