Member - Volunteers needed on Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) at Heathrow Airport and London City Airport Short Term Holding Facilities.
- Body
- Independent Monitoring Board (IMB)
- Appointing Department
- Ministry of Justice
- Sectors
- Judicial, Prison & Policing, Prison & Policing, Regulation
- Location
- London Heathrow Airport, UB3 5EY (main area of work); London City Airport, E16 2PB; Eaton House, TW4 5DL (for occasional rota visits); Becket House, SE1 3QU.
- Skills required
- Regulation
- Number of Vacancies
- up to 4 vacancies
- Remuneration
- Unremunerated though reasonable expenses will be re-imbursed
- Time Requirements
- Approx. 2 to 3 visits per month although this may be slightly higher during the first year of training and this can be flexible depending on the needs of the Board and the individual. Members will also be expected to attend a monthly Board Meeting held in the early evening in Central London – Flexibility using Zoom is possible.
- Closing Date
- 20/06/2021 0000
- Interviews
- 14th July 2021 onwards (We regret that we cannot reimburse expenses incurred in attending familiarisation visits or interviews). Please note that some of our recruitment practices may be adapted in light of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, tours may not be available, and interviews may take place via ZOOM. As part of the recruitment process you will be informed about any local arrangements in place to adapt recruitment processes in light of COVID-19.
Vacancy Description
We are currently looking for new volunteers to join the IMB London Heathrow and City Airports board to help to ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained for those detained in Holding Rooms in the airports and reporting centres
Person Specification
Applicants do not need any special qualifications or experience as we will provide all necessary training and support; however, you will need to undertake Counter Terrorism Checks (CTC) if successful. Candidates need to be over 18 years of age and live within approx. 25 miles of Heathrow Airport. It would be advantageous if you can also travel to London City Airport and at least one of the reporting centres. You need to be enthusiastic, open minded, possess effective communication skills and have the ability to exercise sound, objective judgement. You will also need to be aware that some of the people you talk to at the airport will be extremely distressed and unhappy that they cannot stay in the United Kingdom.
Additional Information
The role of this IMB is to monitor and report on the welfare of people in immigration custody anywhere within these airports, through observation of their treatment and of the premises in which they are held. You will also monitor the welfare of people being removed from the country through the airports and in custody in two London immigration reporting centres: Becket House and Eaton House. New Board Members will join existing Members of the Board, spending time each month visiting the airports, talking to detainees and airport staff. Inside every Detention Facility there is an IMB – a group of ordinary members of the public doing an extraordinary job. IMB members are independent, unpaid and work an average of 3 days per month depending on the needs of the Board and the individual. Members are the eyes and ears of Ministers and monitor the day-to-day life in Detention Facilities to ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained. Your background can be as a student, a person of working age or retired. We welcome applications from people over 18 and are particularly keen to hear from those of working age and individuals from black and minority ethnic communities, since these groups are under-represented on the existing Boards. The role is about ensuring standards of fairness and decency and is always rewarding, educational and challenging. Please click on www.imb.org.uk to find out how being an IMB Member can benefit you. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZla8-O_qH8 and view the short film ‘Joining the Independent Monitoring Board’ and hear current IMB Members talking about their role.
How to Apply
Applicants can find further information and apply online via the IMB website https://www.imb.org.uk/join-now/current-vacancies/ In exceptional circumstances a paper copy of the application may be possible applicants should contact imb@justice.gov.uk in the first instance. 1107/London Heathrow and City Airports STHF/2021 (to be quoted in all correspondence and on application form)