Jobs in Drum Brae & Gyle, Edinburgh

About Scran Academy

Our Vision is a Scotland where every young person has access to their human right of an education that meets their needs, unlocks their aspirations, and enables a future with dignity.

We are on a mission to see every young person, regardless of background or barrier, realise their full potential in learning, work and life. Too many young people in our most challenged communities never realise their talents or aspirations due to the effects of social inequality and poverty. Scran Academy exists to change that.

We are a pioneering youth work catering charity, supporting young people facing barriers to success using the power of food, cooking and hospitality. We operate an innovative social enterprise model, utilising a busy food truck and two cafes in NHS sites across Edinburgh to support several relational education and employment programmes. Our approach is to use meaningful learning and work experiences in supportive real-life settings to empower young people to become leaders in their own lives..

About the Candidate

This is a role for people who are passionate about making transformative change in the lives of young people.

Scran Academy is in a phase of exciting growth. Our strategic priorities are to Scale Sustainably, develop Smarter Solutions and provide Support Sooner for young people in Edinburgh’s most challenged communities.

We are building towards an organisation that can support young people across every high school in Edinburgh, delivering reflexive, effective programmes that prevent crisis and create real opportunity.

We are looking for trustees who are energised by this ambition and ready to help lift Scran into its next phase. You will bring experience, perspective and strategic expertise, alongside a clear focus on the needs, potential and outcomes of the young people we support.

We are open to meeting prospective trustees with a broad range of experiences, but would be particularly interested in meeting people with experience in:

• Youth work and CLD delivery
• Charity law and governance, and financial oversight
• Strategic City of Edinburgh Council engagement
• Scaling a hospitality business
• Marketing, PR and communications

Role Purpose

The purpose of a Trustee at Scran Academy is to provide strategic oversight and sound judgement as the organisation grows in scale, reach and complexity.

Working with fellow trustees, office bearers and the leadership team, you will help ensure that Scran’s development remains focused, sustainable and aligned to its purpose.

This includes supporting the organisation to make robust decisions that enable expansion, strengthening its model and maintaining the quality and integrity of its work as it grows.

This role is critical to changing young people’s lives by supporting the delivery of Scran Academy’s Academy Programme, our structured, year-long alternative education provision for young people disengaged from mainstream schooling.

The programme takes an innovative blended approach, combining youth work, skills-building, accredited learning, and social enterprise work placements, supporting young people to re-engage with learning and progress to positive destinations.

About the Candidate

We are looking for an experienced and committed youth work or community education practitioner who is motivated by supporting young people to engage, learn and progress within a structured, year-long programme.

The successful candidate will be confident working with young people who may be ambivalent about education, attendance or authority, and comfortable working to routines, timetables and clear expectations. They will use youth work relationships to build trust, consistency and motivation, balancing warmth with appropriate challenge.

They will have a strong understanding of youth work principles, safeguarding and professional boundaries, and will work collaboratively as part of a strong, trusting team.

They will also share Scran Academy’s values, and be motivated by supporting young people to make positive change in their own lives.

Role Purpose

Working alongside the Academy Programme Lead, the Youth Development Worker will support the planning, preparation and delivery of the Academy Programme curriculum. The role combines group-based youth work, 121 developmental support and vocational learning, with a focus on engagement, progression, accreditation and positive outcomes for young people.

This role supports the delivery of Scran Academy’s Scransitions Employability Programme, a structured, multi-phase programme designed to support young people to progress towards work, education or training. Scransitions is uniquely youth-led – the programme is adaptable to the needs of each individual.

The postholder will be responsible for managing 121 relationships with a diverse range of inspiring young people, delivering personalised support across a structured, three-phase employability journey, including follow-on support post-programme. Working closely with the Scransitions Programme Lead, this role focuses on direct 121 support, helping young people to gain skills, confidence, and self-belief, and unlocking their aspirations toward a positive future.

About the Candidate

This role is suitable for an experienced youth work or CLD professional passionate about supporting young people to become leaders in their own lives.

We are looking for a skilled and compassionate youth work or employability practitioner with experience of intensive 121 support, who is confident working with young people facing multiple barriers to progression.

The successful candidate will be organised, resilient and relational, able to build trust and respect with young people, whilst prioritising a diversity of presenting needs. They will be confident working within clear programme phases, tracking progress and responding to risk, while maintaining strong professional boundaries.

They will also share Scran Academy’s values, and be motivated by supporting young people to make positive change in their own lives.

Role Purpose

The Scransitions Youth Development Worker will provide 121 employability-focused support to young people engaged in our employability programme. The role centres on building positive adult relationships with young people, supporting their personal development, addressing safeguarding concerns, promoting risk-reduction, and unlocking their aspirations for work and wider life.

This is a dynamic and exciting role supporting the delivery of our work across several projects. Working as part of a talented staff team, the Youth Development Chef will use their professional expertise to develop and deliver on our youth work catering enterprise. The role is suitable for an experienced catering professional who is looking for new horizons.

Our approach is all about creating environments in which young people feel supported enough to take agency and responsibility to find their own positive way forward. We are looking for someone who instinctively chimes with this approach and can run a professional kitchen environment which inspires young people to engage with food and cooking on their own terms.

In addition, the successful candidate will align with our values: We Love, We Trust, We Unite, We Lead.

They will be deeply passionate about maximising the potential of all young people and be ready to create a kitchen that supports and welcomes young people with diverse backgrounds and unmet needs.

Our Youth Development Chef will therefore be unconditionally compassionate, patient and non-judgemental.

Are you looking for a new challenge and an opportunity to shape the next phase of Ark’s ambitious strategy ?

Ark’s mission to create the best possible customer outcomes through our highly skilled people, the provision of high-quality affordable homes and excellent care will be achieved through creating inclusive communities where quality of housing and care enable people to thrive and live a good life.

Established in 1977 Ark provides 450 tenancies and supports over 400 people through our dedicated and highly skilled workforce of 700+ staff. We operate in 12 Local Authority areas in the North and East of Scotland, and we also have services in The Western Isles.

The Ark Group is made up of three companies:

1. Ark is a registered charity and registered social landlord (RSL) that provides housing and care and is the parent company within the group structure.

2. Ark Services Limited is a private company limited by guarantee and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ark.

3. Ark Commercial Investment Limited (ACIL) is a private limited share company and wholly owned subsidiary of Ark.

Although a housing association, the majority of Ark’s activity relates to the provision of care and support for people with long term and enduring conditions such as learning disability, mental health issues, dementia and autism. Our aim is to ensure that those who use our services receive the very best support from Ark to enable them to live a good life. For further information see Ark’s website: arkha.org.uk.

We currently have vacancies for Non-Executive Board members on both the main board as well as the group subsidiary board, at a very exciting time for Ark. We are about to launch a stakeholder engagement exercise across the business to consult on our new corporate strategy as well as celebrate our 50th anniversary. As a new Board Member, you will play a key part in developing and enabling the delivery of the strategy for the next 5-10 years and improving the governance framework to effectively monitor performance. This will be clearly focussed upon delivery of high-quality Housing and Care & Support services.

Ark Group Board

We are seeking 2-3 recruits to fill non-exec positions on Ark’s parent Board: Ark Housing Association.

This Board meets 6-7 times per year in a hybrid approach and will require some attendance face to face. We welcome applications from people with experience in Care & Support, Housing/Asset, Finance or Digital Improvement, and understanding of governance in an RSL would be an advantage, however not essential.

Ark Subsidiary Board

We are seeking to strengthen our governance by appointing non-executive directors to our Subsidiary Board and separate from the Ark Group Board to ensure independence. This Board is completely independent from the parent Board. Your role will be to serve both subsidiary companies with meetings being held consecutively, 4 times per year. This board meets on a remote basis and will be the perfect opportunity for people seeking their first Board role, with the opportunity for exposure to two very different businesses; one a commercial/private company and one a registered Charity. We will provide you with a full induction and an opportunity to be mentored by an experienced Board member and we do not expect you to have any previous board experience. Overall, we are looking for dynamic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic people from a variety of backgrounds to contribute to Ark’s emerging future.

Ark is a major provider of Housing, Care and Support to people with long term and enduring conditions such as learning disabilities, mental health issues, dementia and autism.

Ark supports people to live independently in their own homes providing everything from a few hours a week social and life admin support to 24/7 care supporting with personal care, medication, household tasks, attending appointments and leisure activities.

We have lots of opportunities across Scotland for our Support Worker roles. As we provide full training no previous is experience is required.

If you are enthusiastic about supporting people to live their best lives, then apply now to join our team!

Your main duties will include but not be limited to:

• Working with colleagues as part of an effective and efficient team to support vulnerable people.
• Communicate and work well with our supported people to provide individual care and maintain appropriate relationships.
• Being responsible in supporting individuals throughout the activities, giving positive feedback and encouragement.
• Updating and maintaining accurate records using a tablet on Arks Information Management system.

Previous experience of the following is an advantage but not essential as Ark will provide full training: Care Worker, Social worker, Home Carer, Case Worker, Care Assistant, Autism Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant , Social Care Worker.

View our job outline, find out what you working week could look like and hear from our current Support Workers on Arks website arkha.org.uk/work-with-us

Why Ark?

• No Previous Experience Required - Ark provide full training so no previous experience is required making our Support Worker roles the perfect place to start your career in Adult Social Care.
• Get a qualification while you work - Ark fully fund your SVQ2 in Health & Social Care which you complete with the support of our in house SVQ team.
• Employee Discounts - Employee Discounts Portal with 1000s of discounts on your favourite brands including Supermarkets, Cinema Tickets, Gym Membership and Holidays.
• Career Progression -Over 75% of all Managers within Care & Support have been promoted internally.
• Employee Assistance Program - Arks Employee Assistance program (EAP) gives all employees access to counselling sessions. There is also support available through weekly webinars and the EAP Website & App.
• Contracted hours to suit you-We have Full-time, Part-time and Relief Support Worker roles available at our services throughout Scotland.

In return for your valuable contribution, Ark will also offer you:

• Up to 36 days paid holiday per year pro rata
• 4% Contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Fully funded PVG & 1st year SSSC registration paid by Ark

Our employees told us in a recent survey that they stay with Ark because they believe in our values, we have supportive managers who continually appreciate their staff and they love making a positive difference in our supported peoples lives, helping them to achieve their dreams.

Ark would love to hear from you whether you are an experienced Support Worker or new to Social Care.