Jobs in West Lothian

The Youth & Pathways Worker combines relationship-based youth work with individual pathways support for learners aged 10-25 who may be at risk of, or affected by, antisocial behaviour, disengagement from education, youth justice involvement or other complex barriers.

The postholder will plan and deliver engaging trauma-informed groupwork, outreach and diversionary activities while also acting as a consistent key worker.

They will help learners identify their strengths, improve wellbeing, build practical and employability skills, and move towards safe and sustainable positive destinations.

Working through The Larder's Pathways Hub and funded by CashBack for Communities, the role will coordinate closely with Police Scotland, youth justice, schools, social work, families, employers and third-sector partners. The post is embedded within The Larder's wider youth, training and community offer.

Temporary role arrangement

For the first 12 months, this role will combine the Youth Worker duties with maternity cover for the Pathways Officer. After 12 months, the successful candidate will continue as a Youth Worker for 16 hours per week until 31 March 2029.

CommonWatt is a newly established Community Benefit Society formed by Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Network (ECCAN), Midlothian Climate Hub, East Lothian Climate Action Network and West Lothian Climate Action Network. It brings together the four partners to develop, own and operate renewable energy assets for community benefit across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

We are looking for a Business Development Officer to coordinate the development of CommonWatt’s community solar programme and help establish the business arrangements needed for its long-term success.

This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

Around since 1923, SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity. We have represented the voice of people most affected by mental health problems in Scotland for over 100 years. Today, in over 60 communities we work with adults and young people providing mental health social care support, services in primary care, schools and further education, among others.

These services together with our national programme work in The Nooks, respectme, suicide prevention and active living; inform our policy and campaign work to influence positive social change. SAMH is dedicated to mental health and wellbeing for all: with a vision of a society where people are able to live their lives fully, regardless of present or past circumstances.

For Scotland’s Mental Health

We have a vacancies for a Mental Health Practitioners - Forensic based in West Lothian. As a Mental Health Practitioner - Forensic, you will develop purposeful, professional relationships with people experiencing severe and enduring mental health problems who also have complex forensic, offending or justice-related histories.

Using a person-centred, recovery-focused and trauma-informed approach, you will work collaboratively with individuals to identify their goals, develop and review support plans, and contribute to robust risk assessment and risk-management planning.

You will support people to develop greater independence, sustain their accommodation, strengthen community connections and reduce factors associated with deterioration in mental health, relapse or further offending.

Working within clear professional boundaries, you will contribute to multi-disciplinary and multiagency planning, share relevant information appropriately, maintain high-quality records and support agreed safeguarding and public-protection arrangements.

What we are looking for

The successful candidate will demonstrate a responsible, compassionate and non-judgemental approach, together with excellent communication, listening and relationship-building skills. You will be able to balance person-centred and recovery-focused practice with professional curiosity, clear boundaries and proportionate management of risk.

Experience within mental health, forensic, criminal justice, homelessness or social care services is essential.

You should be able to:

• Contribute effectively to support planning, risk assessment and risk management.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to changes in an individual's presentation, behaviour or circumstances.
• Maintain clear, accurate and professionally appropriate records.
• Identify, communicate and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Work collaboratively with health, social care, criminal justice and other partner agencies.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries when supporting people with complex needs.
• Promote choice, rights, recovery and positive risk-taking while remaining attentive to individual and wider safety.
• Understand the importance of safeguarding, confidentiality, information sharing and public protection within a forensic setting.

An understanding of recovery, trauma-informed practice, safeguarding and the potential impact of offending or justice involvement on an individual's life would be desirable. Full induction and role-specific training would be provided.

Due to the wide area our service covers, access to you your own transport would be beneficial.

Our service operates 24/7 Monday – Sunday all year. Variable shift working is required (shift length from 8-12 hours) depending on service need. This role will require waking nights and weekend work.

What we will provide for you

You will work in a supportive environment and will be provided with a full induction and training opportunities. You will be given the chance to develop your knowledge and skills, as well as develop professionally. Some of our benefits include;

• Fully funded SVQ qualification to meet the conditions of your SSSC registration
• Reimbursement of PVG, Disclosure & SSSC annual fees and registration costs.
• Funded continuous learning and development opportunities, access to over 100 courses online in addition to classroom and virtual training sessions
• 30 days annual leave rising to 33 after 5 years’ service (pro rata)
• 4 public holidays (pro rata)
• 2 paid wellbeing days off per year to use on what matters to you (pro rata)
• Team wellbeing budgets
• Workplace pension scheme
• Life Assurance policy
• Employee Assistance Programme

We have an exciting opportunity for a confident and organised Project Coordinator to help deliver iCare: Identifying Carers, Advancing Recognition and Equality. Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF), iCare is an ambitious five-year system-change project.

Working with carers, practitioners and NHS partners, the project will address barriers to support and drive changes in practice to improve earlier and more consistent identification of unpaid carers across the Lothians. It will support the development of an early carer identification blueprint, strengthen good carer conversations using the Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) framework, and co-design and implement a new integrated digital carer identification platform.

The postholder will join a project team comprising an iCare Project & Systems Manager, based within VOCAL, and Project Coordinators covering Midlothian, East Lothian and West Lothian. The East and West Lothian Project Coordinators will be employed and managed by Carers of East Lothian and CoWL (Carers of West Lothian) respectively. All four roles will work closely together to deliver shared priorities, promote consistent practice and support learning across the Lothians.

The Project Coordinator for West Lothian will undertake a range of duties, including:

• Supporting the day-to-day delivery of iCare by maintaining clear work plans, action logs and records, and ensuring effective follow-up across project workstreams.
• Building positive working relationships with the wider project team, carers, CoWL colleagues, NHS and community partners, and other carer centres.
• Supporting meaningful carer involvement through the development and coordination of a Carers Assembly, ensuring that carers lived experience helps shape project priorities, changes in practice and digital development.
• Planning and supporting focus groups, workshops, briefings and training sessions with carers and practitioners.
• Supporting co-design and user testing of a digital carer identification platform, while ensuring digital options complement rather than replace non-digital support.
• Gathering feedback and data, and contributing to project learning, evaluation and reporting to the funder.

About you

You will understand unpaid caring and the impact it can have on carers’ health and wellbeing. You will also have a good understanding of the carer support landscape, including the role of Adult Carer Support Plans and the responsibilities of statutory health and social care partners. You will bring experience of supporting a project or service, working collaboratively with others, and engaging people in a respectful and inclusive way. You will also have strong organisational and administrative skills, clear written and verbal communication, digital confidence, and the ability to hold sensitive, person-centred and outcomes-focused conversations.