Aberlour is featured in the top 100 Sunday Times big organisations Best Places to Work 2024.

About Sycamore Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel is our newest residential house for children who are unable to live with their own families. Aberlour is Being Brave for these children, fulfilling The Promise to provide a safe, loving home for the children who live in the house, enabling them, over time, to reach their full potential. We do not seek to provide a quick fix for the children but to secure transformational change which secures real results and gives our team a really rewarding job experience.

What we are looking for....

We are looking for individuals who can integrate seamlessly into our existing team, working alongside it and relief adults to support excellent service delivery. We are looking for a Residential Worker to work 37.5 hours per week on a residential rota including early, late, waken nights, sleepovers and weekend shifts. You will have a knowledge and understanding of the importance of attachment, trauma and how this can impact on an individual’s development. At times our children express their distress through their behaviour and the role can be emotionally and physically challenging; we are therefore looking for someone who is resilient, understands that behaviour is a means of communication and is trauma responsive.

You will be skilled in building therapeutic relationships with the children, young people and young adults to enable them to feel safe, loved and cared for.

You must have the ability to quickly build your relationships with the adults within the house. The nature of the role is such that you could be working to cover a shift or longer periods as required, including days and wakened nightshifts and you may also be supporting young people to attend school or participate in other learning programmes. You must therefore be able to quickly adapt to the working environment within each house.

You will be comfortable with working within Aberlour’s culture embracing respect, integrity, innovation and the ability to challenge. Demonstration of these qualities will be particularly important in this role given that you will be dipping in and out of the different teams. You must be able to be an exceptional role model for other staff and the young person.

Undertaking the role of Residential Worker will afford you the opportunity to develop and build on a range of transferrable skills which are valued in a range of employment. You will be able to demonstrate excellent flexibility and adaptability with exceptional interpersonal skills, ability to work with different teams and different children, young people and young adults living within our Sycamore Houses.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

Aberlour is featured in the top 100 Sunday Times big organisations Best Places to Work 2024.

About Sycamore Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel is our newest residential house for children who are unable to live with their own families. Aberlour is Being Brave for these children, fulfilling The Promise to provide a safe, loving home for the children who live in the house, enabling them, over time, to reach their full potential. We do not seek to provide a quick fix for the children but to secure transformational change which secures real results and gives our team a really rewarding job experience.

What we are looking for....

We are looking for an individual who can integrate seamlessly into our existing team, working alongside it and relief adults to support excellent service delivery. We are looking for a Residential Worker to work 37.5 hours per week, covering maternity until October 2025, on a residential rota including early, late, waken nights, sleepovers and weekend shifts. You will have a knowledge and understanding of the importance of attachment, trauma and how this can impact on an individual’s development. At times our children express their distress through their behaviour and the role can be emotionally and physically challenging; we are therefore looking for someone who is resilient, understands that behaviour is a means of communication and is trauma responsive.

You will be skilled in building therapeutic relationships with the children, young people and young adults to enable them to feel safe, loved and cared for.

You must have the ability to quickly build your relationships with the adults within the house. The nature of the role is such that you could be working to cover a shift or longer periods as required, including days and wakened nightshifts and you may also be supporting young people to attend school or participate in other learning programmes. You must therefore be able to quickly adapt to the working environment within each house.

You will be comfortable with working within Aberlour’s culture embracing respect, integrity, innovation and the ability to challenge. Demonstration of these qualities will be particularly important in this role given that you will be dipping in and out of the different teams. You must be able to be an exceptional role model for other staff and the young person.

Undertaking the role of Residential Worker will afford you the opportunity to develop and build on a range of transferrable skills which are valued in a range of employment. You will be able to demonstrate excellent flexibility and adaptability with exceptional interpersonal skills, ability to work with different teams and different children, young people and young adults living within our Sycamore Houses.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

Are you passionate about working with young people with additional support needs?

Do you want to make a difference to their lives?

Do you have relevant experience of working with them?

About Options Ayrshire

In addition to us having a short residential breaks service, our Out of School Club is based outside of Ayr within a building at Mosshill Industrial Estate.

We offer a safe, nurturing and explorative environment for young people to come and play either after school or on a Saturday morning that gives their families and/or carers a rest from their caring role. During that break, children enjoy a range of fun activities and experiences with our staff who specialise in taking care of children with additional support needs. In addition to this, we run a busy Easter and summer Holiday Activity Club which staff are encouraged to participate in also.

What we are looking for...

Working as part of the staff team you will ensure that the highest level of physical and emotional care is provided to the young people using the Out of School Club. Experience of working with this group of young people is highly desirable.

This post is for 10 hours per week, term time (to include bank holidays and in-service days). This post attracts a 5% unsocial hours allowance. You will be required to register with the Scottish Social Services Council, and meet, or be prepared to gain, the qualifications requirements for this post which is at SCQF level 6 (for example, SVQ Level 3 or HNC).

At Aberlour we want to make sure every young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. Aberlour’s values are critical and drive everything we do. We will be looking for someone who can demonstrate how Aberlour’s values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity and Challenge will be visible in their practice.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

If you have any queries please e-mail: jobs@aberlour.org.uk.

Aberlour is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our service users and uses a thorough and rigorous recruitment and selection process including PVG Scheme checks to ensure this commitment is not compromised.

If you are interested in this post and would like to have a chat about it, please feel free to contact Olivia Shields (Community Coordinator) on 01292 671971 or Sylvia Kelso (Assistant Service Manager) on 078948 17439.

Do you have relevant experience of working with children and young people with a disability and/or autism or relevant experience in a similar sector/work environment?

About Aberlour Options Fife Residential Glenrothes

At Aberlour we listen to understand what our young people want and need within our local area. As such, our service in Glenrothes supports young people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live and thrive within the local community.

What we are looking for....

As a Young People’s Worker, you will play a fundamental role in our young people’s lives to ensure that they get the best possible experience whilst working towards goals in their care plan. Using a person-centred approach, you will provide enabling support ensuring the highest level of physical and emotional care; supporting our young people in their daily living and within the local community.

If you have an interest in working with young people, we would like to hear from you. We are looking for a Young People’s Workers to work 31.5 hours per week.

These hours will be worked as part of a 24/7 residential rota, which will include mornings, evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays. You will also be expected to do sleepovers.

Ideally, candidates will have social care experience, an understanding of autism, complex needs and disability. You will hold, or be willing to work towards, a relevant professional qualification at SCQF level 7 or above (for example: SVQ 3 Social Services (Children and Young People) plus an HNC) together with relevant experience of working with children or young people. You must also be able to demonstrate awareness of the key elements of working with people affected by disability as well as an understanding of, and commitment to, young people’s rights.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

We are looking for Relief Young People’s Workers to join our Fife (Options) Relief pool. Within Fife we have 5 Options Disability services which support various young people and their families. Our Options services within Fife are:

Options Fife - Residential Glenrothes: Our Options Fife (Residential) Glenrothes service will be home to 3 young people aged 16 plus. Working patterns will include days, nights, weekends and public holidays. Our rota has been drafted with the needs of the young people at heart and shifts will be longer in order to keep consistency for our young people.

Options Fife - Housing Support: Our Options Fife - Housing Support service will be home for up to 4 young people aged 16 plus who will all have their own individual flat. Working patterns will include days, nights, weekends and public holidays. Our rota has been drafted with the needs of the young people at heart and shifts will be longer in order to keep consistency for our young people.

Options Residential Fife - Lorimer Gardens: Based in Dunfermline, our Options Residential Fife service is a full-time, residential care home offering long-term residential care for children and young people with complex learning and physical disabilities. We provide quality living for those children and young people who can no longer live at home. Working patterns will include days, nights, weekends and public holidays.

Options Fife - Respite and Outreach: Aberlour Options Fife provides support for young people up to the age of 18 years who have learning disabilities, by offering outreach and residential short break services. We aim to provide families with a short break from their caring role, through the provision of a high quality child-centred service which provides a positive experience for the young people we work with. Our Options Fife Respite and Outreach service in Glenrothes currently provides an outreach and respite service over weekends and evenings.

Options Fife - Lochwood Park: Aberlour Options Fife - Lochwood Park service, based in Kingseat, is a forever home for one young man who has complex needs. Our service became a safe space for not only our young man but his family as well. Our small teams support our young man with his daily life. Although there can be challenging behaviour, it is the small steps of progress that this young person makes on a daily basis that makes our work meaningful. Being a patient and understanding person are important skills for this role. Working patterns will include days, nights, weekends and public holidays.

We have a strong reputation in supporting young people with high levels of complex needs, supporting them to grow, learn and maximise their potential. We feel every child has the right to flourish. Our Relief Young People’s Workers play a fundamental role in ensuring that the young people they work with have the best possible experience in working towards their objectives in line with their care plan, supporting children to progress within their individual outcomes. Whilst not without its challenges and demands, this is a highly rewarding role, where the work we do has a demonstrable impact on each young person's progress.

Using a person-centred approach you will provide enabling support ensuring the highest level of physical, personal, and emotional care to support the families in their daily living and within the local community.

Our relief workers play a crucial role in supporting our team. This work is offered on a casual, hourly paid basis to provide cover during staff absence and/or particularly busy periods. Availability should be specified on your application form. Ideally, you will have experience of direct work with children and families and/or experience of working with children or adults with a learning disability and/or an autism spectrum condition.

You will receive a planned and supported induction consisting of a varied training programme; including CALM Training, Child Protection Training and support to complete an SVQ3 if required. You will be working alongside a highly motivated and skilled team to provide a personalised service for our young people.

Are you committed to delivering best practice to support children and young people with complex needs?

Are you ready to use your experience and skill to shape practice in delivering quality services to children and young people?

Do you feel excited about the opportunity to take your first step towards a management position?

If so, this is a great opportunity for you.

About Aberlour Options Fife Residential Glenrothes

At Aberlour we listen to understand what our young people want and need within our local area. As such, our services in Glenrothes support young people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live and thrive within the local community.

What we are looking for....

As someone who has built up experience working in residential childcare, you will have the confidence to guide and direct the provision of care to the children and young people in the service. You will play a pivotal role, working in partnership with parents and families to meet the emotional and physical needs of children and young people with complex disabilities.

When on shift, you will play a lead role, mentoring and supporting staff and being a role model, delivering excellence in the services we provide. You will assist in assessing, planning and delivering services, taking responsibility for ensuring that assessment and interventions are prepared, monitored and evaluated.

Engaging positively with children, young people and families you will plan and implement appropriate support for the children and young people. Sensitive and accurate reporting is a key responsibility and so you will have good written communication skills and the ability to learn how to use effectively, Aberlour’s recording system: Dynamics.

This role offers the opportunity to consolidate and build on your experience combined with the ability to enhance your skills and knowledge through training, for example, in Dyadic Developmental Practice.

As part of the management team you will play an active role in ensuring that shift duties are delegated and completed in accordance with service guidance.

Senior Young People’s Workers will work 22.5 hours of their role on shift and the remaining 15 hours of their time working alongside the Service Manager on operational tasks and standardising practice. Overnight sleep ins are part of the role, alongside an awake member of night staff.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. Aberlour’s values are critical and drive everything we do. We will be looking for someone who can demonstrate how Aberlour’s values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity and Challenge will be visible in their practice. You must be comfortable working in an environment where Aberlour’s values are lived in practice.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

Do you want to make a positive impact on the lives of children and young people with a learning disability and or Autism?

We have an exciting opportunity for a family focused, warm friendly, resourceful and empathetic individual to join our newly extended Disability Service as a Family Worker.

About Options Fife...

At Options Fife we have been providing person centred services to children and young people with a learning disability and/or Autism for over 25 years. Our Family Workers enhance the existing provision offered, enabling whole family support for children and families with complex learning needs.

What we are looking for....

As a Family Worker, you will offer emotional and direct practical help to families experiencing short- or long-term challenges. You will work with families; identifying areas where support is required, working with them to co-produce a family support plan which will be individually tailored to their child’s and family’s needs. You will agree outcomes and personal goals within the child’s plan.

• The role of the Family Worker will be diverse and wide ranging and will include the following: Promote and develop healthy routines, including sleep.
• Provide practical support with personal care.
• Support the development of play routines.
• Support parents to address difficulties and reduce risks.
• Build upon parents existing knowledge and equip them with enabling strategies and tools.
• Support families to have positive and rewarding relationships.
• Support families to implement structure, identify triggers and understand the function and purpose of their child’s behaviour and reduce challenges from escalating.
• Along with families, liaise and work with partners and colleagues from Social Work, Health and Education to assess, review and evaluate progress.
• You will have experience of supporting children and families with a learning disability and Autism. You will have up-to-date knowledge of best practice and supporting tools and interventions.

You will manage your own diary, and your hours will be 20 per week, worked flexibly between 7am and 10pm, Monday to Sunday. The days and hours worked will be agreed with families within the family support plan. There may also occasionally be a need to provide additional support out with these times and to be able to respond to crises and family stress.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity

Are you committed to delivering best practice to support children and young people with complex needs?

Are you ready to use your experience and skill to shape practice in delivering quality services to children and young people?

Do you feel excited about the opportunity to take your first step towards a management position?

If so, this is a great opportunity for you.

About Options Moray

Aberlour Options Moray is a community-based service for children/young people with learning disabilities offering residential, respite short breaks, family-based care and community support matched with the individual needs of every young person.

What we are looking for....

As someone who has built up experience working in residential child care, you will have the confidence to guide and direct the provision of care to the children and young people in the service. You will play a pivotal role, working in partnership with parents and families to meet the emotional and physical needs of children and young people with complex disabilities.

When on shift, you will play a lead role, mentoring and supporting staff and being a role model, delivering excellence in the services we provide. You will assist in assessing, planning and delivering services, taking responsibility for ensuring that assessment and interventions are prepared, monitored and evaluated.

Engaging positively with children, young people and families you will plan and implement appropriate support for the children and young people. Sensitive and accurate reporting is a key responsibility and so you will have good written communication skills and the ability to learn how to use effectively, Aberlour’s recording system: Dynamics.

This role offers the opportunity to consolidate and build on your experience combined with the ability to enhance your skills and knowledge through training, for example, in Dyadic Developmental Practice.

As part of the management team, you will play an active role in ensuring that shift duties are delegated and completed in accordance with service guidance.

Lead practitioners do 75% of their role on shift and 25% of their time working alongside the Assistant Service Manager for short breaks on operational tasks and standardising practice. Late shifts are 2pm to 10pm. Early shifts are 7.30am to 2.30pm. Overnight sleep ins are part of the role, alongside an awake member of night staff. Paperwork days will be 9 to 5 office hours.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. Aberlour’s values are critical and drive everything we do. We will be looking for someone who can demonstrate how Aberlour’s values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity and Challenge will be visible in their practice. You must be comfortable working in an environment where Aberlour’s values are lived in practice. To have a look at our values to understand more about what we are looking for from our employees click here.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers. Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity here.

About Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)

Aberlour Child Care Trust is leading a Partnership of Highland Council, Barnardo’s Highland Services and Right There to provide practical support care and integration to Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC).

The location for this role is 5 Huntly Place, Inverness, IV3 8HA.

This partnership focuses on three areas: Feeling safe and settling in, support and integration, throughcare aftercare with the aim of improving the lives of children by using a rights-based trauma informed approach.

The service will work in partnership to ensure that the young people have access to education and learning opportunities.

What we are looking for....

We are seeking to recruit a Project Worker to work 28.5 hours per week for a fixed term period to 31st March 2026. You will support the Service Manager in planning support and integrating Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking children into the community. You will engage with the young people helping them to find their way around the community. You will have problem solving abilities to enable them to participate fully in having their needs met and participate in opportunities to develop. You will support the young people to travel independently around the local area and learn to use public transport. You will also support them to pursue their hobbies and interests linking in with community groups and access community facilities. As English will often not be their first language you will work with them to identify their communication needs, adapting your communication style accordingly. You will also liaise with local agencies, developing collaborative professional working relationships working together for the benefit of the children. You will also attend a range of group meetings to discuss the progress of the children and young people.

You must be comfortable working in a culture based on respect, integrity, innovation and the ability to challenge - both yourself and other people. We support our staff to be as effective as they can be through dedicated training and supervision. In return our staff act as exceptional role models supporting the children and young people as well as sharing knowledge and learning with colleagues.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. Aberlour’s values are critical and drive everything we do. We will be looking for someone who can demonstrate how Aberlour’s values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity and Challenge will be visible in their practice. You must be comfortable working in an environment where Aberlour’s values are lived in practice.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

About Sycamore Fort William

Aberlour Sycamore Services- Fort William, is a residential care home for children and young people between the ages of 12 years and 18 years old, helping them to live and grow in a community setting. We work using a Dyadic Developmental Practice model which means that we ensure that the child and their behaviour is understood and the child feels as safe as possible at home, in school and in social activities.

What we are looking for....

We are looking for an exceptional group of relief workers to provide ad hoc cover when staff are on holiday or are off sick. Relief Workers are a vital part of our team, helping to ensure that full cover is available throughout the year and ensuring that our Residential Workers get the essential breaks they need to recharge their batteries and come back to work refreshed and ready to provide the best possible support to the young people.

Work is offered on a casual basis: Relief Workers are not obliged to accept shifts offered and Aberlour is not obliged to offer shifts. In return for taking on this essential role, you will work alongside a dedicated, supportive staff team and be offered valuable training and development opportunities. Of course, if you are a good match for the role there will be the opportunity for you to apply for a substantive role when available.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team.

Aberlour have strong values- Respect, Integrity, Innovation and Challenging - which influence our everyday work. If you choose to apply for this role please tell us about your values in your supporting statement.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers. Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity here.

About Options Fife Housing Support

At Aberlour we listen to understand what our young people want and need within our local area. Our Options Fife Housing Support service in Glenrothes supports young people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live and thrive within the local community.

This service will be home to 4 young people aged 16 plus who will all have their own individual flat. Our rota has been drafted to suit the needs of the young people.

What we are looking for....

We are looking for a part time (25 hours, working 2 x 12.5 hour shifts per week) Young People’s Workers to join our team. You will play a fundamental role in our young people’s lives to ensure that they get the best possible experience whilst working towards goals in their care plan. Using a person-centred approach, you will provide enabling support ensuring the highest level of physical and emotional care, supporting our young people in their daily living and within the local community.

If you have an interest in working with young people, we would like to hear from you. Ideally, candidates will have social care experience, understanding of autism, complex needs and disability. You will hold, or be willing to work towards, a relevant professional qualification at SCQF level 7 or above (for example: SVQ3 Care plus an HNC) together with relevant experience of working with children or young people. You must also be able to demonstrate awareness of the key elements of working with people affected by disability as well as an understanding of, and commitment to, young people’s rights.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to

join our team. To have a look at our values to understand more about what we are looking for from our employees please see our website for further information.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.