Apex Scotland is the leading employment and training organisation specialising in work with people with convictions.

We believe in a future beyond your past.

Apex Scotland offer a diverse range of services for young people and adults to help them break down barriers to employment, engage in education, or integrate into their communities.

We are looking for a full time Practitioner to join our team in our National Upside Service at 35 hours per week, covering the Tayside area.

The post will present an opportunity to cover our service we deliver in partnership with Access to industry, Action for Children, Barnardo’s, Circle, Families Outside, Sacro and Turning Point Scotland. Upside is a national throughcare service, available in all parts of Scotland. Throughcare provides people in short-term custody or remand with the practical and emotional support they need to transition to community life. The Service will achieve this by working in partnership with the Scottish Prison Service, Community Justice Social Work and other agencies across Scotland to ensure our approach of focusing on meeting people where they are, addressing immediate challenges, and helping them build sustainable futures within their communities are met.

The successful applicant will have experience of working in a community environment and an understanding of Throughcare support would be an advantage. There will be some travel throughout the country therefore a driving license or access to a means of transport is essential.

The right candidate will have an aptitude for working collaboratively with participants, prison workers, SPS, social work and other partners. Offer a tailored and responsive engagement experience to our participants in a person-centred way. The candidate must be able to complete dynamic and robust risk assessments and follow safeguarding practices. An understanding of Prison Throughcare would be an advantage, as would knowledge and experience in working with databases. You would need to demonstrate flexibility and the ability to work in partnership. Some travel may be required therefore a driving licence and/or access to a means of transport would be an advantage. A full description will be available.

This post is funded until end of March 2028 and may require some evening or weekend working.

Membership of the Prevention of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme is required.

We offer some great benefits, including family friendly policies, flexible and hybrid working and work-life balance. We also have generous annual leave entitlement, employee wellbeing scheme (Perkbox), pension scheme and death in service, company sick pay.

We welcome applications from individuals who share Apex Scotland’s aims and values and value diversity from all sections of the community.

Do you have the skills and compassion to make a difference in people’s lives?

We are looking for a Lead Practitioner to join our Apex Scotland team based in the Highlands, supporting people with convictions including those with complex needs to achieve positive, sustained change.

About the Role

As Lead Practitioner, you will take a key role in delivering and developing high-quality support for individuals involved in the justice system. You will provide one-to-one and group-based interventions that help participants build confidence, access training or employment, and strengthen wellbeing and resilience.

Working within a trauma-responsive and person-centred framework, you will:

• Support individuals with a range of convictions and complex barriers to manage their barriers to employment.
• Coordinate and monitor caseloads, ensuring effective action planning, review, and reporting.
• Provide guidance and reflective support to team members, contributing to consistent practice standards.
• Build strong partnerships with local agencies, employers, and stakeholders to enhance opportunities for participants. Including Job searching, applications, prospective employer contact, volunteering and work experience opportunities
• Collect and record data in line with funder requirements and service quality standards.
• Support participants to understand and safely manage disclosure of complex convictions (Full training given)
• Develop appropriate disclosure statements
• Navigate licence conditions and statutory restrictions in relation to employment, training, and volunteering
• Liaise with justice and public protection partners to ensure safe, coordinated and risk-informed progression for individuals
• Provide guidance to employers, where appropriate, to enable safe and sustainable placements

About You

You will bring experience of working with people facing multiple disadvantages, ideally within justice or employability services. You will have strong communication skills, a compassionate and strengths-based approach, and the ability to motivate others towards change. A driving licence is essential.