Would you like to make a difference?

Children First is Scotland’s National Children’s Charity.

Our vision is that all children in Scotland grow up safe and well in strong, resilient families and communities and we work tirelessly to make sure that happens. By getting alongside children and their families to offer practical, emotional and financial help we uphold the rights of children to be raised in their own families. The children we support have to overcome many challenges; poverty, isolation, trauma, violence and abuse but we know that with the right support they can recover and live safe and happy lives. We are proud of the way we do things at Children First, we put respect, compassion and relationships at the heart of everything we do and we believe that with the best people delivering the best quality support, amazing transformation can take place.

Our Board of Trustees is committed to this vision and values, and Trustees bring their wide range of skills, knowledge, expertise, objectivity, insight and strategic thought to the table. They involve themselves in our work and steer our organisation forward, working closely with the Chief Executive and executive leadership team of the Charity.

We are currently looking for a new Board Trustee with a legal background who will take on the role of Law Agent as required by Children First’s Royal Charter. This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity for an enthusiastic and dynamic individual. You will have the opportunity to use and develop your legal skills and experience to support children and families across Scotland.

The Position

You will join the Board of around 10 other trustees and will be expected to attend and participate up to 5 Board meetings a year as well as an annual Strategy Day. You will also be expected to sit on one subcommittee of the Board and attend meetings of that subcommittee 3 to 4 times a year. The Law Agent will be appointed for an initial term of 3 years, and is eligible to seek nomination to serve a further 3 year term.

Board Trustees are asked to contribute actively to the Board by providing strategic guidance, setting objectives and goals, evaluating performance and providing challenge and support. You will also be an ambassador for the Charity and are expected to respect, promote and protect the culture and values of the Charity.

All Trustees are expected to have a good understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of the position of a Trustee on a Board.

As Law Agent you will ensure that the Charity complies with it’s governing document and wider legal responsibilities and you will use your legal experience and knowledge to help inform decision making and to support strategic planning at Board meetings. You will be able to apply legal principles to managing risk and ensuring that the policies and processes of the Charity are in line with best legal practice. You will have the ability to identify when the Charity should seek external legal advice.

The formal appointment to the Board will become effective from the date of the Charity’s AGM in September 2025. There will, however, be opportunity to attend Board meetings as an observer before then. New Trustees will participate in an induction process and will be supported in spending time getting to know the organisation.

The Candidate

We are looking for a committed and enthusiastic qualified lawyer to join our Board. Whilst it would be beneficial, you do not need to have specifically worked in the area of child or family law but a keen interest and passion in protecting children’s rights is essential, as well as a commitment to the values of Children First. An understanding of good governance is also required.

You must be able to demonstrate sound, independent judgement and have an ability to be open minded and work collectively. You must have an ability to challenge constructively where required and be able to critically assess and analyse complex issues. Good listening and communication skills are essential.

Children First is committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation that is representative of the families and communities it supports. The Board supports this commitment and seeks to enhance its diversity from the perspective of ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender and disability. We believe that the more diverse and inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

We welcome and encourage applications from all interested parties who believe they can help make a difference.

The position is voluntary, however reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed.

A fantastic opportunity to come and join the Children First team

Children First’s ambition is for every child in Scotland to be safe, loved and well with their family. As a charity we offer emotional, practical, and financial support to help families to put children first and campaign to uphold the rights of every child.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of our established services in the West/Central area.

You will join our services and teams, to provide a vital role in supporting colleagues at various levels. The role of the Admin Support Manager is also a central point of contact for families and external agencies, so we invite candidates to bring a relational approach to their administrative skills and experience.

What kind of person will make a great Admin Support Manager for Children First?

• will possess excellent administrative, IT and financial skills to support the work of Children First, Executive Directors and local services
• ability to research, request, and collates data/information and responses on behalf of Assistant Directors and local services e.g., reporting, business planning activities, funding applications.
• provide a front-line reception service, as the first point of contact to external visitors, answering questions and responding to queries using own initiative as appropriate to ensure a relational and responsive service is provided
• ability to maintain diaries, schedule and coordinate meetings/appointments/events
• a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
• thinks it’s a privilege to work for and on behalf of children and families and
• is kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind

Base

This is a role that requires to be based full time in an office- this will be our Glasgow service base-currently in Pollok, South Glasgow

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 9 public holidays). ​We have additional benefits such as a cash back health plan, cycle to work scheme, and option to join a ​Credit Union. Please note, the salary is likely to increase ​with a cost of living increase ​from April 2025.

A fantastic opportunity to come and join the Children First team in West Lothian

Children First’s ambition is for every child in Scotland to be safe, loved and well with their family. As a charity we offer emotional, practical, and financial support to help families to put children first and campaign to uphold the rights of every child.

We are recruiting a Kinship Support Project Worker who will become part of a small team offering support to Kinship carers across West Lothian. Kinship carers have a unique role in caring for their children. In this role you will provide emotional and practice support, advocacy and financial advice and signposting, one to one work with children and young people who are supported by our carers.

We are looking for someone who shares our core values and a passion for advocating the rights of families. In this role you will also be developing and supporting Kinship peer support groups as part of a small team, and link in with wider Kinship support services and resources.

If you are an experienced professional with a Social Work, Community work, Counselling or other appropriate qualification we want to hear from you.

Children First are determined that the full incorporation of the UNCRC means that children will have their rights respected in all areas of their lives and will have a real say in the way they are supported. If you share this determination, we would love to hear from you.

What kind of people are we looking for?

• have experience of keeping children safe in their own families
• are fiercely passionate about children’s rights
• thinks it’s a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families and,
• are kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind

What kind of team member will you be?

Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:

• resilient, skilled and knowledgeable who wants to transform children’s lives
• determined to support children to stay safely with their own family
• big hearted and courageous
• able to build strong relationships and to manage the tricky conversations
• is compassionate and understanding of trauma
• a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
• inspiring colleagues and teams to be even better
• an amazing ambassador for children and Children First

Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

Base

You will be based in our office in Bathgate, West Lothian.

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 9 public holidays). ​We have additional benefits such as a cash back health plan, cycle to work scheme, and option to join a ​Credit Union.

We are looking for Family Wellbeing Project Workers to join our team

This is an exciting opportunity for 2 experienced Project Workers to join our dynamic team in Aberdeen. Children First along with partners share a determination to act upon the recommendations from The Independent Care Review and deliver The Promise to children and young people. We are also determined that the full incorporation of the UNCRC means that children will have their rights respected in all areas of their lives and will have a real say in the way they are supported. Children First Family Wellbeing Service in Aberdeen City is fully aligned to ‘Fit Like? Aberdeen’ providing whole family support to families aiming to be the right support at the right time.

What kind of person will make a great Family Wellbeing Project Worker for Children First?

• has experience of keeping children safe in their own families
• is fiercely passionate about children’s rights
• thinks it’s a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families and,
• is kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind

What kind of Family Wellbeing Project Worker will you be?

Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:

• resilient, skilled and knowledgeable who wants to transform children’s lives
• determined to support children to stay safely with their own family
• big hearted and courageous
• able to build strong relationships and to manage the tricky conversations
• is compassionate and understanding of trauma
• a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
• inspiring colleagues and teams to be even better
• an amazing ambassador for children and Children First

Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

At Children First, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects communities across Scotland. Guided by our values, With Love, With Purpose, With Strength, we strive to create a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to thrive. We actively work to remove barriers to inclusion and promote equity in all aspects of our work. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those from marginalised communities, and are dedicated to ensuring a fair and supportive recruitment process.

Base

You will work across our 3 community-based hubs in Northfield, Kincorth and Bridge of Don

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 9 public holidays), flexible working opportunities and a contributory pension scheme. We also have a cash healthcare plan, cycle to work scheme and access to a credit union.

Hours

This is a permanent, full-time post of 35 hours per week. Hours to be worked flexibly to meet the needs of the service.

A fantastic opportunity to come and join the Children 1st team in Inverclyde

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of our innovative Family Wellbeing Service in Inverclyde. Children First along with our partners in Inverclyde HSCP have developed this innovative service to work alongside the Social Work Request for Assistance team to offer early help to children and their families across Inverclyde. The new team and model of relational and restorative approaches, including whole family wellbeing support and Family Group Decision Making, will play a pivotal role in the delivery and development of the service, ensuring high quality relationships with children and families and working alongside our partners to evidence impact. We are therefore looking to recruit a dynamic, experienced team of individuals who can drive the successful development and growth of this new and innovative partnership.

What kind of people are we looking for?

• have experience of keeping children safe in their own families
• are fiercely passionate about children’s rights
• thinks it’s a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families and,
• are kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind

What kind of Family Wellbeing team member will you be?

Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:

• resilient, skilled and knowledgeable who wants to transform children’s lives
• determined to support children to stay safely with their own family
• big hearted and courageous
• able to build strong relationships and to manage the tricky conversations
• is compassionate and understanding of trauma
• a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
• inspiring colleagues and teams to be even better
• an amazing ambassador for children and Children First

Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

Base

You will be based in Inverclyde with our partners in the HSCP and will travel to connect with other parts of the organisation. You will work on an outreach basis to connect with children and families in communities across Inverclyde.

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 9 public holidays). ​We have additional benefits such as a cash back health plan, cycle to work scheme, and option to join a ​Credit Union.

This post is initially funded until 31st January 2026.

Are you an experienced debt advisor – we want to hear from you! …

This is an exciting opportunity to work within our Family Wellbeing Team in Moray as part of our Financial Wellbeing advice delivery and supporting our additional services across the charity.

Our Financial Wellbeing service works alongside families to address the challenges and risks which may have led to vulnerability, promote connection to their local communities, and improve financial stability and resilience. Our aim is to support communities to become more resilient and a place where children feel safe, valued, understood and supported.

The Financial wellbeing advisor will work across Moray offering support, community connection, and expert benefit, energy and debt advice. This will enable families to resolve debt and money problems, become more financially resilient and break the cycle of poverty.

A priority for the financial wellbeing advisor will be to increase the capacity of our current service to provide Type I and II Financial wellbeing.

You will work as part of our National Financial wellbeing team offering remote advice to families across Scotland by telephone or webchat. You will support families within their homes, deliver workshops within the community and in schools, and offer drop-in sessions within the community.

If you have experience of delivering money, and debt advice, understand the impact trauma and adversity can have on children and families, and believe that you can apply this to your practice, we want to hear from you.

Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

At Children First, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects communities across Scotland. Guided by our values, With Love, With Purpose, With Strength, we strive to create a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to thrive. We actively work to remove barriers to inclusion and promote equity in all aspects of our work. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those from marginalised communities, and are dedicated to ensuring a fair and supportive recruitment process.

Base

You will be based in Moray.

Salary, Conditions, Pension

This is a full time, 35 hours post to be worked flexibly to suit the needs of families, including evenings and weekends as required.

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 9 public holidays). ​We have additional benefits such as a cash back health plan, cycle to work scheme, and option to join a ​Credit Union.