Lanarkshire Links is seeking to recruit a Development Officer to promote engagement and participation with younger mental health service users and carers aged 16-35 (not in school) in North Lanarkshire.

We are looking for someone who:

• Believes passionately in the power of the lived experience of mental health problems and in making recovery a reality. You should also understand the impact of stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems and be serious about the need to challenge it.
• Has a sound understanding of the recovery process, creativity with excellent writing skills; good networking and interpersonal skills; expert listener with a nurturing attitude; and the ability to identify and respond to emerging opportunities; ability to engage with a range of people in a variety of contexts and at different levels.

Have relevant qualification or significant experience in the successful development and delivery of projects and programmes.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference in helping people with lived experience to influence positive change in mental health service design and delivery.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Stigma Free Lanarkshire team based in Motherwell, Lanarkshire. Building on a history of vigorous campaigning against mental health stigma, and working in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire, the Stigma Free Lanarkshire programme is leading in the planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of an ambitious programme of change at local level here.

We are seeking an experienced, dedicated, and motivated individual with a strong understanding of the challenges related to mental health stigma and a genuine commitment to addressing them. As the Stigma Free Lanarkshire Development Officer, you will be responsible for developing, managing, and sustaining key partnerships with NHS Lanarkshire and other vital stakeholders. Your role will focus on promoting and delivering the project across four key areas: health and social care, communities, workplaces, and education and young people.

You will join a team of four within the SFL programme, working as part of the broader Lanarkshire Links team of twelve.

In addition, embedding a rights-based approach, you will assist in achieving the project’s aims to create inclusive systems, culture, and practice as well as encouraging opportunities for contact between those who experience stigma and those who perpetrate it.

This project is funded by NHS Lanarkshire. It is hosted by the service user and carer organisation, Lanarkshire Links, whose purpose is to support mental health service users and carers to be involved in the process of planning services and provision. Stigma Free Lanarkshire is a pan Lanarkshire programme.

A driving licence and access to a car is essential for this post.