The postholder will be expected to operate in line with our values which are:

Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Overview:

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support that enables them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children. Our core values of Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion are at the heart of everything we do and underpin all aspects of our work.

The Childcare Connector will contribute to the organisation’s vision of a Scotland in which single parents and their children are valued and treated equally and fairly, by supporting the delivery of various components which contribute to the Edinburgh service, including proactively supporting single parents to find, secure and access flexible childcare that meets their needs, allowing single parents to progress within their current employment, enter employment or enrol in education or training.

The role will include direct work with single parents to understand their needs, their current childcare limitations, and their current barriers to work, education or training. Liaising with childcare providers within Edinburgh, helping single parents access flexible childcare options and know and understand flexible payment options at local and national level is a key element of this role. This role will include networking and events to promote the Childcare Connector service and will include outreach work with single parents, stakeholders, and partners in and around Edinburgh.

Equal opportunities and family friendly employment

OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People Gold status.

Key tasks and responsibilities

• Support Single Parents: support single parents to understand the different forms of early years childcare, education and wrap around care that they can access and inform and empower single parents on the best form or combination of childcare for their needs and how it can be funded. Liaise with different providers of childcare in communities across Edinburgh to support effective transitions for parents going into employment, education, or training. Promote the services available through OPFS by developing trusting relationships with single parents through the provision of 1:1 support and providing information, advice and guidance.
• Family Support Work: Identify community resources and local services and assist single parents to engage with other agencies. To facilitate the delivery of groups and events. Support single parents to develop their confidence, practical skills, self-esteem and to feel empowered and informed. Work with parents to identify wider support needs and refer to other support services where appropriate. Support families using the OPFS My Life and Me framework to ensure a holistic offering of support for single parents.
• Record Keeping and Reporting: Maintain confidential information, complete all appropriate client paperwork as per our Family Support process. Record and document meetings and support provided to single parents. Use appropriate databases as required by OPFS and the post funder, complete quarterly reports, case studies and maintain a high level of data recording to record, monitor and evaluate targets as set by the funder.
• Any other relevant duties as requested by the Regional Co-ordinator.

The postholder will be expected to operate in line with our values which are:

Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Location: Travel to our various branches across central Scotland will be required for this role. A branch as a home base will be discussed and agreed at the interview stage based on candidates' location and preference. These bases are located in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Dundee.

Driver's License is essential for travel requirements

Overview:

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support that enables them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children. Our core values of Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion are at the heart of everything we do and underpin all aspects of our work.

One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) is the national charity for single parent families and this programme is about changing what is possible.

This role will be instrumental in the development, operational management and delivery of a national child maintenance support programme, ensuring effective coordination across partner organisations, delivery of specialist support to families, practitioner capacity-building, and development of national learning.

The Project officer will deliver front line services and advice relating to the project , while working closely with the Senior Child Maintenance Officer based at Fife Gingerbread who leads practice development and practitioner training.

Equal opportunities and family friendly employment

OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People Gold status.

Key tasks and responsibilities

Child Maintenance is a key challenge for lone parent families, and a lever we must maximise as we work to tackle child poverty. As part of the Child Maintenance partnership our Project Coordinator has led test & demonstration activity since 2023 that has been evaluated by Poverty Alliance and recommendations included in the ‘Better for Everyone’ report published last year

Key Responsibilities

• Programme Coordination, Governance and Collaboration
• Support the planning and coordination of programme activity to help ensure delivery of agreed outcomes and financial targets, including governance, budget monitoring, reporting and risk management.
• Provide coordination support for relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including Fife Gingerbread.
• Support clear communication, shared learning across OPFS and the Child maintenance team, ensuring effective communication and consistency of delivery.
• Assist in facilitating collaborative working between OPFS and Fife Gingerbread, including organising meetings and tracking agreed actions.
• Contribute to strong partnership working by supporting communication, shared learning, and joint decision-making processes.
• Help maintain and update monitoring systems, capturing key data such as practitioner engagement, families supported and financial outcomes achieved.