Main Duties

The Employability Advisor will be responsible to Regional Co-Ordinator and will work as a member of OPFS Lanarkshire Employability Service, to provide employability support for single parents and young parents facing additional barriers to engaging with services, entering suitable employment, education, and training opportunities through one-to-one meetings and group work sessions.

Specific Duties

• Case Management: Work with single parents facing additional barriers, to access employability support by using case management methods, to provide a continuum of consistent support through each client’s journey of the Making Employability Works for Single Parents Employability Pathway and progress into suitable and sustainable employment.
• Barriers: Support clients to identify their presenting barriers to enter suitable employment, education and training opportunities and work with single parents to address those barriers.
• Initial Support: Enable single parents to identify their future goals, assess motivation, develop personal action plans, and support client’s access to suitable employability activities.
• Liaison: Build links with agencies, projects, organisations, and groups across the local authority area, to identify eligible young parents who would benefit from participating in a scheduled programme of employability support, that will enable them to access suitable employment, education, and training opportunities.
• Outreach & Engagement: Undertake activities to actively reach out to, and engage with, eligible single parents; supporting clients to build their confidence and develop their knowledge and awareness of the support and services available to them through OPFS’s Making Employability Work for Single Parents Employability Service.
• Work/Vocational Activities & Training: Co-ordinate and deliver a range of employability activities to single parents in 1-2-1 and group settings to enable parents facing additional barriers to employment to develop their knowledge, awareness and understanding of early work preparation, C.V development and core skills, helping to increase participants access to available employment, training, and education opportunities.
• Job Matching: Provide employability support to help single parents to become job ready through the provision of activities that focus on; active job searching, completing application forms, attending interviews and make informed decisions to secure and sustain suitable employment.
• In Work Support: Provide single parents facing additional barriers to sustain their employment role with continued support on entering employment and help single parents to progress within their working role.
• Signposting and Referral: Ensure that young parents gain access to the services and resources that will help to address their needs and support their progression along OPFS Making Employability Work for Single Parents Employability Service.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Ensure effective recording, monitoring and evaluation procedures are collated and produced on a regular monthly basis.
• Reporting, targets, and outcomes: Ensure project outcomes and targets are met in-line with funding application and submit comprehensive reports to the Services Manager on all areas of the work you are responsible for.
• Other relevant duties: Carrying out any other relevant duties related to the above.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Personal Specifications

Essential

1. Qualification: A relevant professional qualification or a good standard of education equivalent to HNC/HND, SVQ3 /4 or equivalent experience related to this area of work.
2. Experience of working in the employability support field.
3. Experience of group work: candidates should preferably have had experience of running groups and understand potential group work issues.
4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
5. Excellent IT skills.
6. Commitment to professional development.
7. Flexibility to meet the needs of the services.
8. Driving license and use of a vehicle.

Desirable:

1. Experience of working with single parents: Prior experience of work with families headed by a single parent in a voluntary sector or statutory context.

Terms & Conditions

1. Period of appointment: The post is funded until 31st March 2025. Confirmation of appointment will be dependent on completion of a satisfactory three-month probation period, satisfactory reference, and Disclosure checks.
2. Salary: OPFS salary scale points 13-17: £23,915 to £29,230 per annum (Appointments will be made at a point reflective of previous experience).
3. Hours of work: up to 35 hours weekly with flexibility to meet the needs of clients. Part time hours also considered
4. Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays, pro rata for part time hours
5. Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%.
6. Training, support, and supervision: OPFS is committed to the development of its staff through internal training and access to external training. We also have an annual staff appraisal system in place and all staff receive regular monthly support and supervision from their manager.
7. Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. We have Investors in People status and Living Wage accreditation.

The successful post-holder 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 poverty and the barriers facing single parents and their children.

The Family Support Worker (Carers) will be responsible to the Lanarkshire Project Manager and will assist and support the development and delivery of the Carers Service through effective engagement and working directly with single parent families who have a carer in the household. The role will include the provision of family support activities for the carer and cared for to participate in together.

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 poverty and the barriers facing single parents and their children.

The Regional Coordinator role 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 coordinating components which contribute to the Falkirk service. The role holder will, working alongside colleagues in OPFS Management Teams, be responsible for strategic direction and delivery of services tailored for single parent families in Falkirk.

The Falkirk Family Centre offers a range of support to single parents and their children including family support, employability programmes and a childcare service for children aged 2-3 years. The Regional Co-ordinator will be expected to oversee all aspects of the service.

The successful post-holder 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 services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to poverty and the barriers facing many single parents and their children.

Purpose of role

The Family Support Assistant (Young Parents) will be responsible to the Service Manager and work with Family Support Workers to support the delivery of the Family Support Service for young parents. The role will include the provision of family support, outreach activities, supporting the delivery and helping with the co-ordination of Group work activities.

OPFS Advice and Information Service

The Scotland-wide advice and information service for single parents provides the:

• OPFS Advice Service: for single parents and practitioners seeking advice via our Helpline, Webchat, advice@, ‘Ask a Question’ and social media platform
• OPFS Advice Information: on-line information and advice content about issues that matter to single parents and their families
• OPFS Advice Practitioner Training: a service which delivers online training courses for practitioners working with single parents

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to poverty and the barriers facing many single parents and their children.

Equal opportunities and family friendly employment

OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer and flexible working requests will be considered. OPFS has Investors In People status and Living Wage accreditation.

Purpose of role

The Advice and Information Service is a long established, national service within One Parent Families Scotland. We give support and advice to single parents and practitioners on a wide variety of topics; whether that be about money, their home, children, relationships, health and wellbeing or even work, training and education. We work over several online channels to provide this advice including telephone, webchat, email and social media.

A new opportunity has arisen within our Advice and Information team for an Advisor with a debt focus. As well as supporting parents through our existing online channels, you will be responsible for answering enquiries on a range of topics; however, you will be the lead on addressing debt enquiries. You will also get the opportunity to build relationships with local and national organisations involved in debt provision. You will get to add to our policy and campaigns by highlighting and collecting information about the topics most important to single parents, specifically in relation to debt.

*Location: Hybrid working style: working from home & office base over 3 days per working week, with travel over Scotland 1 day per working week within community bases. The Advice and Information Service has an office located in Glasgow city centre. Expenses will be given for travel according to OPFS policy.

OPFS Advice and Information Service

The Scotland-wide advice and information service for single parents provides the:

• OPFS Advice Service: for single parents and practitioners seeking advice via our Helpline, Webchat, advice@, ‘Ask a Question’ and social media platforms
• OPFS Advice Information: on-line information and advice content about issues that matter to single parents and their families
• OPFS Advice Practitioner Training: a service which delivers online training courses for practitioners working with single parents

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to poverty and the barriers facing many single parents and their children.

Equal opportunities and family friendly employment

OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer and flexible working requests will be considered. OPFS has Investors In People status and Living Wage accreditation.

Purpose of role

The Advice and Information Service is a long established, national service within One Parent Families Scotland. We give support and advice to single parents and practitioners on a wide variety of topics; whether that be about money, their home, children, relationships, health and wellbeing or even work, training and education. We work over several online channels to provide this advice including telephone, webchat, email and social media.

A new opportunity has arisen within our Advice and Information team for a Community Located Advisor. As well as supporting parents through our existing online channels, you will be responsible for travelling to different communities throughout Scotland to inform and support single parents within their own communities. You will also get the opportunity to build relationships with local parents, community groups and organisations. This role will also involve doing some promotional work, ensuring that communities we visit are aware of the support that OPFS offers to single parent households all over Scotland. You will get to add to our policy and campaigns by highlighting and collecting information about the topics most important to single parents.

Due to the nature of the role and the necessity to travel, a full, clean driving licence and access to a car would be preferable.

*Location: Hybrid working style: working from home & office base over 3 days per working week, with travel over Scotland 1 day per working week within community bases. The Advice and Information Service has an office located in Glasgow city centre. Expenses will be given for travel according to OPFS policy.

The successful post-holder 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 poverty and the barriers facing single parents and their children.

The Regional Coordinator role 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 coordinating components which contribute to the North Lanarkshire service. The role holder will, working alongside colleagues in OPFS Management Teams, be responsible for strategic direction and delivery of services tailored for single parent families in North Lanarkshire.

The successful post-holder 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 services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to poverty and the barriers facing many single parents and their children.

Equal opportunities and family friendly employment

OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer and flexible working requests will be considered. OPFS has Investors In People status and Living Wage accreditation.

Competencies

The post holder is expected to be:

Able to support single parent families

Able to understand single parents needs and expectations and respond in a helpful and professional way.

Aware of the impact poverty has on single parent families.

Able to support single parent families with multiple barriers and have the skills and knowledge required to support them.

Do you have a passion for helping people?

Do you have excellent communication and customer service skills?

Do you understand the needs and challenges for single parents?

Would you like to help single parents work find their dream job?

Then come and work for us!

Overview

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to poverty and the barriers facing many single parents and their children.

Main Duties

The Employability Support Worker will be responsible to the Dundee Services Manager/Employment Lead and will work as a member of OPFS Dundee Employability Service, to provide employability services for single parents to support them to secure employment, education or training.

Specific Duties

• Help eligible single parents to identify their future goals, assess motivation, develop personal development plans and help in their implementation through individual and group work.
• Identify barriers to employment, education or training and work with single parents to address those barriers.
• Build links with organisations and groups across Dundee, to identify eligible single parents interested in progressing towards suitable employment, education or training.
• Support single parents to suitable employment by using case management methods, to provide a continuum of consistent support on OPFS clients employability pathway journey into suitable and sustainable employment.
• Co-ordinate and deliver a range of employability activities to enable single parents facing additional barriers to employment to develop participants core knowledge and skills, helping to increase their access to available employment, training and education opportunities.
• Undertake activities in communities to actively reach eligible single parents as a basis to support their learning and development and engage them in early work preparation and employer matching activities to support positive change within their lives.
• Provide job ready single parents with the help participants need with job searching, interviews, securing and sustaining suitable employment.
• Provide single parents living with continued support on entering employment, to help parents sustain their jobs.
• Develop knowledge of services related to employment, training, education, childcare and other support. Develop an effective network of referral agencies to support clients' needs.
• Signpost single parents to services that will address their needs.
• Liaise with OPFS Financial Inclusion team to offer better off calculations and access to debt support.
• Ensure effective recording, monitoring and evaluation procedures are implemented.
• Other Relevant duties: Carrying out any other relevant duties related to the above.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to poverty and the barriers facing many single parents and their children.

Competencies

The post holder is expected to be:

• Able to support single parent families.
• Understands single parents needs and expectations and respond in a helpful and professional way.
• Be aware of the impact poverty has on single parent families.
• Be able to support single parent families with multiple barriers and have the skills and knowledge required to support them.

Unbiased

• Ensure that practices are impartial, fair and provide equal possible outcomes for every individual. Ensure that people feel a sense of belonging and cultural awareness.
• Challenge prejudices and confront bias.

Flexible and able to manage time.

• Be available when required and be willing to change things if they are not working.
• Have excellent time management skills.

An analytical thinker

• Continually identify, test and evaluate workload.
• Develop good ideas and find solutions to resolve any issues.
• Produce Case Studies and evaluate service offered.

Able to manage budgets

• Understand the cost of delivering a service and minimising waste.
• Identify the cost of developing and delivering group work sessions.

A team player

• Work collaboratively and develop connections with OPFS colleagues, stakeholders and single parents.
• Attend external meetings and build connections with relevant agencies.
• Be involved and support OPFS campaigns.

Intuitive

• Have and share good ideas which will help OPFS grow and develop.
• Identify routes for parent participation.
• Deliver agreed personal objectives and be aware of how your work contributes to OPFS Priority Areas.
• Take control of personal and professional development, and actively manage own Personal Learning Plan.

Communicative and engaging

• Be able to understand others and evaluate and work collaboratively with everyone you encounter through the course of your work.
• Contributes views, ideas and experience, identifying appropriate methods of communication and target audience.
• Verbally communicate confidently while contributing ideas in a clear and concise way.
• Share and present information of all kinds in an appropriate format, accurately and on time.

Supportive and enabling

• Work collaboratively with OPFS services, share knowledge and skills and learn from others.
• Be a competent user of Microsoft Office Suite such as Word, Excel, Outlook etc.

The Outreach Assistant will be responsible to the Financial Inclusion and Child Poverty Lead for supporting the delivery of the Supporting Families Partnership Project in South Lanarkshire for single parent families. The role will include the provision of crisis support, outreach activities and supporting the delivery and co-ordination of welfare benefit and money management surgeries/ events for single parents.

The Outreach Assistant will be responsible to the Financial Inclusion and Child Poverty Lead for supporting the delivery of the OPFS Glasgow Helps Single Parents Service. The role will include the provision of crisis support, outreach activities and supporting the delivery and co-ordination of welfare benefit and money management surgeries/ events for single parents.

To work as part of the administration team base at OPFS Glasgow and provide administrative support by accurately, and efficiently, contributing to the operations of OPFS. The postholder will report to the Glasgow service Manager with day-to-day mentoring and support provided by the OPFS Administrator.

Overview:

To work as part of the administration and central services team base at OPFS HQ to provide administrative support for OPFS HQ, and local services, by accurately, and efficiently, contributing to the operations of OPFS. The postholder will report to the Chief Operating Officer with day-to-day mentoring and support provided by the OPFS Administrator.

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

Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Specific Duties Include:

General Administration: Record and distribute incoming and outgoing mail, electronic and hard copy, filing, word processing, mail merge, reception duties, booking external meeting space, placing orders for stationery, equipment, and other office items. Keeping an itinerary of IT equipment, including location, and dealing with repairs and faults thar arise. Provide support for HQ based services.

Meeting Room: Provide an efficient and effective setting up and clearing away of audio-visual equipment, refreshments, organising catering if required, and other items for meetings and ensuring rooms used are cleared and ready for further use.

Personnel Admin: Inputting and auditing data within Salesforce HR database, SharePoint, and other systems. Creating, updating, and archiving manual and electronic personnel files. Recording absence records and producing quarterly reports. Archiving files including scanning and shredding. Order ID cards. Collating annual leave data. Regular audits and updates of staff contacts list. Preparing staff letters for contract changes.

Recruitment: Assist in the preparation of dissemination of recruitment packs and advertisements. Distribute recruitment documentation as requested by potential applicants. Record, anonymise, monitor, and collate job applications.

AGM/Conference/Events and Training: Assist in the organisation and administration of events and training.

Health and Safety: Act as a designated Fire Warden. Recording and testing Fire Alarm on a weekly basis. Act as a First Aider. (Training will be supplied).

Personal Specifications

Essential

• Qualifications: Relevant qualification to HNC level or equivalent relevant experience.
• Demonstrable experience of working in a busy office
• Excellent IT skills and good working knowledge of Microsoft systems
• Self-motivated
• Good organisational skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Commitment to continuous professional development

Desirable

• Previous experience of Salesforce input and reporting and SharePoint
• Experience of working in the Third Sector
• Understanding of single parent challenges

Terms & Conditions

1. Period of appointment: Permanent. Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, and references.
2. Hours of work: 21 hours per week
3. Salary: OPFS scale points 7 – 11, £19479 - £23809 per annum for full time, pro rata for 21 hours £11687 – £14285.
4. Holidays: Holiday entitlement of 5.6 weeks per annum pro rata for part time.
5. Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%.
6. Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff have access to internal and external training.
7. Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors in People Silver status.

The role description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that roles change and evolve over time.

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 poverty and the barriers facing single parents and their children.

The Regional Coordinator role 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 coordinating components which contribute to the Falkirk service. The role holder will, working alongside colleagues in OPFS Management Teams, be responsible for strategic direction and delivery of services tailored for single parent families in Falkirk.

Competencies

The post holder is expected to be:

Able to support single parent families

Understand single parents’ needs and be aware of the impact poverty has on single parent families.

Have the skills and knowledge to support colleagues to identify support mechanisms, strategies, and techniques they can develop to enable them to support single parent families.

Be aware of national and local policies in relation to poverty and child poverty.

Champion single parents at a strategic and national level.

Unbiased

Ensure that practices are impartial, fair and provide equal potential outcomes for every individual. Ensuring that people feel a sense of belonging and cultural awareness.

Challenge prejudices and confront bias.

Identify training needs.

Actively seek prejudice and bias and identify solutions.

Flexible and able to manage time.

Be available when required and be willing to change things if they are not working.

Be available for colleagues and support them to time manage and be available to change plans if required.

Evaluate and assess colleagues’ situations and support them to work within times collaboratively agreed.

Work with colleagues to ensure time available suits the needs of the service and is manageable for colleagues.

Identify challenges with time management and support colleagues to address any issues.

Continually assess the needs of the service and identify strengths and challenges and take steps to ensure the smooth running of the service.

An analytical thinker

Continually identify, test and evaluate workload.

Work in collaboration with Coordinator and colleagues to develop innovative ideas and find solutions to resolve any issues.

Listen to others and strategically identify positive paths for the service and work collaboratively to develop plans.

Collect, evaluate, and identify service developments through case studies produced by colleagues.

Organise and collate robust information from a variety of sources and share knowledge and information across the wider organisation.

Able to manage budgets

Takes responsibility for the monitoring and controlling of expenditure.

Maintain regular contact with relevant finance staff, recognising when to seek advice.

A team player

Work collaboratively, identify and develop connections with OPFS colleagues, stakeholders, and single parents.

Attend external meetings and build connections with relevant agencies.

Be involved and support OPFS campaigns.

Identify relevant agencies and services and build useful connections.

Intuitive

Have and share innovative ideas which will help OPFS grow and develop and support colleagues to share innovation across OPFS services.

Actively seek colleagues’ thoughts and views on how OPFS can grow and develop.

Support colleagues to develop routes for parent participation.

Takes control of personal and professional development, actively managing own Personal Learning Plan as well as supporting the development of others when needed.

Communicative and engaging

Be able to understand others, evaluate situations and work collaboratively with everyone you encounter through the course of your work.

Have the skills to communicate and deliver clear guidance and support colleagues to enhance and develop positive communication skills.

Identify colleagues’ strengths and challenges and take positive action to build their skills and knowledge.

Communicate clear and creative ideas that meet the needs of a range of audiences, achieving objectives and outcomes.

Produce concise, clear, well-structured reports using OPFS guidance.

Supporting and enabling

Work collaboratively with OPFS services, share knowledge and skills and learn from others.

Be a competent user of Microsoft Office Suite such as Word, Excel, Outlook etc.

Offer Support and Supervision carry out Five Conversations Appraisals.

Identify strengths, challenges and training requirements and take steps to enable colleagues to address challenges and build on strengths.

Personal Specifications

Essential Experience

• Relevant HNC or SVQ 3 level qualification or equivalent experience in a related field.
• Experience of staff supervision and monitoring of family support services.
• Experience of partnership and multi-agency working.
• Experience of supporting the development of new services.
• Understanding of the roles of key statutory and voluntary agencies supporting families.
• Ability to present to a range of audiences using a variety of communication styles.
• Ability to demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Competent use of standard IT packages.
• Knowledge of issues affecting single parents in Scotland.
• Knowledge and understanding of current legislation around families and children.
• Commitment to professional development.
• Ability to plan, record and evaluate through reports.
• Flexible to meet the needs of the service.
• Clean driving license and access to a vehicle.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties. It is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Terms and conditions of appointment

• Confirmation of Appointment: This is a permanent appointment. Confirmation of appointment is subject to 2 references, one from the most recent employer being received, Enhanced Disclosure Scotland Check and satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, ending when a probationary review has been completed.
• Salary: OPFS Scale Point 22 - 24 £33401 - £36,583 (pro rata £23,381 - £25608)
• Hours of work: Hours of work will be 24.5 hours per week and will be flexible to meet the needs of the service and may include evening and weekend work.
• Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays, 259 hours, pro rata for part time. An additional 5 days, 35 hours, pro rata for part time, is added after 5 years’ service.
• Pension: You will be auto enrolled in our pension scheme with a 3% contribution from you and 7% from OPFS.
• Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision from the Project Manager. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff will have access to internal and external training.
• Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has IIP silver status.

Qualification Required: HNC or SVQ3 in Relevant Field

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

Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

OPFS Advice and Information Service

The Scotland-wide advice and information service for single parents provides:

• OPFS Advice Service for single parents and practitioners seeking advice via our Helpline, Webchat, advice@, 'Ask a Question' and social media platforms.
• OPFS Advice Information which hosts on-line content about issues that matter to single parents.
• OPFS Advice Training service which delivers online and in-person training courses for practitioners working with single parents.

Management Duties

Assist the Advice and Information Service manager and take responsibility for some operational duties of the service including rotas and leave, quality control and auditing, workload management, equipment and IT checks.

Act as a support source for Advice and Information colleagues. Also have some responsibility for providing support and supervision.

Network, develop and maintain relationships with both internal and external colleagues and partners.

Attend events, meetings, conferences relevant to the work of the service.

Monitor the progress towards key targets or outcomes set by OPFS, funders and other stakeholders.

Participate in and support ongoing improvements of the service.

Callback Specialist Duties

Hold and manage a case load referred primarily from the Advice and Information Service advisors where additional need has been identified.

Handle out of remit cases from local OPFS services.

Use professional curiosity to identify and assess need.

Work holistically, in line with OPFS values and priorities, to provide support to single parent households to improve their circumstances and encourage the family’s potential.

Advocate and liaise with other organisations on behalf of the single parent household.

Work within professional boundaries.

Use a number of communication channels to contact single parents.

Report on trends and policy areas reporting these to OPFS policy team through established channels.

Personal Specifications

Qualifications and Disclosures

• Relevant experience and skills are more important than qualifications, and this is a role open to both graduates and non-graduates. However, a qualification relevant to the type of work mentioned above would be helpful.
• Satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure Check

Experience

• Experience of leading a team or working in a supervisory capacity.
• Recent, substantial experience, paid or voluntary, providing advice in an advice setting such as a public advice helpline, Citizens Advice Bureau or similar.
• Experience of operating in a modern digital workplace with experience of using online case management systems.
• Experience of handling with discretion information which may be confidential or sensitive.

Skills & Attributes

• Great inter-personal skills and an approachable, friendly and supportive manner.
• Be able to work independently and be responsible for managing your own workload.
• Strong team-working skills and an ability to be flexible and adapt to change.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Confident and comfortable in a number of professional settings.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to provide advice and information in a professional, relevant and non-judgmental way.
• Proven ability to absorb new information and learn quickly to diagnose and respond to advice issues in a pressured advice environment.
• Able to work confidently in a digital environment, including standard Microsoft office software packages, CRM systems and digital communication tools.
• Ability to assess need and identify areas of work.

Knowledge

• Excellent working knowledge of the UK system of welfare benefits, Scottish social security benefits, awareness of child maintenance and Scottish family law.
• Knowledge of current government policies relevant to one parent families.
• Knowledge of barriers and challenges surrounding one parent families in Scotland.

Values and Attitudes

• Ability to take a flexible approach to work and duties within your range of responsibility and carrying out other duties as directed by line manager.
• To champion and promote equal opportunities and exhibit values which are non-discriminatory and that encourages single parents to access services.
• Clear understanding of the importance of excellence of customer service.
• Ability to support cross-team working, and a solution focused approach.
• Work in line with OPFS values and priorities.

Terms & Conditions

• Period of appointment: The appointment is permanent. Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, Disclosure Checks and receipt of satisfactory references.
• Salary: OPFS scale 19-23 (£28,629 - £34,991) pro rata for 28 hours a week.
• Hours of work: 28 hours per week, days to be agreed with line manager. As a flexible employer with life and family-friendly culture, flexible hours will be considered as will hybrid working – spreading the working week between the home and office.
• Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays, pro rata.
• Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%.
• Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff have access to internal and external training.

Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People status.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, as jobs change and evolve over time.

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 services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to poverty and the barriers facing many single parents and their children.

Competencies

The post holder is expected to be:

Able to support single parent families.

Understands single parents needs and expectations and respond in a helpful and professional way.

Be aware of the impact poverty has on single parent families.

Be able to support single parent families with multiple barriers and have the skills and knowledge required to support them.

Unbiased

Ensure that practices are impartial, fair and provide equal possible outcomes for every individual. Ensure that people feel a sense of belonging and cultural awareness.

Challenge prejudices and confront bias.

Flexible and able to manage time.

Be available when required and be willing to change things if they are not working.

Have excellent time management skills.

An analytical thinker

Continually identify, test and evaluate workload.

Develop good ideas and find solutions to resolve any issues.

Produce Case Studies and evaluate service offered.

Able to manage budgets

Understand the cost of delivering a service and minimising waste.

Identify the cost of developing and delivering group work sessions.

A team player

Work collaboratively and develop connections with OPFS colleagues, stakeholders and single parents.

Attend external meetings and build connections with relevant agencies.

Be involved and support OPFS campaigns.

Intuitive

Have and share good ideas which will help OPFS grow and develop.

Identify routes for parent participation.

Deliver agreed personal objectives and be aware of how your work contributes to OPFS Priority Areas.

Take control of personal and professional development, and actively manage own Personal Learning Plan.

Communicative and engaging

Be able to understand others and evaluate and work collaboratively with everyone you encounter through the course of your work.

Contributes views, ideas and experience, identifying appropriate methods of communication and target audience.

Verbally communicate confidently while contributing ideas in a clear and concise way.

Share and present information of all kinds in an appropriate format, accurately and on time.

Supportive and enabling

Work collaboratively with OPFS services, share knowledge and skills and learn from others.

Be a competent user of Microsoft Office Suite such as Word, Excel, Outlook etc.

Personal Specifications

Essential Experience:

• Experience of working with families and children.
• Awareness of child protection frameworks.
• Experience of partnership and multi-agency working.
• Experience of outreach work.
• Extensive knowledge of child development.

Practical Skills:

• Ability to demonstrate good written and verbal skills
• Ability to work as part of a team and as an individual.
• A good understanding of child development and the benefit of parental involvement.
• Ability to plan, record and evaluate through recording and written reports.
• Experience of setting up and working with groups.
• Accept and respond to the varying needs of families in a non-judgemental way.
• Have knowledge and understanding of current legislation when working with children and families.

Personal Qualities & Attributes:

• A commitment to work flexible hours.
• To be approachable friendly and a good team player.
• Excellent communicator.
• The ability to prioritise workload.
• To be positively motivated.
• Understand the need for confidentiality.
• Personal qualities of warmth and sensitivity to family members and their needs.

Terms and conditions of appointment

• Period of appointment: The appointment is permanent. Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, Standard Disclosure Check and receipt of references.
• Salary: The salary range would be point 13-17 £23,218 - £28,379 Starting salary is dependent upon skills, qualifications and experience.
• Hours of work: Up to 35 hours weekly, Monday to Friday
• Holidays: Holidays are 25 working days and 12 Public holidays
• Pension: Once the appointment has been confirmed you are eligible to join the Employer's Pension scheme with the Pensions Trust. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%. If you are already in a pension scheme, other arrangements may be possible.
• Training and Support and Supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter, you will receive monthly individual support and supervision from the Manager and annual appraisals.
• Regular team meetings are held, and staff have access to internal and external training.
• Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunities and family friendly employer. The post is open to job sharing. We have Investors in People status.
• Disclosure Check: This post requires a satisfactory standard disclosure check.

Qualification Required : HNC, SVQ Level 3 or equivalent in education, health, social care or community development.

The role description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that volunteering roles change and evolve over time.

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

Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Overview

The Training Officer will assist in the implementation of the organisation’s innovative learning and development framework by developing and delivering a suite of training for OPFS people.

Specific Duties Include

• Ensuring training courses are researched, created and delivered to high standard, using the latest developments and technology.
• Monitoring and assessing the skill level of each member of staff within the organisation.
• Ensuring that all team members have the level of knowledge to perform at a high level.
• Ensuring each member of staff has an individual training plan and that plan is linked to their current and future job role and maintain a training plan linked to each job description.
• Maintaining knowledge of the latest developments within the knowledge areas the organisation addresses as well as the latest learning and development techniques.
• Researching and producing required outcomes and learning strategies required in each subject area of the organisation.
• Develop bespoke teaching materials needed to carry out individual job remits.
• Develop interesting, thought provoking and challenging materials for staff to complete.
• Develop material over a variety of platforms.
• To take part in relevant conferences/events/seminars/presentations/workshops promoting the organisation to staff, stakeholders and partner organisations.
• Update and monitor the training calendar, ensuring an effective and full diet of learning.
• Assist with the scheduling and/or coordination of training sessions, booking and notifying all relevant parties.
• Seek feedback on training from all levels of staff. Using the feedback to inform delivery changes in the future.
• Maintain own qualifications in reference to training accreditations.

Behavioural Skills Requirements

• Highly professional and reliable
• Relevant professional experience or degree qualification
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong writing ability
• Self-Motivated
• Time management skills
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• At all times meet our values and vision
• Be Professional
• Be Innovative
• Have Integrity

Terms & Conditions

• Period of appointment: This post is funded until 31st March 2025. Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period. Standard Disclosure Check and receipt of references.
• Hours of work: 24.5 hours a week, days to be agreed with the Manager.
• Salary: OPFS Scale Point 19-23 £28629 - £34,991 (pro rata £20,040 - £24,494)
• Holidays: Holidays are 25 working days and 12 Public holidays which will be pro rata to reflect part time hours.
• Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%.
• Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals.
• Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People status.

The role description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that volunteering roles change and evolve over time.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children.

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

Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Main duties

The Training Officer will assist in the implementation of the organisation’s innovative learning and development framework by developing and delivering a suite of training for OPFS people.

Equal opportunities and family friendly employment

OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer and flexible working requests will be considered. OPFS has Investors In People status and Living Wage accreditation.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children.

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

Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Equal opportunities and family friendly employment

OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer and flexible working requests will be considered. OPFS has Investors In People status and Living Wage accreditation.

This post is partly funded through the National Lottery Community Fund’s Improving Lives Fund.

The Services Manager – Edinburgh’s role holds overall responsibility for the delivery of OPFS Services in the Edinburgh area. The role 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 leading, managing, and coordinating the various components of our Edinburgh provision. The role holder will be responsible for the management of the Edinburgh Support for Families staff to enable them to offer a consistent level of effective support to single parents and their children and to meeting funding obligations. This role holds responsibility for the relevant staff and budgets; for representing the work of OPFS to external agencies, and for developing new areas of work, and attracting funding for these, in conjunction with the OPFS Senior Team.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children.

The Employability Advisor will be responsible to Service Manager and will work as a member of OPFS Glasgow Employability Service, to provide employability support for single parents with disabilities facing additional barriers to entering suitable employment, education, and training opportunities through one-to-one meetings and group work sessions.

The postholder will be expected to operate in line with our values which are: Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

A full job description is attached below.

The Family Support Worker (Job Share) will be responsible to the Lanarkshire Project Manager and will assist and support the development and delivery of the Family Support Service in the Cumbernauld locality through effective engagement and working directly with single parent families. The role will include the provision of family support activities, delivery of Health and Well-being group work and personal and social development training sessions. Supporting families to better manage their family finances through gaining equal access to the services and resources available within their local area.

The Family Support Worker (Job Share) will be responsible to the Lanarkshire Project Manager and will assist and support the development and delivery of the Family Support Service in the Airdrie and Coatbridge locality through effective engagement and working directly with single parent families. The role will include the provision of family support activities, delivery of Health and Well-being group work and personal and social development training sessions. Supporting families to better manage their family finances through gaining equal access to the services and resources available within their local area.

This role is a job share with the other Family Support Worker delivering the service in the later half of the week. It is essential that there is good partnership working between staff in order to support service provision and handover of work.

The Outreach Assistant (Young Parents) will be responsible to the Lead Practitioner for supporting the delivery of the Lanarkshire Service for young parent families (Best Beginnings). The role will include the provision of family support on a 1:1 basis, outreach activities and supporting the delivery and co-ordination of groups for families across North Lanarkshire.

The Employability Advisor will be responsible to the Lead Practitioner (Young Parents) and will work as a member of OPFS Lanarkshire Employability Service, to provide employability support for young parents facing additional barriers to entering suitable employment, education, and training opportunities through one-to-one meetings and group work sessions.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children.

Roles and responsibilities

The post holder of this pivotal role will be responsible to the Service Manager for the administration and facilities functions of OPFS Families House in Dundee.

Equal opportunities and family friendly employment

OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer and flexible working requests will be considered. OPFS has Investors In People status.

OPFS Advice and Information Service

The Scotland-wide advice and information service for single parents provides the:

• OPFS Advice Service: for single parents and practitioners seeking advice via our Helpline, Webchat, email, 'Ask a Question' and our social channels.
• OPFS Self Service Advice: on-line content on the OPFS website about issues that matter to single parents.
• OPFS Advice Training: service which delivers online training courses for practitioners working with single parents and their families.

Main Duties

To:

• Research, develop, and write advice content for the OPFS website on numerous topics relevant to one parent families.
• Make use of a range of digital tools to disseminate advice and information to single parents, wider OPFS and other stakeholders.
• Create and maintain a range of resources in different formats.
• Collaborate with parents, OPFS departments and stakeholders to produce relevant and timely content.
• Primary liaison with the OPFS Digital and Communications Team to co-ordinate content for the website and other platforms.
• Share research and content on advice issues with all colleagues throughout OPFS.
• Take responsibility for keeping informed and updated on relevant topics and changes to the law regarding single parents' issues, undertaking training as appropriate.

Personal Specifications

Qualifications and Disclosures

• Relevant experience and skills are more important than qualifications, and this is a role open to both graduates and non-graduates. However, a qualification relevant to the type of work mentioned above would be helpful.
• Satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure Check.

Experience

• Experience or knowledge of working in an advice setting, whether in paid or voluntary capacity.
• Experience of operating in a modern digital workplace, using numerous platforms and systems.
• Experience of researching and communicating information in a clear and coherent manner.
• Experience of writing content or advice, in particular for web based platforms.

Skills & Attributes

• Bring a creative and innovative outlook to the provision of web-based advice.
• Ability to provide advice and information in a professional, relevant and non-judgmental way.
• Ability to audit existing information and spot gaps in provision.
• Able to work confidently in a digital environment using a range of tools such as Microsoft 365 software packages, WordPress, social media platforms, etc.
• Keen and quick learner.
• Strong communication skills, using various methods (i.e. verbal, written, etc).
• Ability to interpret and summarise complex information into an accessible and relevant form.
• Strong team-working skills and an ability to be flexible and adapt to change.
• Ability to commit to the aims and values of OPFS, championing the experience and voice of single parents and their families throughout Scotland.

Knowledge

• Working knowledge of the UK system of welfare benefits, Scottish social security benefits, awareness of child maintenance and Scottish family law.
• Knowledge of barriers, challenges and relevant issues surrounding one parent families in Scotland.
• Understanding of the importance of assessing data and user testing to identify areas for improvement.
• Awareness/Knowledge of approaches to writing web content.

Terms & Conditions

1. Period of appointment: The appointment is permanent. Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, Standard Disclosure Checks and receipt of satisfactory references.
2. Salary: OPFS scale points 13+1 – 17+1(additional increment paid to recognise lead role) £24,509 - £29,669 for full time; £18356 - £22221 pro rata for 30 hours a week.
3. Hours of work: 25 - 30 hours per week, hours, and days to be agreed with line manager. As a flexible employer with life and family-friendly culture, flexible hours will be considered.
4. Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays, pro rata.
5. Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%.
6. Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff have access to internal and external training.
7. Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People status.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, as jobs change and evolve over time.

Reports to: Advice and Information Services Manager

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children.

Overview:

We are the only Scotland-wide dedicated advice and information service for single parents. We provide:-

OPFS Advice and Information Service

We are the only Scotland-wide dedicated advice and information service for single parents. We provide-

· The OPFS Advice Service

o our contact centre for single parents seeking advice via our Helpline, Webchat, advice@, 'Ask a Question' and Facebook

· The OPFS Advice Information

o our website content about advice issues that matter to single parents.

· The OPFS Advice Training

o our online and in-person training courses for practitioners working with single parents

The Advice Service currently operates Monday to Friday 9.30 to 4 pm and all bank holidays except Christmas and Easter.

Job description

This is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Overall purpose of role

• To provide up to date advice and signposting to single parents and those acting on their behalf via the OPFS Advice Service activities.
• To actively monitor social policy concerns identified from our contact with single parents.

The Single Parent Income Maximisation Adviser will provide advice, casework and representation services to single parents who are looking to move into education, training or employment. The project will take a partnership approach to delivering an advice service that will support single parents to maximise income from employment and social security benefits. The post holder will be required to gain equal access to entitlements, address hidden costs for parents moving into education, training and employment and support parents with change of circumstances etc.

Key Tasks

• To provide Type 1, 11, 111 benefit advice to single parents on all benefits and casework
• Provide representation for clients by preparing and presenting cases at benefit appeal hearings.
• Deliver regular confidential, holistic advice sessions for single parents in a variety of locations.
• Provide advice to parents on financial implications of moving into training, education
• Support families to increase family income from employment and social security benefits
• Develop working links with Clyde Gateway Supporting Families Project, local nurseries, schools and other key agencies.
• Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, monitoring and reporting
• Recording client cases as required to enable the service to be monitored and evaluated.
• To adhere to all requirements of the organisations systems and processes in accordance the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers and comply with the Financial Conduct Authority Regulations pertaining to Money Advice.
• Provide regular reports to the Project Manager on activities against targets
• Undertake any other work, consistent with the purpose of the post, as directed by the Project.

Personal Specifications

Essential Experience

• Proven experience in advice work and representation at benefit appeals
• Current knowledge of the benefits system
• Experience of managing a complex caseload and maintain up to date recording
• Good knowledge of single parent issues and the effect of Welfare Reform on single parent families.
• Fully competent in using Microsoft Office and custom database packages,
• Ability to work under pressure, on your own initiative, but also to be part of a team
• Commitment to working to the organisation’s policies and procedures
• Ability to work in an organised manner
• Excellent organisational, communication and report writing skills
• An ability to deal with clients and other professionals in a sensitive manner
• Ability to contribute to team meetings
• Commitment to the company equality and diversity policies
• Clean driving Licence and access to a car

Desirable

• Relevant qualifications
• Knowledge of the role of other agencies supporting single parents and experience of multi-agency working

Terms & Conditions

• Confirmation of Appointment: Contract until 30th September 2023 with the possibility of extending (dependent on funding). Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory disclosure and completion of a 3-month probationary period.
• Salary: Point 13-17, £23,218 - £28,379
• Hours of work: Hours of work will be 21 hours per week, worked flexibly to meet the demands of the job
• Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays.
• Pension: You will be auto enrolled in our pension scheme with a 2% contribution from you and 3% from OPFS. Once the appointment has been confirmed you are eligible to join the Employer's Full Pension scheme with the Pensions Trust. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%.
• Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held and staff have access to internal and external training.
• Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People status.

Working as a key member of this new “Making Employment Work for Single Parents “team, the Employability Development Worker will provide a flexible, needs-led employability service to assist single to gain skills and qualification and move into suitable and sustainable education and employment opportunities. The Employability Development Worker also support parents through the transitional stages to equal access to entitlements, address hidden costs, arrange appropriate flexible childcare and support parents with their change of circumstances and their work life balance.

Specific Duties

• Case Management: Support single parents with additional barriers using case management methods, to provide a continuum of consistent support on their employability pathway into training, education and employment.
• Families: Help single parents to identify their future goals, assess motivation, develop personal development plans and help in their implementation through individual and group work.
• Barriers: Identify barriers to employment and work with single parents with to address those challenges and barriers.
• Liaison: Building links with organisations and groups throughout Glasgow including the Supporting Families Project, Glasgow Life etc to identify single parents interested in progressing towards training, education and employment.
• Outreach & Engagement: Undertake activities in communities to actively reach eligible single parents as a basis to support their learning and development and engage them in action to support change within their lives.
• Work/Vocational Activities & Training: Co-ordinate and deliver a range of activities to enable single parents to develop core knowledge and skills to increase their employability potential.
• Job Matching: Refer job ready single parents to support within the consortium to help with job searching, interviews, securing and sustaining employment.
• Transition Support: Supporting parents to access flexible affordable childcare, address hidden costs, access support via discretionary funds for travel, clothing etc.
• In Work Support: Provide single parents with continued support whilst in employment to help sustain their jobs
• Local services: Develop knowledge of services related to employment, training, education, childcare and other support. Develop an effective network of referral agencies to support clients' needs.
• Signpost: single parents to services that will address their needs.
• Marketing: To implement the marketing and promotion strategy for the service.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Ensure effective recording, monitoring and evaluation procedures are implemented.
• Other Relevant duties: Carrying out any other relevant duties related to the above.

Personal Specifications

Essential

• Qualification: A relevant professional qualification or good standard of education equivalent to HNC/HND, SVQ 3 or 4 combined with relevant experience.
• Knowledge of issues affecting lone parents in Scotland
• Knowledge of employability issues relevant to single parents
• Experience of liaison and partnership working with other agencies
• Knowledge and understanding of the roles of other voluntary and statutory agencies relevant to single parent families.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• IT skills commensurate to the needs of the post
• Commitment to professional development
• Flexibility to meet the needs of the services
• Satisfactory Disclosure check

Desirable

• An understanding of current government policies and how these impact on one parent families
• Knowledge of Welfare Benefits: it would be helpful for candidates to have a broad understanding of the benefits system as it relates to single parents.
• Experience of developing new services
• Experience of group work: candidates should preferably have had experience of running groups and understand group work issues
• Driving license and use of a car:
• Experience of work with single parents: Prior experience of work with single parent families in a voluntary sector or statutory context would be helpful.

Terms & Conditions

• Period of appointment: The post is funded initially until 30th September 2023 with the possibility of continuation if funding is confirmed. Confirmation of appointment will be dependent on completion of a satisfactory disclosure and three-month probation period.
• Salary: OPFS salary scale points 13 – 17, £23,233 - £28,373 (pro rata for part time hours)
• Appointments will be made at a point reflective of previous experience and salary.
• Hours of work: 25 hours weekly with flexibility to meet the needs of clients.
• Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays pro rata.
• Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay 3%.
• Training, support and supervision: OPFS is committed to the development of its staff through internal training and access to external training. We also have an annual staff appraisal system in place and all staff receive regular monthly support and supervision from their manager.
• Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. We have Investors in People status and Living Wage accreditation.

This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

OPFS is looking for a dynamic colleague who can help parents over one of the biggest barriers in getting back into employment or education – finding and securing childcare.

The Childcare Connector will work with parents and providers to help them find each other and ensure that families can make a positive transition to the next chapter in their lives.

This is a fixed term position for 6 months, with the potential for the post to be extended if successful and further funding is secured.

OPFS Edinburgh supports single parents with a range of issues that affect their ability to play a full part in the economic and social life of their communities. A major barrier for many parents in doing that is identifying and successfully using affordable and flexible childcare that meets their needs. This affects their abilities to find suitable employment, progress within their current jobs and enroll in education or training opportunities. While some aspects of this are due to larger systemic issues, there is a need for a worker with local knowledge of the different forms of childcare in the city who can proactively support single parents to create sustainable packages of care for their children.

Specific Duties Include

• Supporting parents in the community to understand the different forms of early years care, education and after school care.
• Supporting parents in the community to understand the best form or combination of care for their needs and how it can be funded.
• Supporting parents in the community who have not used childcare previously to feel confident in the benefits to their children and themselves.
• Liaising with different providers of childcare in communities across Edinburgh to support effective transitions for parents going into employment or education.
• Remain in touch with single parents for at least 13 weeks to ensure that the care arrangements are suitable and sustained.
• Liaise with OPFS to ensure that families are receiving holistic support from the project.
• Meeting regularly with line manager for support and supervision.
• Attending scheduled team meetings and training as required.
• Documenting work and maintaining confidential information.

Personal Specifications

Essential

• Childcare – A sound understanding of the childcare sector and the different ways parents can fund it based on their circumstances.
• Lone Parents – Awareness of barriers faced by separated parents and ways of addressing these challenges
• Equalities – An awareness of the barriers different communities face in accessing services and a commitment to be proactive in reaching out to those parents.
• Qualifications: Relevant professional qualification or an exceptionally good standard of education (equivalent to HNC/HND, SVQ 3 or 4) combined with relevant experience.
• Relevant Knowledge - Understanding of differences in informal and regulated care and the role of regulatory bodies in helping parents make informed choices.
• Communication Skills – A good standard of written and oral communication. Ability to engage effectively with less confident parents as well as childcare providers and employers.
• Outreach - Experience of engaging with parents and children in their own communities.
• Organisational Skills: Able to work effectively on own or with colleagues to an agreed plan. Demonstrates initiative to solve problems.
• IT: Competent in word processing, spreadsheets, use of databases, and of e- mail.
• Safeguarding: Completion of a satisfactory Basic Disclosure check

Desirable

• Child development: Knowledge of child development, attachment and how transitions affect families.
• Collaboration: Experience of partnership working with other statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Services for families: Knowledge or experience of local (statutory and third sector) services particularly in regard to employability, training and further education.
• Employability and Further Education – Understanding of processes that single parents may be undertaking to reach their goals and how childcare contributes.

Terms & Conditions

• Confirmation of Appointment: Contract October 1, 2022 (or asap after that) – March 31, 2023 with the possibility of extending (dependent on funding). Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period.
• Salary: £23,218 – £28,379
• Hours of work: 35 hours per week by arrangement with flexibility to meet the needs of the service.
• Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays
• Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 3% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 7%
• Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff have access to internal and external training.
• Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People Silver status.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

The Welfare Rights Assistant will be responsible to the Project Manager for supporting the delivery of the Financial Inclusion work within the Glasgow Service for single parent families. The role will include the provision of crisis and welfare rights support, outreach activities and supporting the delivery and co-ordination of welfare rights and money management sessions for single parents.

The Parental Employability Development Worker will be responsible to the Dundee Services Manager and will work in collaboration with the Parental Employment Service to support single parents who are in work, but are under-employed, to develop their in-work potential. The work will be in partnership with single parents and their employers, to achieve a positive outcome.

You will work closely with a number of single parents, profiling their skills, qualifications and experience and jointly planning activity that will enable them to achieve their work goals, upskill through training and support, and achieve progressions or sustainment in work.

You will be an important member of the wider Dundee Family Support Services team, supporting organisational objectives through delivery of support but also through positive collaboration and innovation within your team to support strategic and societal goals.

The Employability Support Assistant will be responsible to the Lanarkshire Service Manager and work with the Employability Advisor to deliver OPFS Lanarkshire Young Parents Employability Service. The role will include the provision of employability support, outreach activities, supporting the delivery and helping with the co-ordination and facilitation of one-to-one support meetings, group work employability sessions and training courses for young parents.

Key Tasks

Employability Support: Support the Employability Advisor to engage with young parents and promote the services available through One Parent Families Scotland by developing trusting relationships with young parents through the provision of 1:1 support meetings, providing information, advice and support to young parents engaging with the service.

Support Young Parents: to access and attend one to one meetings, local employability group work and training sessions, helping young parents to develop their confidence, skills, knowledge, and motivation to access available opportunities, and make informed and positive choices in their lives. Work with young parents to complete online forms, charitable grant applications and refer to appropriate financial inclusion services.

Employability Advisor: to help identify community resources and local services and assist young parents to engage with services, resources and agencies that will enable parents to progress into employment, education, or further training. Assist with the delivery of employability group work and training provision including, confidence building, early work preparation, volunteering, developing and building skills to access local opportunities.

Record Keeping & Reporting: Maintain confidential information, complete all appropriate client paperwork. Record and document meetings and support provided to single parents and in-put data onto OPFS database. Complete monthly reporting template and write case studies within agreed timelines.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties. It is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Personal specifications

Essential:

• Experience of being single parent.
• IT: Competent in word processing, spreadsheets, databases, e-mail.
• Personal attributes: (Professional), friendly, welcoming personality and an organised approach to tasks, good communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills & a team player.

Desirable:

• Services for families: Knowledge or experience of employability services for single parents in Lanarkshire
• Internet: Experience of information gathering research information from the Internet.
• Driving License: A clean driving license and access to a car
• Personal Qualities: friendly & personable manner, flexible approach to duties

Terms and conditions

• Period of appointment: Fixed term contract until 31st March 2023 with the possibility of extending (dependent on funding). Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, references, and receipt of a satisfactory disclosure check.
• Salary: Point 5: £19,100 pro rata
• Hours of work: 25 hours per week and flexible to meet the needs of the service
• Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 public holidays (Pro-rata)
• Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%
• Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals and attend regular team meeting. OPFS is committed to the development of its staff through internal training and access to external training.
• Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors in People status and Living Wage accreditation.

The Employability Advisor will be responsible to the Lanarkshire Services Manager and will work as a member of OPFS Lanarkshire Employability Service, to provide employability support for young parents living with complex needs and facing additional barriers to entering suitable employment, education, and training opportunities through one-to-one meetings and group work sessions.

The Family Support Worker will be responsible to the Lanarkshire Project Manager and will assist and support the development and delivery of the Family Support Service through effective engagement and working directly with single parent families. The role will include the provision of family support activities, delivery of Health and Well-being group work and personal and social development training sessions. Supporting families to better manage their family finances through gaining equal access to the services and resources available within their local area.

To support the Financial Inclusion Lead in the delivery of high quality, efficient and effective Welfare Rights service in Glasgow, and South Lanarkshire (Rutherglen/ Cambuslang) through the provision of welfare rights advice supporting single parent families to maximise income through welfare benefit entitlements, address levels of household poverty and provide support to help with situations of crisis. To provide professional guidance and support to welfare rights staff team. All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parents providing support that enables them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to poverty and address the barriers facing single parents and their children.

The Lanarkshire Services Manager role holds overall responsibility for the delivery of OPFS Services in the Lanarkshire area. The role 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 leading, managing and coordinating the various components of our Lanarkshire provision.

The role holder will be responsible for management of the Lanarkshire Support for Families staff to enable them to offer a consistent level of effective support to single parents and their children and to meeting funding obligations. This role holds responsibility for the relevant staff and budgets; for representing the work of OPFS to external agencies, and for developing new areas of work, and funding for these, in conjunction with the OPFS Senior Team.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children.

OPFS Lanarkshire Support for Families Service

Our Lanarkshire based service provides a range of support for single parents and their families,

which currently includes:

• Family Support: assisting families with everyday situations and through more complex and difficult times.
• Mental Health & Wellbeing: advice and practical support around looking after yourself and your family and therapeutic support, including the provision of counselling.
• Young Parents: pathway of specialist family and employability support for young parents and their children. Employability: specialised and comprehensive support for single parents to support progression and wrap around support for additional barriers.

The post holder is responsible to the Service Manager for the administration and facilities functions of OPFS Families House in Dundee.

Key Tasks

• Reception: Covering the reception area, meeting and greeting visitors, dealing with walk in enquiries, deliveries, and suppliers. Answering the phones, signposting referrals, responding to the generic OPFS email.
• Administration: Ensuring effective and efficient administration for OPFS Dundee. Processing referrals and ensuring data base/Salesforce are accurately maintained. Liaising with managers and staff to collect information related to service delivery and performance. Providing administrative support for Service Manager. Maintain document storage in line with OPFS data retention policy and procedures arranging confidential destruction and archiving as appropriate.
• Properties: Ensuring the smooth operation of the premises in terms of repairs and regular Planned Preventative Maintenance. Assisting the Service Manager and team with arranging any reorganisation of office space, including any necessary wiring, IT requirements, heating, lighting, and other utilities, redecoration and required flooring, and any furniture needs.
• Health & Safety: Assisting the Service Manager in ensuring that the Dundee premises is compliant in all aspects of health and safety regulations. Act as the designated fire warden ensuring appropriate training and drills are performed and documented regularly and act as a First Aider in Dundee.
• Personnel: Maintain accurate and secure records for all staff employed by OPFS Dundee ensuring that a complete and up to date record is kept for all absence, leave and contact details for Dundee staff in paper form and electronically with information passed to OPFS HQ as required.
• Recruitment: Support Service Manager and work in partnership with OPFS HQ. This will include collation of all relevant information on the role, Job Description etc. Support the production of documents as required by the interview panel, set up of interview space, including and IT equipment required, for interviews in Dundee. Co-ordinating induction programmes for new staff as appropriate to their role.
• IT – Purchasing equipment (laptops and mobile phones) and acting as main internal contact and support for staff with simple IT issues, advising of appropriate external support as required. Ensuring all IT equipment and software at Dundee functions and is fit for purpose with liaison with HQ on IT issues. Administration of OPFS SharePoint and assisting staff.
• Event, meeting and conference organisation: providing administrative functions for meetings, including arranging rooms, invitations and minute taking., Coordinating OPFS events, working in partnership with HQ to arrange appropriate publicity, adequate space and appropriate refreshments.
• Any other duties relevant to the post or organisation as requested by the OPFS Directorate.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties. It is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Personal Specifications

Essential

• Qualifications: Relevant qualification to HNC level or equivalent relevant experience.
• Demonstrable experience of working in a busy office
• Excellent IT skills and good working knowledge of Microsoft systems
• Self-motivated
• Good organisational skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Commitment to continuous professional development

Desirable

• Experience of working in the Third Sector
• Understanding of single parent challenges

Terms & Conditions

• Confirmation of Appointment: This is a permanent appointment. Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period ending when a probationary review has been completed.
• Salary: OPFS Scale Points 13 – 17 £22542 - £27552 for full time
• Hours of work: Hours of work by mutual agreement. Contract will be for 21 – 35 hours per week, worked flexibly to meet the demands of the job
• Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays.
• Pension: You will be auto enrolled in our pension scheme with a 3% contribution from you and 7% from OPFS.
• Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held and staff have access to internal and external training.
• Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People status.

This pivotal role will provide administrator support for the OPFS headquarters in Edinburgh and wider support to staff across the organisation.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children.

Main Duties

The Employability Advisor will be responsible to the Glasgow Services Manager and will work as a member of OPFS Glasgow Employability Service, to provide employability support for single parents living with complex needs and facing additional barriers to entering suitable employment through one-to-one meetings and group work sessions.

Specific Duties

• Case Management: Work with single parents, living with complex needs and facing additional barriers, to access employability support by using case management methods, to provide a continuum of consistent support through each client’s journey of the OPFS Employability Pathway and progress into suitable and sustainable employment.
• Barriers: Identify clients presenting barriers to employment and work with single parents to address those barriers .
• Initial Support: Enable single parents to identify their future goals, assess motivation, develop personal action plans, and support client’s access to suitable employability activities .
• Liaison: Build links with agencies, projects, organisations, and groups across the city, to identify eligible single parents who would benefit from participating in a scheduled programme of employability support, that will enable them to access suitable employment opportunities.
• Outreach & Engagement: Undertake activities to actively reach out to, and engage with, eligible single parents; supporting clients to build their confidence and develop their knowledge and awareness of the support and services available to them through OPFS’s Employability Service.
• Work/Vocational Activities & Training: Co-ordinate and deliver a range of employability activities to enable single parents facing additional barriers to employment to develop their knowledge, awareness and understanding of early work preparation, C.V development and core skills, helping to increase participants access to available employment, training, and education opportunities.
• Job Matching: Provide single parents to be job ready through the provision of activities that focus on; active job searching, completing application forms, attending interviews and make informed decisions to secure and sustain suitable employment.
• In Work Support: Provide single parents facing additional barriers to employment with continued support on entering employment and help parents sustain and progress within employment.
• Signposting and Referral: Ensure that single parents gain access to the services and resources that will help to address their needs and support their progression along OPFS Employability Pathway.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Ensure effective recording, monitoring and evaluation procedures are collated and produced on a regular monthly basis.
• Other Relevant duties: Carrying out any other relevant duties related to the above.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Personal Specifications

Essential

1. Qualification: A relevant professional qualification or a good standard of education equivalent to HNC/HND, SVQ3 /4 and combined with relevant experience.
2. Experience of group work: candidates should preferably have had experience of running groups and understand group work issues
3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
4. IT skills commensurate to the needs of the post
5. Commitment to professional development
6. Flexibility to meet the needs of the services

Desirable:

1. Driving license and use of a vehicle:
2. Experience of work with single parents: Prior experience of work with single parent families in a voluntary sector or statutory context would be helpful.

Terms & Conditions

1. Period of appointment: The post is funded until 31st March 2023. Confirmation of appointment will be dependent on completion of a satisfactory three-month probation period, satisfactory reference and Disclosure checks.
2. Salary: OPFS salary scale points 13 – 17, currently £22,542 - £27,552. (Pro-rata) Appointments will be made at a point reflective of previous experience.
3. Hours of work: up to 35 hours weekly with flexibility to meet the needs of clients.
4. Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays. (Pro-rata)
5. Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%.
6. Training, support and supervision: OPFS is committed to the development of its staff through internal training and access to external training. We also have an annual staff appraisal system in place and all staff receive regular monthly support and supervision from their manager.
7. Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. We have Investors in People status and Living Wage accreditation.

OPFS was founded in 1940 and since then we have been at the forefront of shaping policy and services in Scotland, that support single parents and their children. Today, there are over 144,000 single parent families in Scotland, 25% of all families. We champion their voices and keep their needs at the heart of everything we do.

We want a society in which single parent families are treated equally and fairly. To help achieve this OPFS provides a range of single parent tailored services. We do this through our advice channels, self-help pages on our website and through our local community-based services. To create lasting change we involve single parents, experts by experience, to influence policy - to challenge discrimination and judgmental attitudes, to reduce child poverty - and make services more accessible to all families.

Core purpose

The Communications Officer will be responsible for supporting the development and maintenance of high-quality integrated communications and building the brand and profile of OPFS. You will support a range of communications, single parent audience development and marketing activities that support the delivery of the organisation’s strategic goals. Working within our communications team, you’ll lead on the planning and delivery of all aspects of PR activity, contribute towards comms and identify, and respond quickly, to short term opportunities.

You’ll help co-ordinate the scheduling, drafting and delivery across our social media channels, write and edit press releases and other written materials such as blog posts, latest news features and statements and support single parents to take part in comms/media.

Duties include:

• Building brand and increasing our reach through writing style and visual brand.

• Delivering effective communications, marketing campaigns and projects.

• Work effectively with single parents to ensure active involvement in and support for communications and campaigns.

• To co-ordinate public relations activities ensuring consistency of messaging, identifying media opportunities, and developing content for news releases and various channels.

• Key responsibility in developing digital content for a range of projects across social media, website, and other online platforms.

• Write and publish content, ensuring that it reflects and reinforces OPFS brand and personality.

• Proactively plan workloads whilst working in an overall team framework.

• Identify and understand the different audiences OPFS communicates with and how best to communicate with them.

Further details about the role can be downloaded below.

The Policy, Research and Influencing Lead will play a key role in supporting OPFS achieve its mission – to ensure the challenge of being both sole carer and breadwinner is recognised and to support single parent families to live free of discrimination, judgmental attitudes and poverty to achieve their potential.

Duties include:

You will have a central role in OPFS policy, research and influencing work , including:

• Leading on developing strong policy recommendations across the range of issues affecting single parent families.
• Utilise research of relevance to single parent families to support OPFS’s external messaging and forward planning. Where resource allows, commission additional research.
• Developing impactful policy influencing strategies to improve the lives of single parents, by influencing the Scottish and UK Governments as well as local authorities and the general public to achieve change.
• Working collaboratively with OPFS Comm’s team and colleagues and stakeholders to disseminate OPFS policy and research activities.
• Working with OPFS Business Development team to secure funding for the organisation’s policy and research activity.

The Welfare Rights Adviser will provide an up to date and comprehensive welfare benefits advice and income maximisation service for single parent families. The successful candidate will also provide advocacy service for single parents undergoing appeals or attending tribunals and roll out training or updates to staff to ensure they are kept informed of changes in the Welfare Benefit system.

Core Purpose: To 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 financial management of OPFS by compiling and maintaining accurate records of the financial transactions of OPFS timeously, including payroll, in line with agreed procedures. Contributing to the OPFS mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children. The Finance Officer will contribute to the work of the finance department in supporting, and working with, all other OPFS staff and services to provide accurate, timely and comprehensive financial information and functions.

OPFS are looking for an experienced Business Development Lead to join our team and fulfil a critical lead role to help us achieve our vision of a Scotland in which single parents and their children are valued and treated equally and fairly.

Recruitment Timeline: Applications will be accepted until 5.00pm on Wednesday 3rd November 2021.

Salary Range: £27,795 - £33,972 pro rata for 21 hours (based on an FTE of 35hrs)

Hours: 21 hours per week

Appointment: The appointment is fixed term until 31st March 2023.

Location: Scotland – open to home-based, office (Edinburgh) based and/or a combination of both.

The Employability Advisor will be responsible to the Glasgow Services Manager and will work as a member of OPFS Glasgow Employability Service, to provide employability support for single parents living with complex needs and facing additional barriers to entering suitable employment through one to one meetings and group work sessions.

The Welfare Rights Advisor will provide an up-to-date and comprehensive welfare benefits advice and income maximisation service for single parent families. The successful candidate will also provide advocacy service for single parents undergoing appeals or attending tribunals and roll out training or updates to staff to ensure they are kept informed of changes in the Welfare Benefit system.

Key Tasks

⚫ To provide benefit advice to single parents on all benefits and casework.

⚫ Provide representation for clients by preparing and presenting cases at benefit appeal hearings.

⚫ To establish links with relevant services throughout Glasgow, particularly GAIN Network Agencies.

⚫ Assist with research and campaigns on issues relating to welfare reform.

⚫ To organise in-house training on welfare benefits for appropriate OPFS staff.

⚫ Assist in producing, maintaining and distributing appropriate information materials.

⚫ Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, monitoring and reporting.

⚫ Recording client cases using Advice Pro Case Management System as required to enable the service to be monitored and evaluated.

⚫ To adhere to all requirements of the organisations systems and processes in accordance with the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers and comply with the Financial Conduct Authority Regulations pertaining to Money Advice.

⚫ Provide regular reports to the Project Manager on activities against targets.

2 Personal Specifications Essential Experience

⚫ Proven experience in advice work and representation at benefit appeals.

⚫ In-depth current knowledge of the benefits system.

⚫ Experience of managing a complex caseload and maintain up to date recording.

⚫ Able to understand wishes and needs of service users and advocate on their behalf.

⚫ Good knowledge of single parent issues and the effect of Welfare Reform on single parent families.

⚫ Fully competent in using Microsoft Office 365 and custom database packages.

⚫ Ability to work under pressure, on your own initiative, but also to be part of a team.

⚫ Commitment to working to the organisation’s policies and procedures.

⚫ Ability to work in an organised manner.

⚫ Excellent organisational, communication and report writing skills.

⚫ An ability to deal with clients and other professionals in a sensitive manner.

⚫ Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills. Desirable

⚫ Relevant qualifications.

⚫ Clean driving Licence and access to a vehicle. Terms & Conditions

⚫ Confirmation of Appointment: Fixed term contract until 31st March 2022 with the possibility of extending (dependent on funding). Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, references, and receipt of a satisfactory disclosure check.

⚫ Salary: Points 13-17 £22542 - £27552 - for full time pro rata for 30 hours per week is £19322 - £23616.

⚫ Hours of work: Full and part time hours available.

⚫ Holidays: Holiday entitlement of 5.6 weeks per annum pro rata to the hours worked. This will include an additional 5 days per year after 5 years’ service. (This will be pro-rated from your start date in the fifth year of service).

⚫ Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 3% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 7%. Registered as One Parent Families Scotland, a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered at Edinburgh under number 094860. Scottish Charity number: SC006403. 3

⚫ Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff have access to internal and external training.

⚫ Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People status.

Role and Responsibilities

The Lead Practitioner role 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 coordinating the various components which contribute to the Glasgow Helps Single Parents Project. The role holder will be responsible for day to day management of Financial Inclusion and Family Support staff to enable them to offer a consistent level of support to single parents and their children and to meeting funding obligations. 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.

Key Tasks

• To provide day to day management to OPFS Glasgow Financial Inclusion and Family Support staff
• Work closely with the manager to support the delivery of OPFS holistic service model across Glasgow through a range of funding streams.
• Be responsible for staff development through regular supervision and annual appraisals in line with organisational procedures
• To work within annual budget set for the Glasgow Helps Single Parents Project and funders’ grant conditions and liaising with project Manager on preparation of budgets.
• To work closely with the Project Manager to submit monitoring and evaluation information to funders in a timely and accurate manner.
• To work in a pro-active, non-discriminatory and culturally sensitive manner that encourages single parents to access services.
• To positively promote the work of OPFS Glasgow services and strengthening existing links with external stakeholders.
• To provide positive role modelling for staff supporting single parents while promoting and supporting good practice and compliance to OPFS’ ethos, policies and procedures.
• To adhere to confidentiality and information sharing protocols and legislation with regard to sensitive data between service users, staff and relevant agencies.
• To support the development of a marketing/ promotion strategy for the service.
• To take part in service evaluation, monitoring and consultations with service users.
• Establishing and maintaining effective liaison with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies including developing partnership initiatives.
• Identifying any new needs that service users may have and developing new services to meet such needs, including working to secure additional funding.
• Any other relevant duties as requested by the Project Manager.

Personal Specifications

Essential Experience

• Relevant degree level qualification or equivalent experience in a related field
• Experience of staff and financial management and monitoring of family support services
• Experience of partnership and multi-agency working  Experience of supporting the development of new services
• Experience of submitting successful funding applications
• Understanding of the roles of key statutory and voluntary agencies supporting families.
• Ability to present to a range of audiences using a variety of communication styles
• Ability to demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Competent use of standard IT packages in word processing, spreadsheets, use of databases, and Microsoft Office 365.
• Knowledge of issues affecting single parents in Scotland
• Knowledge and understanding of current legislation whilst supporting the work with children and families
• Commitment to professional development
• Ability to plan, record and evaluate through written reports.
• Flexible to meet the needs of the service
• Clean driving license and access to a car

Terms & Conditions

• Confirmation of Appointment: Contract until March 2022 with the possibility of extending (dependent on funding). Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3- month probationary period.
• Salary: Point 19 – 23 (£27,795 - £33,972)
• Hours of work: Hours of work will be 35 hours per week, worked flexibly to meet the demands of the job
• Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays.
• Pension: You will be auto enrolled in our pension scheme with a 2% contribution from you and 3% from OPFS. Once the appointment has been confirmed you are eligible to join the Employer's Full Pension scheme with the Pensions Trust. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%.
• Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held and staff have access to internal and external training.
• Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People status.

The Dundee Services Manager role holds overall responsibility for the delivery of OPFS Services in the Dundee area. The role 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 leading, managing and coordinating the various components of our Dundee provision.

The role holder will be responsible for management of the Dundee Support for Families staff to enable them to offer a consistent level of effective support to single parents and their children and to meeting funding obligations. This role holds responsibility for the relevant staff and budgets; for representing the work of OPFS to external agencies, and for developing new areas of work, and funding for these, in conjunction with the OPFS Senior Team.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children.

OPFS Dundee Support for Families Service

Our Dundee based service provides a range of support for single parents and their families, which currently includes:

• Family Support: assisting families with everyday situations and through more complex and difficult times
• Mental Health & Wellbeing: advice and practical support around looking after yourself and your family and therapeutic support, including the provision of counselling
• Employability: specialised and comprehensive support for single parents to support progression and wrap around support for additional barriers

The role holder will be responsible for management of the Dundee Support for Families staff to enable them to offer a consistent level of effective support to single parents and their children and to meeting funding obligations. This role holds responsibility for the relevant staff and budgets; for representing the work of OPFS to external agencies, and for developing new areas of work, and funding for these, in conjunction with the OPFS Senior Team.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support services that enable them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children.

OPFS Dundee Support for Families Service

Our Dundee based service provides a range of support for single parents and their families, which currently includes:

• Family Support: assisting families with everyday situations and through more complex and difficult times
• Mental Health & Wellbeing: advice and practical support around looking after yourself and your family and therapeutic support, including the provision of counselling
• Employability: specialised and comprehensive support for single parents to support progression and wrap around support for additional barriers

Main duties include:

Responsible for the management, day-to-day running, and adequate resourcing of OPFS Dundee service. This includes:

• Working as a member of the Leadership team to support the development and implementation of the strategic and annual operational plans.
• Leading, directing and managing our well-established Dundee Support for Families Service to ensure that single parents have the opportunity and support to make choices that enable them to lead a full life and promote wellbeing and that their rights are at the heart of all service developments and improvements.
• Responsibilities for the performance and development of the Dundee Support for Families service.
• Working with service users, external partners and providers and be responsible for all aspects of the specialist services provided, ensuring positive outcomes for single parent families.
• Contributing to development of service provision regionally and nationally, including leading on a specific thematic issue for single parents.
• Leading on funding applications for the service, working with, and supported by, OPFS Business Development team, managing budgets and reporting back to funders.
• Managing the Dundee service income and expenditure in line with annual budgets and liaising with the OPFS Finance Manager on preparation of budgets.
• Working closely with OPFS Comms team, developing digital channels and the marketing and promotion strategy for the service.
• Establishing and maintaining effective liaison with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies, including developing partnership initiatives.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues in Support for Families to ensure OPFS provision nationally is cohesive, high quality and effective.
• Representing the work of OPFS to external agencies and developing new areas of work.

Any other relevant duties as requested by the Directorate or the Board.

The Income Maximisation Worker will provide a holistic advice and support service for single parents to increase household income and maximise benefits. The successful candidates will support the delivery of the OPFS Preventative Income Maximisation Service Pilot Programme. The Income Maximisation Workers will deliver the service alongside the Peer Mentor Support Workers in Glasgow.

Key Tasks

• Provide crisis support to families in need
• Provide a one-to-one service to families from a wide range of backgrounds, maximising household incomes through identifying and claiming additional welfare benefits, local authority benefits, tax credits, charity funding applications and supporting families with all aspects of their advice journey.
• Assist in producing, maintaining and distributing appropriate information materials.
• Actively maintain and manage a client caseload.
• Recording client cases using Advice Pro and Fort Case Management System as required to enable the service to be monitored and evaluated.
• To adhere to all requirements of the organisations systems and processes in accordance with the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers and comply with the Financial Conduct Authority Regulations pertaining to Money Advice.
• Provide regular reports to the Project Manager on activities against targets and outcomes

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Personal Specifications

Essential Experience

• Proven experience and or qualification in advice and income maximisation work.
• Current knowledge of the benefits system.
• Experience of managing a caseload and maintaining up to date recording.
• Able to understand wishes and needs of service users and advocate on their behalf.
• Knowledge of single parent issues and the effect of Welfare Reform on single parent families.
• Fully competent in using Microsoft Office 365 and custom database packages.
• Ability to work under pressure, on your own initiative, but also to be part of a team.
• Commitment to working to the organisation’s policies and procedures.
• Excellent organisational, communication and report writing skills.
• An ability to deal with clients and other professionals in a sensitive manner.

Desirable

• Clean driving licence and access to a vehicle
• Understanding of Advice Pro / Fort case management systems

Reports to: Project Manager, Glasgow & Lanarkshire Services

Terms & Conditions

• Confirmation of Appointment: Fixed term contract until 31st March 2022. Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, references, and receipt of a satisfactory disclosure check.
• Salary: Points 14 £23,795 - for full time pro rata for 21 hours per week is £14,227
• Hours of work: Hours of work will be 21 hours per week, worked flexibly to meet the demands of the job.
• Holidays: Holiday entitlement of 5.6 weeks per annum pro rata to the hours worked. This will include an additional 5 days per year after 5 years’ service. (This will be pro-rated from your start date in the fifth year of service).
• Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 3% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 7%.
• Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff have access to internal and external training.
• Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People status.

Main Duties

The Employability Support Worker will be responsible to the Glasgow Services Manager and will work as a member of OPFS Glasgow Employability Service, to provide employability services for single parents living with complex needs and facing additional barriers to entering suitable employment.

Specific Duties

• Case Management: Support single parents living with complex needs and facing additional barriers to suitable employment by using case management methods, to provide a continuum of consistent support on OPFS clients employability pathway journey into suitable and sustainable employment.
• Families: Help eligible single parents to identify their future goals, assess motivation, develop personal development plans and help in their implementation through individual and group work.
• Barriers: Identify barriers to employment and work with single parents to address those barriers.
• Liaison: Building links with organisations and groups across Glasgow, to identify eligible single parents interested in progressing towards suitable employment.
• Outreach & Engagement: Undertake activities in communities to actively reach eligible single parents as a basis to support their learning and development and engage them in early work preparation and employer matching activities to support positive change within their lives.
• Work/Vocational Activities & Training: Co-ordinate and deliver a range of employability activities to enable single parents facing additional barriers to employment to develop participants core knowledge and skills, helping to increase their access to available employment, training and education opportunities.
• Job Matching: Provide job ready single parents with the help participants need with job searching, interviews, securing and sustaining suitable employment.
• In Work Support: Provide single parents living with complex needs and facing additional barriers to employment with continued support on entering employment, to help parents sustain their jobs.
• Local services: Develop knowledge of services related to employment, training, education, childcare and other support. Develop an effective network of referral agencies to support clients' needs.
• Signpost: single parents to services that will address their needs.
• Money Advice: Liaise with OPFS Financial Inclusion team to offer better off calculations and access to debt support.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Ensure effective recording, monitoring and evaluation procedures are implemented.
• Other Relevant duties: Carrying out any other relevant duties related to the above.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Personal Specifications

Essential

1. Qualification: A relevant professional qualification or a good standard of education equivalent to HNC/HND, SVQ3 /4 and combined with relevant experience.

2. Knowledge of issues affecting single parents in Glasgow

3. Experience of group work: candidates should preferably have had experience of running groups and understand group work issues

4. Experience of liaison and partnership working with other agencies

5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills

6. IT skills commensurate to the needs of the post

7. Commitment to professional development

8. Flexibility to meet the needs of the services

Desirable:

1. Driving license and use of a vehicle:

2. Experience of work with single parents: Prior experience of work with single parent families in a voluntary sector or statutory context would be helpful.

Terms & Conditions

1. Period of appointment: The post is funded until 31st March 2023. Confirmation of appointment will be dependent on completion of a satisfactory three-month probation period, satisfactory reference and Disclosure checks.

2. Salary: OPFS salary scale points 13 – 17, currently £22,542 - £27,552. Appointments will be made at a point reflective of previous experience.

3. Hours of work: 35 hours weekly with flexibility to meet the needs of clients.

4. Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays.

5. Pension: You will be auto-enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%.

6. Training, support and supervision: OPFS is committed to the development of its staff through internal training and access to external training. We also have an annual staff appraisal system in place and all staff receive regular monthly support and supervision from their manager.

7. Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. We have Investors in People status and Living Wage accreditation.

Main Duties

The Employability Support Worker: Young Parents will be responsible to the Lanarkshire Services Manager and will provide employability support for young parents faced with additional barriers to entering suitable training, education or employment opportunities.

Specific Duties

• Case Management: Using case management methods, provide a continuum of consistent support to young parents to progress along the employability pathway journey into suitable and sustainable training and employment opportunities.
• Families: Help young parents to identify their future goals, assess motivation, develop personal development plans and help in their implementation through individual and group work.
• Barriers: Identify barriers to education, training and employment and work with young parents to address those barriers.
• Liaison: Building links with organisations and groups across North Lanarkshire, to identify young parents interested in progressing towards suitable opportunities.
• Outreach & Engagement: Undertake activities in communities to actively reach young parents as a basis to support their learning and development and engage them in early work preparation to support positive change within their lives.
• Work/Vocational Activities & Training: Co-ordinate and deliver employability programmes to enable young parents facing additional barriers to employment to develop core knowledge and skills, helping to increase their access to employment, training and education opportunities
• In Work Support: Provide young parents with continued support on entering education, training or employment, to help sustain their jobs.
• Local services: Develop knowledge of services related to employment, training, education, childcare and other support. Develop an effective network of referral agencies to support clients' needs.
• Signpost: Engage with local services that will address young parent’s needs.
• Money Advice: Liaise with OPFS Financial Inclusion team to offer better off calculations and access to debt support.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Ensure effective recording, monitoring and evaluation procedures are implemented.
• Other Relevant duties: Carrying out any other relevant duties related to the above.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Personal Specifications

Essential

1. Qualification: A relevant professional qualification or a good standard of education equivalent to HNC/HND, SVQ3 /4 and combined with relevant experience.

2. Knowledge of issues affecting young parents

3. Experience of group work: candidates should preferably have had experience of running groups and understand group work issues

4. Experience of liaison and partnership working with other agencies

5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills

6. IT skills commensurate to the needs of the post

7. Commitment to professional development

8. Flexibility to meet the needs of the services

Desirable:

1. Driving license and use of a vehicle:

2. Experience of work with single parents: Prior experience of work with single parent families in a voluntary sector or statutory context would be helpful.

Terms & Conditions

1. Period of appointment: The post is funded until 31st March 2023. Confirmation of appointment will be dependent on completion of a satisfactory three-month probation period, satisfactory references, and a Basic Disclosure check.

2. Salary: OPFS salary scale points 13 – 17, currently £22,542 - £27,552 for full time, £16104 - £19680 for 25 hours per week. Appointments will be made at a point reflective of previous experience.

3. Hours of work: 25 hours weekly with flexibility to meet the needs of clients.

4. Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays for full time (35 hours a week) which will be calculated pro rata for 25 hours per week.

5. Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%.

6. Training, support, and supervision: OPFS is committed to the development of its staff through internal training and access to external training. We also have an annual staff appraisal system in place and all staff receive regular monthly support and supervision from their manager.

7. Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. We have Investors in People status and Living Wage accreditation.

Responsible for the management, day-to-day running, and adequate resourcing of OPFS national information and advice service.

The Scotland-wide advice and information service for single parents provides the:

• OPFS Advice Service for single parents and practitioners seeking advice via our Helpline, Webchat, advice@, ‘Ask a Question’ and Facebook.
• OPFS Advice Information on-line content about advice issues that matter to single parents.
• OPFS Advice Training service which delivers online and in-person training courses for practitioners working with single parents.

Main Duties Include:

• The effective running of OPFS multi-channel advice service, web-based advice information for single parent families, and training for practitioners on issues affecting single parents.
• Leading on funding applications for the service, working with, and supported by, OPFS Business Development team, managing budgets and reporting back to funders.
• Leading, developing and supporting the A&I team members.
• Ensuring effective deployment of the Advice and Information CRM system.
• Recording the experiences of single parents, analysing these to identify trends and patterns to inform OPFS’ policy and influencing work.
• Representing the work of OPFS to external agencies and developing new areas of work.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

General Administration: Record and distribute incoming and outgoing mail; filing; word processing; mail merge; answering telephone calls; welcoming visitors to HQ; signposting info emails; dealing with repairs and faults to photocopier, printers and other office equipment and general office maintenance.

AGM/Conference/Events and Training: Assist the Admin Team in the organisation and administration of events and training.

Meeting Room: Provide an efficient and effective setting up and clearing away of AV equipment, refreshments, and other items for meetings. Order lunches on request.

Room bookings:Book external meeting rooms for Managers as requested.

Personnel Admin: Inputting and auditing data within Salesforce HR database and SharePoint and other systems. Creating, updating, and archiving manual and electronic personnel files. Recording absence records. Archiving files including scanning and shredding. Order ID cards. Collating annual leave data. Keep up to date staff contacts list.

Recruitment:Distribute recruitment documentation as requested by potential applicants. Anonymise, monitor, and collate job applications.

Health and Safety:Act as a designated Fire Warden. Recording and testing Fire Alarm on a weekly basis. Act as a First Aider.(Training will be supplied).

IT Admin: Keep up to date itinerary on all office equipment, including PC’s, laptops, and phones.

Reports to:Glasgow Project Manager

Department: OPFS Glasgow Service

One Parent Families Scotland

One Parent Families Scotland is the leading charity working with single parent families in Scotland. Building on over seventy years of advocacy and service-delivery expertise, OPFS provides expert information, advice, and support for one parent families, along with training activities, employability programmes and flexible childcare. OPFS campaigns with parents to make their voices heard to change the systems, policies and attitudes that disadvantage single parent families. Our vision is of a Scotland in which single parents and their children are valued and treated equally and fairly.

Overall Purpose

The Family Support Worker will be responsible to the Project Manager and will assist and support the development and delivery of the Family Support service through effective engagement in direct work with single parent families. The role will include the provision of family support activities, delivery of parenting and wellbeing training and supporting families to manage their family finances.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Family Support: Deliver a range of 1:1 interventions virtual and face to face for single parent families to improve family wellbeing, and support positive family relationships reducing isolation, increase resilience and improve outcomes for families
• Group work and training: Design, develop and deliver a range of Peer support, Parenting and Wellbeing Programmes for single parents.
• Partnership Working: Develop and maintain contacts with agencies and contribute to partnership working to create new opportunities for single parent families.
• Advice and Information: Provide practical advice and guidance to single parents who are in need of additional support and signpost to internal and external agencies where appropriate
• Record Keeping and Evaluation: Document comprehensive contacts with parents & and develop monitoring / evaluation frameworks to evaluate the effectiveness of the service ensuring aims and outcomes are being delivered.
• Reporting, targets, and outcomes: Ensure project outcomes and targets are met in -line with funding application and submit comprehensive reports to the Project Manager on all areas of work you are responsible for.

Corporate Responsibilities Include:

• A commitment to the work of OPFS and our vision and mission
• Able to work confidentially in a digital environment, including standard Microsoft office software packages and cloud-based CRM databases
• To take a flexible approach to work and duties within your range of responsibility and carrying out other duties as directed by Managers.
• To actively contribute to organisational cohesion, encouraging cross-team working, and a positive problem-solving approach.
• To work in line with OPFS's values and Code of Conduct
• To take personal responsibility and ensure compliance with corporate policies including safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety and data protection
• To champion and promote equal opportunities and diversity both in your area of work and the wider organisation.
• To ensure single parent voices and experience informs the design and development of your work where appropriate

Personal Specifications

Essential

1. Qualifications: Qualified to HNC level or equivalent relevant experience.
2. Single Parents: Awareness of barriers face by single parents and ways of addressing these.
3. Group Work and Training: Experience of organising and delivering a wide range of group work and training programmes including Parenting and Wellbeing
4. IT: Competent in word processing, spreadsheets, use of databases, email and online platforms including zoom and MS teams
5. Initiative: Ability to work independently to an agreed plan of work
6. Communication Skills: A good standard of written and oral communication and able to compile comprehensive reports for funders.
7. Organisational Skills: strong organisational skills & team player.
8. Driving License: A clean driving licence and access to a vehicle

Desirable

1. Services for families: Knowledge or experience of services for single parents and their children.
2. Personal Qualities: friendly & personable manner, flexible approach to duties
3. Knowledge: Clear understanding of the needs of single parent families and the issues they face.

Terms & Conditions

1. Period of appointment: The post is funded is funded until March 2022 (with the possibility of extension (dependant on funding.
2. Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, references, and receipt of a satisfactory disclosure check.
3. Salary: Points 13 -17 £22542 - £27552
4. Hours of work: 35 hours per week and flexible to meet the needs of the service
5. Holidays: Holiday entitlement of 5.6 weeks per annum This will include an additional 5 days per year after 5 years’ service. (This will be pro-rated from your start date in the fifth year of service).
6. Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 3% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 7%.
7. Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff have access to internal and external training.
8. Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People status.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Reports to:Glasgow Project Manager

Department: OPFS Glasgow Service

One Parent Families Scotland

One Parent Families Scotland is the leading charity working with single parent families in Scotland. Building on over seventy years of advocacy and service-delivery expertise, OPFS provides expert information, advice, and support for one parent families, along with training activities, employability programmes and flexible childcare. OPFS campaigns with parents to make their voices heard to change the systems, policies and attitudes that disadvantage single parent families. Our vision is of a Scotland in which single parents and their children are valued and treated equally and fairly.

Overall Purpose

The Welfare Rights Adviser will provide an up to date and comprehensive welfare benefits advice and income maximisation service for single parent families. The successful candidate will also provide advocacy service for single parents undergoing appeals or attending tribunals and roll out training or updates to staff to ensure they are kept informed of changes in the Welfare Benefit system.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• To provide benefit advice to single parents on all benefits and casework.
• Provide representation for clients by preparing and presenting cases at benefit appeal hearings.
• To establish links with relevant services throughout Glasgow, particularly GAIN Network Agencies.
• Assist with research and campaigns on issues relating to welfare reform.
• To organise in-house training on welfare benefits for appropriate OPFS staff.
• Assist in producing, maintaining and distributing appropriate information materials.
• Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, monitoring and reporting.
• Recording client cases using Advice Pro Case Management System as required to enable the service to be monitored and evaluated.
• To adhere to all requirements of the organisations systems and processes in accordance with the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers and comply with the Financial Conduct Authority Regulations pertaining to Money Advice.
• Provide regular reports to the Project Manager on activities against targets

Corporate Responsibilities Include:

• A commitment to the work of OPFS and our vision and mission
• Able to work confidentially in a digital environment, including standard Microsoft office software packages and cloud-based CRM databases
• To take a flexible approach to work and duties within your range of responsibility and carrying out other duties as directed by Managers.
• To actively contribute to organisational cohesion, encouraging cross-team working, and a positive problem-solving approach.
• To work in line with OPFS's values and Code of Conduct
• To take personal responsibility and ensure compliance with corporate policies including safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety and data protection
• To champion and promote equal opportunities and diversity both in your area of work and the wider organisation.
• To ensure single parent voices and experience informs the design and development of your work where appropriate

Personal Specifications

Essential

1. Proven experience in advice work and representation at benefit appeals
2. In-depth current knowledge of the benefits system
3. Experience of managing a complex caseload and maintain up to date recording
4. Able to understand wishes and needs of service users and advocate on their behalf.
5. Good knowledge of single parent issues and the effect of Welfare Reform on single parent families.
6. Fully competent in using Microsoft Office 365 and custom database packages,
7. Ability to work under pressure, on your own initiative, but also to be part of a team
8. Commitment to working to the organisation’s policies and procedures
9. Ability to work in an organised manner
10. Excellent organisational, communication and report writing skills
11. An ability to deal with clients and other professionals in a sensitive manner
12. Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.

Desirable

1. Relevant qualifications
2. Clean driving Licence and access to a vehicle

Terms & Conditions

1. Confirmation of Appointment: Fixed term contract until 31st March 2022 with the possibility of extending (dependent on funding). Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, references, and receipt of a satisfactory disclosure check.
2. Salary: Points 13-17 £22542 - £27552 – for full time pro rata for 30 hours per week is £19322 - £23616
3. Hours of work: Hours of work will be 30 hours per week, worked flexibly to meet the demands of the job
4. Holidays: Holiday entitlement of 5.6 weeks per annum pro rata to the hours worked. This will include an additional 5 days per year after 5 years’ service. (This will be prorated from your start date in the fifth year of service).
5. Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 3% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 7%.
6. Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff have access to internal and external training.
7. Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People status.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Reports to:Project Manager

Department: OPFS North Lanarkshire Service

One Parent Families Scotland

One Parent Families Scotland is the leading charity working with single parent families in Scotland. Building on over seventy years of advocacy and service-delivery expertise, OPFS provides expert information, advice, and support for one parent families, along with training activities, employability programmes and flexible childcare. OPFS campaigns with parents to make their voices heard to change the systems, policies and attitudes that disadvantage single parent families. Our vision is of a Scotland in which single parents and their children are valued and treated equally and fairly.

Overall Purpose

To provide administration support and assistance to the Project Manager for the day-to-day delivery of OPFS Lanarkshire Service. The sharing of research and content on advice issues with advice workers to develop advice service knowledge.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• General Administration: Record and distribute incoming and outgoing mail; filing; word processing; answering telephone calls; dealing with repairs and faults to photocopier, printers and other office equipment and general office maintenance.
• Advice and Information: Ensure clients are initially given the correct advice / support and guidance when telephoning the office for appointments and that they are subsequently passed to the most appropriate member of staff.
• Finance: Accurately recording and processing all purchase invoices and staff
• expenses, ensuring correct coding and authorisation; filing; and providing support to staff at local projects.
• Minutes: Taking minutes of Staff Meetings and other relevant meetings when necessary
• Client Information: Responsible for day-to-day client work such as referrals, standard letters, updating database.
• Office supplies: Placing orders for stationery and other office items.
• Room bookings: Responsible for Room Booking and the preparation of rooms for training events and meetings including seating arrangements, refreshments, etc.
• Personnel: Updating HR files and documents on SharePoint. Other related tasks to Personnel Documentation both electronic and manual as required.
• SharePoint: Support and advise staff on all aspects of functionality.
• Social Media: Responsible for the monitoring and update of the OPFS Lanarkshire Facebook page.
• Absence Monitoring: Record and file absence sheets.
• Annual Leave: Create annual leave sheets.

Corporate Responsibilities Include:

• A commitment to the work of OPFS and our vision and mission
• Able to work confidentially in a digital environment, including standard Microsoft office software packages and cloud-based CRM databases
• To take a flexible approach to work and duties within your range of responsibility and carrying out other duties as directed by Managers.
• To actively contribute to organisational cohesion, encouraging cross-team working, and a positive problem-solving approach.
• To work in line with OPFS's values and Code of Conduct
• To take personal responsibility and ensure compliance with corporate policies including safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety and data protection
• To champion and promote equal opportunities and diversity both in your area of work and the wider organisation.
• To ensure single parent voices and experience informs the design and development of your work where appropriate

Personal Specifications

Essential

1. Ability to work as part of a team.
2. Effective oral, written, and electronic communication skills
3. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office software.

Desirable

1. Experience of working in a busy office environment

Terms & Conditions

1. Period of appointment: Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, references, and receipt of a satisfactory disclosure check.
2. Salary: Point 7-11, £18,912 - £23,116 per annum pro rata for 21 hours is £11347 - £13870.
3. Hours of work: 21 hours weekly, hours to be agreed to meet the needs of the job.
4. Holidays: Holiday entitlement of 5.6 weeks per annum an additional 5 days per year after 5 years’ service which will be calculated pro rata for 21 hours per week
5. Pension: You will be auto enrolled from your start date. OPFS pays 7% of your salary and you pay a minimum of 3%.
6. Training, support, and supervision: You will receive quarterly individual support and supervision from the Line Manager and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings are held, and staff have access to internal and external training.
7. Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. We have Investors in People status and Living Wage accreditation.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.