Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity
Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity

Charity registered in Scotland SC020862

We support and complement the work of Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children (The Sick Kids) as well as other children’s healthcare settings across Scotland. 


Current vacancies

Youth Worker & Family Support Officer

  • Full time
  • £31,000
  • On site: The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh
  • Closing 19th June 2026

No child should face hospital alone

Are you passionate about supporting young people through life’s toughest moments?

We’re looking for a compassionate and creative Young People and family Support Officer to join our Children’s Wellbeing Service and help shape a new approach to wellbeing care in hospital.

If you thrive in emotionally complex environments, love building meaningful relationships, and want to make a real difference to children, young people and families, this could be the role for you.

Some of the things you’ll be doing:

In short, you’ll join a team of Family Support Officers and Youth workers working across the hospital, including oncology, mental health services and long term admissions, offering emotional support, practical help, and a calm, creative space for children, young people and families, bringing our mission to life and ensuring no child faces hospital alone.

More specifically, you’ll:

  • Support children and young people experiencing distress and trauma, helping them feel safe, heard and empowered.
  • Build strong relationships with families and hospital staff to identify those most in need of support.
  • Deliver creative wellbeing activities using evidence-based approaches like the PACE model and ECHC’s bespoke Changemaker and Gamechanger programmes.
  • Champion the rights of children and young people, ensuring they feel informed, included and in control throughout their hospital journey.
  • Signpost and advocate connecting families with relevant services and speaking up on their behalf when needed.
  • Evaluate impact gather data and feedback to help shape the future of our wellbeing services.

Let’s talk about you:

Must haves –

Proven experience supporting children, young people, and families, you're confident working directly with those who need it most.

Strong communicator with excellent listening skills.

Self-starter and team player, you can prioritise effectively, take initiative, and collaborate to meet shared goals.

Resilient and grounded, you stay calm and compassionate, even in emotionally challenging and traumatic situations.

Professional and approachable, you understand the importance of setting and maintaining healthy, respectful boundaries.

Nice to haves –

An understanding of trauma informed approaches, with a compassionate, sensitive response to children and families’ experiences.

Experienced in co-creation, you’ve designed and delivered services in genuine partnership with children, young people, and families, making sure their voices shape the support they receive.

Well connected and informed, you have knowledge of local and national services and know how to guide families toward the help they need.

Detail focused, you’re experienced in keeping accurate records, gathering data to show impact, and using it to inform and improve practice.

Why ECHC?

Working at ECHC is anything but ordinary. This isn’t just a youth work or family support role, it’s a unique opportunity to stand beside children and families during some of their toughest times, and to make a meaningful, lasting difference in their lives.

You’ll join a team of passionate, supportive colleagues who truly believe in our mission and in each other. We’ll trust you to lead with heart, think creatively, and yes, even have fun along the way.

We’ve got bold plans for the future, and we’re looking for someone just as driven and visionary to help grow our Children’s Wellbeing Services and take them to the next level.

Still reading? If you made it this far, we think there’s a strong chance you might be our kind of person. Even if you don’t tick every box, we want to encourage you to introduce yourself. Apply today.

Shortlist