Are you playful, adaptable and a good communicator? We are seeking a Play and Wellbeing Practitioner to deliver high-quality, self-directed play opportunities across Midlothian, as part of a team. This is an active, hands‑on role with a strong emphasis on outdoor play in all weather conditions.

About Play Midlothian

Play Midlothian is a registered charity (no. SC025474) working to enable every child in Midlothian to thrive through play by creating opportunities, removing barriers and addressing inequalities. We have an office base at the One Dalkeith Business Hub in central Dalkeith, but deliver services throughout Midlothian, and if commissioned, beyond.

About the Role

The postholder will work across our various services, supporting children and young people aged 0-14, including children with disabilities and those with emerging mental health challenges, and their families. We champion adventurous, self-directed play, with a focus on loose parts, and use varied community settings to create rich play opportunities. A high proportion of sessions take place outdoors, all year round.

Travel and transportation of play resources to multiple sites across Midlothian is required for successful delivery of our services. Sessions take place at various times, including during the school day, but most are after school hours and at weekends. Flexibility is therefore required, though we do aim to share out weekend working on a rota pattern so that everyone gets predictable weekends off.

If you are enthusiastic about enabling children to play in their own ways, we would love to hear from you.

This new role would suit someone who is naturally very well-organised, able to build strong relationships and garner support, enjoys working with lots of partners, has experience of Scottish politics, and is committed to climate action and justice. Amidst the self-evident climate emergency it is vital that we re-establish the priority of climate action amongst the public, with politicians and decision makers, and win wide support for urgent change and leadership.

You’ll lead on our engagement with stakeholders, MSPs, government officials and party staff and work to build support through sympathetic groups such as unions and the faith community, in order to help to mobilise our supporters and grow the strong public support for action. You’ll be part of the small SCCS secretariat team that provides support to our diverse members and works with them to plan and deliver advocacy and campaigns activities, so you’ll need to be a great communicator, enthusiastic, proactive and willing to be flexible.

With Scottish elections taking place in 2026, this is an important time to be influencing climate policy. This role will play an essential part in helping the Scottish climate movement navigate the new political context, boost our impact and win deeper support for urgency and action.

About SCCS

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) is Scotland’s climate coalition, bringing together over 70 civil society organisations campaigning together on climate change. Our membership is diverse and includes national and community organisations working on:

• Climate action justice
• Environment and nature
• Gender and social justice
• Faith and belief
• International development
• Worker and human rights
• Health and inequality

Together, we represent hundreds of thousands of people across Scotland and stand in solidarity with communities most affected by climate impacts around the world. We collaborate with our members to build strong public support for faster climate action. We use this support to influence decision-makers to put in place fair, effective policies to reduce emissions and benefits for everyone.

Key Tasks

• Designing an advocacy strategy with our members and leading on the delivery of this, with activities likely to include producing briefings, meeting with MSPs and officials, giving evidence to committees attending party conferences and responding to consultations, amongst other ways identified in work plans to influence politicians.
• Building and deepening relationships with MSPs, officials and party staff, building support for SCCS’s policy priorities.
• Attending and organising stakeholder gatherings to recruit more diverse members and build support from unions, the faith community and sympathetic organisations to deliver a more unified, consistent and powerful political voice for urgent climate action which, in turn, will help influence the politicians that rely on these key stakeholders for votes and funding.
• Ensuring political influencing is connected with media work, mobilising supporters and wider stakeholders, and running public campaigns to build and maintain the public support for action.
• Day to day monitoring and analysis of the Scottish Parliament, identifying opportunities and sharing information with members.
• Working with UK organisations on relevant Westminster/reserved matters that affect Scotland, and with TCC, our sister UK coalition, to develop their Local Intelligence Hub so that it becomes a platform Scottish campaigners can use to track advocacy and impact.
• Supporting members – especially smaller organisations – with their advocacy, offering advice and support when needed.

Personal Specification

Knowledge, experience and skills

Essential:

• A proven track record in a similar or related role, which included influencing parliamentary processes, policy and campaigning, or won support with diverse stakeholders;
• Ability to work collaboratively across the political spectrum and with multiple partners to build and maintain strong relationships;
• A strong understanding of Scotland’s political landscape;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, suitable for different audiences and purposes;
• Excellent IT skills;
• Able to work flexibly and identify and act on opportunities for continually improving ways – of working;
• The ability to work effectively in a small team;
• Able to prioritise and organise a busy workload;
• Demonstrable commitment to action on climate change and climate justice.

Desirable:

• Experience facilitating meetings and organising events;
• Experience of working with the media.

Qualifications

No specific qualifications are required for the role: the knowledge, skills and experience of the successful candidate will be more important than formal academic qualifications.

Terms and Conditions

• Salary: £35,000.
• Hours: 5 days a week (35 hours). The post holder may need to work the occasional evening or weekend, for which time off in lieu will be granted. Overtime will not be paid.
• Location: Primarily from home, with occasional office working in central Edinburgh.
• Other travel may be required to meetings, most often in the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Government offices and other locations in the central belt, but occasionally in other parts of Scotland or the UK (for which travel expenses will be paid).
• Line manager: Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Coalition Manager.
• Holiday: 28 days annual leave plus 11 days statutory holidays.
• Pension: Stop Climate Chaos Scotland operates a pension plan with NEST and our pension benefits exceed the statutory minimum.
• We can only employ candidates with the right to work in the UK.

We are currently looking for TRUSTEES of all backgrounds who have a passion for helping to make a positive difference to the lives of adults who have been in care.

Who we are

The Rees Foundation is a national charity based in Worcestershire that seeks to support adults who have, at some stage in their lives, been in foster care or residential care. Our focus is on the reality of many people’s transitions from being in care and moving into adult life, and the ongoing impact that care experience can have on a person's ability to reach their full potential.

Rees is resolute that care shouldn’t stop at 18, 21, or 25 years, it’s lifelong, and someone should be there to care. We listen, offer practical and emotional help, and we develop projects that really make a positive difference.

The role

The role of a Trustee is to ensure that the charity fulfils its duty to its beneficiaries and delivers on its vision, mission and values. The Board of Trustees are jointly and individually responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, its financial health, the probity of its activities, and developing the organisation’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines.

Our Board currently comprises members with a variety of skills in social care, strategic planning, finance and business.

As we have recently extended our registration to operate in Scotland, we are particularly keen to strengthen Scottish representation on our Board. We would welcome applications from individuals who have:

• Experience or professional understanding of the Scottish charity governance framework and OSCR regulations.
• Knowledge of the Scottish care system, including transitions, aftercare, or leaving-care support in a Scottish context.
• Connections to communities or organisations across Scotland that can help us better serve care-experienced adults in the region.

We would especially welcome applications from people who have professional knowledge and/or experience in the following areas:

• Finance (management accounting)
• Digital systems
• Fundraising
• Lived experience of being in care

We are also keen to increase diversity within the Board. We particularly welcome those from an ethnic minority background, the LGBTIQA+ community, people with disabilities, and younger people, as these are currently under-represented on our Board.

Forgan Arts Centre is looking for a Treasurer to join the Board of Trustees, to help guide the organisation through its next phase of development. This is a rewarding opportunity to support a respected, creative community hub at a time of significant growth.

Forgan Arts Centre is a vibrant hub for artistic creation, experimentation, and learning, located in Newport-on-Tay. Community led and rooted in collaboration, we offer a wide range of creative opportunities for people across Fife and beyond.

About the Role

As Treasurer, you’ll provide financial oversight, guidance and governance at board level. You’ll work closely with the Centre Director and Finance Officer to ensure the organisation remains financially healthy, compliant, and able to plan sustainably.

This is not a bookkeeping role — day-to-day accounting is already managed inhouse. Instead, we are seeking someone who can offer strategic insight, clarity and assurance around finances and risk.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the organisation’s financial governance and ensure compliance with OSCR (Scottish Charity Regulator) requirements.
• Review management accounts, budgets, and financial reports before board meetings.
• Support the Director in preparing the annual trustees’ report and liaising with independent examiners/auditors.
• Advise on financial risks, sustainability, reserves, and long term financial planning.
• Contribute to strategic decisions at Board level, including capital planning and funding strategy.
• Champion best practice in charity finance and support the development of internal financial processes.

We welcome applicants with a range of financial backgrounds, including but not limited to:

• Accountants (qualified or part qualified)
• Finance managers
• Bookkeepers with strong financial governance experience
• Individuals with charity finance knowledge
• People with a passion for community arts who bring confidence working with numbers

Essential Attributes

• Confidence reading financial statements and budgets
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non financial board members
• An interest in charity governance and organisational sustainability
• Integrity, judgement, and commitment to the organisation’s values

Desirable (but not essential)

• Experience with charity finance or SCIO structures
• Understanding of capital projects or long term organisational planning
• Interest in circular economy, sustainability, or community development (aligned with our values)

Time Commitment

• Quarterly board meetings (evenings or hybrid, with some flexibility)
• Occasional sub meetings with Director/finance team
• Approximately 4–6 hours per month
• Minimum one year commitment preferred

This is a voluntary role, but extremely rewarding and impactful.

What You’ll Gain

• Experience in charity governance and arts sector leadership
• The chance to shape a growing, well loved community organisation
• Opportunities for training and development
• Being part of a supportive, friendly and creative board team
• The ability to make a meaningful difference in your local community.

“Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling the heart of another”

Alfred Adler

| Compassion | Integrity | Respect | Realising Potential | Inclusion |

Health in Mind is one of Scotland’s best-known and trusted Mental Health Charities. Established in 1982 we have evolved in response to need which means we actively promote positive mental health in local communities across Scotland. Our vision is straight forward, we build hope and live life through our values because people are at the heart of what we do.

Future Pathways offers support to people who were abused or neglected a child when they were in the Scottish care system. The service was established alongside the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry and has expanded considerably since its start in 2016. Future Pathways’ aim is to help people live well. To change paths, enjoy life, succeed and grow.

We have a great opportunity for someone with lived and learned experience to lead the development of Peer Support programme at Future Pathways.

Peer Support offers something deeply human that other services cannot always provide - mutual understanding without hierarchy. It offers community and a place to just ‘be’ without a focus on goals, recovery or moving ‘forward’. It offers a place to be both held and helpful.

Enthused and empathetic, this role will draw on lived and learned experience to extend the scope and reach of Peer Support at Future Pathways, working with ‘Voices for a Better Future’ lived experience group to guide programme development.

With a warm, relational approach and superb communication skills, you will support a team to develop and deliver a growing range of activities.

Reaching our shortlist is straightforward providing you can say ‘yes’ to our list of ‘must haves’. You can start your journey now by simply directly asking for an information pack and application but before you start your travels, please kindly make sure the following ‘fits’ into your career and personal attributions rucksack because life is a journey.

• We’d like a degree in Health and Social Care, Social Work or equivalent but, if you hold a recognised, relevant professional qualification at a minimum SVQ Level 4 with relevant workplace experience this works too.
• Up to date child and vulnerable adult protection knowledge together and ideally completion of suicide prevention training such as ASIST.
• You are an exceptional compassionate individual with lived and learned experience of working with those who’ve faced personal challenges, childhood disturbance, abuse, separation, institutional care and trauma
• Curiosity, empathy and a focus on learning, empowerment, collaboration and self- awareness.
• Worked with staff in accordance with the statutory framework and requirement including GDPR, BACP, the SSSC and the Care Inspectorate.

With a great range of benefits including 30 days annual leave plus 10 public holidays and 2 wellbeing days we work fulltime 36.25 hours per week. The salary scale for this post is Point 39 to 43, £38,470 to £42,564 .

Committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we embrace and encourage people from all walks of life, including welcoming applications from Neurodiverse individuals. It is important to us that you feel comfortable and confident and, as such, we are willing to adjust or adapt our application, interview and selection process to suit your needs, including working patterns and hybrid working wherever and whenever we can. Simply contact us and we’ll come back to you.

This role requires regular but not continuous office presence.

Travel across Scotland is periodically required.

Are you passionate about helping people to live a better life? Do you want to work for a charity where your health and wellbeing matter just as much as the people you support? Do you want to be part of a trauma-informed team where you will be supported to develop creative and flexible ways of working?

At LinkLiving, our values and people are at the heart of everything we do including how we recruit our staff. It is important for us to find people who share our values, which are:

• Empathy (listen to and understand an individual’s needs and circumstances)
• Respect (treat others the way they wish to be treated)
• Integrity (be honest and have strong moral principles)
• Caring (show kindness and concern for others)

LinkLiving is a Scottish health and wellbeing charity that supports people to manage or overcome the effects of negative life experiences (including trauma, mental health challenges, poverty and inequality) so that they can build on their strengths and aspirations in order to live their best possible lives. We support people through a range of models including:

• Personal development and employability programmes
• Self-help coaching
• Supported accommodation
• Care at home
• Housing support
• Befriending
• Social cafes

The Service

The Falkirk Core & Cluster project supports young people aged 16 to 21 who have experienced care or are arriving in Falkirk through the National Transfer Scheme. The goal is to help them develop the skills necessary for successful independent living while also providing access to employment, training, and educational opportunities. In collaboration with Link Housing Association, we offer a supported core and cluster housing initiative. This project features ten independent tenancies situated around a central hub/training flat, where our small but dedicated team delivers flexible, individually tailored support

The Job

As a senior practitioner, you will be skilled and experienced in working with care-experienced young people. Taking a trauma-informed approach, you will be responsible for complex and varied key-working issues, co-ordination of complex support arrangements and supporting the leadership of the service. You will use your extensive knowledge and experience to provide support and guidance to less experienced colleagues through informal mentoring (where relevant).

You will have extensive experience in multi-agency working, housing support systems and the support of care experienced young people which you will use to establish and maintain respectful and empowering relationships with service users so that they feel valued and supported and in control of their own lives. You will be responsible for carrying out assessments of new service users and for reviewing existing service users on a regular basis.

In your role you will offer practical, emotional and social support to care experienced young people within the project, assisting them to develop the independent living skills necessary for future tenancy sustainment. You will need to develop warm and effective relationships with the young people supporting them to cope with their lives in a positive and planned way so that they can make informed choices and take responsibility for their actions, advocating for them with a range of other agencies to ensure their rights are upheld at all times

About You

We are looking for a compassionate and dedicated individual with the skills and passion to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. You should have a general standard of secondary education, including passes in English and Maths at Standard Grade level, and a SVQ Social Services and Healthcare SCQF Level 6 and be willing to work towards qualifications recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). These include an and an SVQ Social Services and Healthcare SCQF Level 7, alongside a suitable supervisory or management qualification, if not already attained.

You will bring extensive knowledge and experience in social care, housing issues, welfare rights, benefits, and procedures, alongside a solid understanding of housing support and care-at-home systems. Experience working with diverse service user groups, particularly care-experienced young people, is essential, as is an understanding of the challenges faced by marginalised and excluded individuals.

We value a non-judgmental attitude and the ability to recognise and nurture the unique gifts of others. You should have strong relationship-building skills, a commitment to supporting people, and sound decision-making abilities. Sensitivity to emotional and social needs is crucial, as is a proactive and reflective approach to learning and self-improvement.

You will also need proficiency in using technology to maintain and update records, along with the ability to stay informed about relevant practices, policies, and legislation. Your dedication to embracing diversity and challenging exclusive attitudes will make you an asset to the team.

If you are ready to bring your expertise, compassion, and commitment to this role, we would love to hear from you.

For a comprehensive list of the essential and desirable criteria required for this post, please refer to the Job Specification in the Job information Pack.

What’s in it for you?

The benefits of being a LinkLiving employee (subject to the policies and benefit terms and conditions) include:

• Competitive salary, reviewed annually, and opportunity for annual performance related salary increases and discretionary non-consolidated pay awards, subject to terms of the scheme
• 35 days’ holiday per year (inclusive of public holidays) pro rata plus additional 3 days pro rata after 3 years’ service
• opportunity to buy and sell holiday
• enhanced company sick and family friendly pay
• access to paid SVQ qualifications and a wide range of learning and development opportunities
• funded Disclosure Scotland and Scottish Social Services Council memberships
• defined contribution pension scheme with generous employer contributions plus salary exchange and additional voluntary contribution options
• access to a Salary Exchange car leasing scheme, subject to the terms of the scheme
• life assurance scheme providing death in service benefits
• healthcare cash plan for employees (and dependents) to support health and wellbeing plus discounts on shopping, restaurants, and other services
• employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate household dependants to support health, mental and financial well-being
• access to purchase annual corporate clothing vouchers
• annual flu vaccination
• access to a credit union savings and borrowing scheme
• cycle to work scheme
• access to discounts on mobile airtime plans and much more!

For a full list of benefits available to employees, please see the following link - linkliving.org.uk/work-with-us

Successful applicants will be required to apply for registration with SSSC within 3 months of their start date and be registered within 6 months.

This role is subject to PVG membership under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. Individuals who are barred from working with children or protected adults will not be considered for this position. Link will meet the cost of any new PVG scheme membership or membership update.

As a Housing and Homelessness Advisor, you’ll provide person‑centred housing support to the Armed Forces community, offering advice, casework and tenancy sustainment to those at risk of homelessness. You’ll triage new enquiries, manage a varied caseload and ensure accessible, inclusive support for all beneficiaries.

Working closely with local authorities, housing providers and third‑sector partners, you’ll help deliver joined‑up support through the Council’s Housing Options approach. You’ll represent GHH in forums with key stakeholders, including Homeless Network Scotland, and contribute to housing projects and outreach clinics across the city.

A key part of the role includes applying for funding for rent, deposits and emergency accommodation, while supporting beneficiaries to maintain stable, long‑term housing through proactive engagement and early intervention.

This is a dynamic, community‑focused role where no two days are the same. You’ll develop your skills in case management, safeguarding, multi‑agency working and crisis support, while making a meaningful difference to those who have served.

As a pet‑friendly service, GHH regularly supports beneficiaries who may have assistance or support animals.

About the team

GHH, based at the Pearce Institute in Govan and delivered in partnership with SSAFA and Glasgow City Council, provides trusted support to serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Our trauma‑informed, holistic approach offers wraparound assistance that addresses housing needs alongside wider wellbeing challenges, helping beneficiaries build resilience and sustain long‑term housing solutions.

The service operates a gateway model, giving the Armed Forces community a single point of contact for housing, financial, employability and wider support.

You’ll be part of a highly collaborative network, working closely with local and national partners such as Citizens Advice Scotland, Veterans Housing Scotland, Erskine, Scottish Veterans Residences, Defence Medical Welfare Services, Homeless Casework Teams and Homeless Network Scotland. The role also involves attending stakeholder events that may occasionally fall outside of standard office hours.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will need to be a proactive, compassionate person with a genuine interest in housing and homelessness. You’ll bring relevant experience or strong transferable skills, along with the motivation to support the Armed Forces community through complex housing challenges.

Ideally, you will hold a Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Level 2 or 3 qualification in Housing Practice or be willing to work towards it as part of your development in the role

You’ll manage a varied caseload, provide person‑centred support, and work closely with local authorities, landlords and partner agencies. Strong communication, problem‑solving and organisational skills are essential.

This is a community‑based role involving citywide travel, outreach work and home visits, and requires flexibility when dealing with urgent or changing needs.

About SSAFA

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need. In 2024 our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 54,000 people, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.

SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person and their family, any time they need us and in any way they need us.

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.

Our Legal Coordinator will play a key role in our work directly assisting solicitors in the provision of our helpline and legal outreach services, assisting with legal casework, information, advice and representation and contributing to our policy work.

A great Legal Co-ordinator is someone that holds a combination of skills, qualities, and behaviours that contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the team they support. We are looking for someone who is a strong communicator who thrives when working as part of a team. As our Legal Co-ordinator you will serve as a point of contact for our clients directly of via our helpline service, we are looking for someone who is empathetic, patient, and supportive.

We are looking for someone who can work independently to complete tasks, and act quickly to find workable solutions in sometimes high-pressure situations. You will be someone who works to high standards and can drive those high standards in others. This role is ideal for someone who is great at managing their time, has rigorous attention to detail and the ability to interpret and analyse data. As this is a new role for Clan it offers lots of opportunity to bring new ideas to the way we work that will enable us to achieve our goals around legal work and our helpline service.

About Clan Childlaw

Clan Childlaw stands with children and young people when they stand up for their rights.

Clan is an award-winning, independent children’s charity that actively supports children and young people to take ownership of their rights.

We are the only charity in Scotland that provides free, independent legal representation exclusively for children and young people, which is child-centred by design. Because our lawyers work directly with children and young people whose lives are affected by legal decisions, we bring that unique practice-based knowledge to every aspect of our work. This includes our specialist training, our helpline supporting others who help children to use their voices and their rights, and our work to influence children’s rights respecting changes to practice, policy and law.

What We Do

We stand with others who help children use their rights – Through our membership and training for legal professionals and in legal education we are making being a “children’s lawyer” an accredited legal skill set in Scotland. Our practical training and helpline and support for advocacy in Children’s Hearings provides adults that support children and young people information and guidance that they can use to empower young people to stand up for their rights.

We stand out through the excellence of our work – We want our work to have as much impact as possible. We listen to what children and young people tell us about what they need from lawyers and others who support them to use their rights. We use what we learn to develop and design the services they need and talk about why young people’s rights matter, and why children and young people need lawyers.

We stand for change – We are lawyers for children and young people representing children and young people in court, at Children’s Hearings, and in important meetings working to give them equal opportunity to heard and use their rights. We take cases that make change for individual children and young people and help shape better rights respecting policy and practice. We use our knowledge of the law, and experience as practising lawyers for children and young people, to ask decision makers and lawmakers to change the law and the way the law is used to make sure that children and young people's rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.

Our Values

Our values are the principles we uphold in all our work, no matter what. They are the foundation of our workplace culture. Everyone who works at Clan shows our values in all they do and say.

We are supportive: We listen and respond, we provide encouragement and emotional help to children and young people, to others who support young people, and to each other.

We are bold: We are confident and courageous in amplifying the voices of children and young people. We are prepared to take risks when we need to, to defend children and young people’s rights.

We are dynamic: We are always active, always progressing. We are positive, full of energy and new ideas. We ask for change where it is needed.

What we can offer you

Clan Childlaw’s mission is very important to us, but our people are important too. We recognise the importance of a good work-life balance and a friendly supportive work environment. We offer:

• 33 days annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) increasing to 35 after 2 years’ service
• Auto-enrolment into our pension scheme after 3 months service
• Offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the option to choose the base location that works best for you.
• Flexibility around your working day and the option to work from home some of the time.
• Access to our employee counselling service.

Learning and development is important to us and our team. We hope it’s important to you too. You will be encouraged to engage in learning and continued professional development.

"I have never worked in such a lovely organisation before! I feel valued, seen and heard as an individual here." - A member of the Clan Childlaw team

"I love my job at Clan. It's busy and varied and no two days are ever the same. We have a great team here and everyone is really supportive." - A member of the Clan Childlaw team

Turning Point Scotland has an exciting opportunity in our Edinburgh Visiting Housing Support Service for a Lead Practitioner.

We believe that in many cases, Homelessness is entirely preventable. Where Homelessness is not or cannot be prevented, the experience should be brief and non-recurring.

About the Role

We aim to help people ‘Get a Home and Keep a Home’.

As a lead practitioner, you will:

• Provide 1:1 support and assistance to people using the service in accordance with their support plans and the service aims.
• Support may include, but is not limited to: supporting people to explore housing options; bidding on social housing through ed index; support engaging with landlords/housing officers; assisting with budgeting/ maximising income and benefit entitlement; support to develop independent living skills; support to attend to household activities and external appointments.
• Be an active member of a supportive team, passionate about the work they do.

About You

We believe having the right values of respect, compassion, inclusion and integrity is all you need to join our team. As a Lead Practitioner the support you provide will always be person centred, by involving people who know the person well, this includes family and friends, other health and Social Work professionals, Advocacy services and your fellow team members.

Whilst we very much welcome experienced practitioners, no previous working experience is needed. You will be provided with all of the training, support and equipment required to successfully fulfil your role.

About Us

Our Edinburgh Visiting Housing Support Service supports people in the North-East and South-East of Edinburgh who are either Homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or have recently moved into settled accommodation following a period of homelessness.

The support we provide is always person centred, we do this by involving people who know the person well, this includes family and friends, other health and Social Work professionals, Advocacy services and our own staff members.

Turning Point Scotland offers a Salary Matching opportunity within the pay points of the role and based on experience.

Please note that IT skills are required for all our vacancies.

Where applicable, successful candidates will be required to register with the SSSC within 6 months of start date.

We welcome applications from all candidates who are eligible to work in the United Kingdom. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.

Home-Start Clackmannanshire is a long standing, dynamic charity, striving to ensure every young child (under 12) has the best possible start in life locally. Raising a family has never been easy; our trained volunteers and staff are there to support families through challenging times. In Scotland, Home-Starts have over 1,500 volunteers supporting over 3,500 families and 6,500 children each year through compassionate, confidential help to parents/carers when they need us most. The parents/carers we support are often overwhelmed and isolated. They may be struggling with mental health, illness, disability, multiple births, poverty, domestic abuse, separation and/or trauma. We provide a bespoke support package of 1:1 in home and group services for families, helping them to cope with the stresses and strains of daily life and encourage them to build the skills, confidence, and strength they need to nurture their children for years to come.

In 2024, Action for Children, NHS (speech and language) and Educational Psychology launched an exciting new provision called Play Roots with the support and funding from our local Child Wellbeing Partnership. Play Roots is an enhanced 0-5 group provision for local families operating across four localities in Clackmannanshire weekly.

Purpose of the job

Play Roots has developed rapidly since the first group launched, with families directly informing our sessions, allowing us to ensure we are delivering a communities based, group support system, providing a nurturing and educational environment for children (0-5) and their parents/carers. Play Roots aims to enhance positive well-being, parent-child attachment, support early childhood development, and encourage wider community connections and changes for parental progression; providing the foundations for children and families to flourish long-term.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, driven practitioner, capable of coordinating the delivery of our four local groups to ensure their effective running, and maximising impact through groups supporting the development of children and parents/carers by creating fun and interesting learning environments/activities to enhance skills, promote emotional resilience, and encourage positive behaviours and routines. Central to this role is effectively liaising with partners and supporting our delivery team made up of staff from Home-Start Clackmannanshire, Action for Children, Educational Psychology, Speech and language, and a growing team of volunteers.

You will also:

• Contribute to the effective day to day operation of the scheme in accordance with the Home-Start Memorandum & Articles of Association, Home-Start, Standards & Methods of Practice, Home-Start Agreement and Quality Assurance Standards.
• Maintain high standards of practice in supporting families within the Home-Start model.
• Ensure equality of opportunity, fairness and diversity in all aspects of the scheme’s work.
• Implement best safeguarding practice in all areas of work.

Main Responsibilities

Supporting the work of Home-Start Clackmannanshire and our Play Roots Partnership

• Undertaking work as delegated by our CEO to support the strategic management, development, evaluation, and future funding of Play Roots.
• Supporting the implementation of and upholding all Home-Start policies and procedures.
• Complying with the scheme’s administration, monitoring and financial systems.
• Promoting the work of the scheme, as required by the CEO.
• Contributing to and supporting the development of the Home-Start network locally, regionally and nationally.

Support for families

• Take a lead role in receiving and assessing referrals to Play Roots in a timely manner.
• Making initial contact/arranging implementation of support or delegating to operational team members within Home-Start and Action for Children to do.
• Lead delivery partners in planning, preparing for, and delivering group sessions (4 sessions across 4 locations, weekly, during term time).
• Enhance group support offer by leading the planning, preparation and delivery of Holiday Programmes for families.
• Providing rich learning environments where children and their families can engage.
• Facilitating interventions one to one or in a group to support identified areas of need.
• Building effective relationships and channels of communication with our partners, such as children, young people, families, colleagues, and external agencies.
• Ensuring support to families is of a high standard, in accordance with Home-Start’s model, policies and procedures.
• To undertake designated responsibilities to safeguard and promote children’s welfare.

Supporting Volunteers

• We could not deliver our services without the support of our incredible team of volunteers. As such, you will be involved in ensuring any Home-Start volunteers contributing to Play Roots sessions are appropriately onboarded, supported, informed, and adhere to all organisational policies and procedures.

Working in Partnership

• Ensuring appropriate liaison with referrers and other professionals.
• Networking appropriately within the community.

The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties that fall within the nature of the role and responsibilities of the post as detailed above.