A fantastic opportunity to join Children First in East Ayrshire

Children First’s ambition is for every child in Scotland to be safe, loved and well with their family. As a charity we offer emotional, practical, and financial support to help families put children first and campaign to uphold the rights of every child.

Our service is continuing to grow as we further embed Family Group Decision Making at the heart of our practice with families in East Ayrshire. We are looking for Project Workers who will build meaningful relationships with children, young people, parents, and their wider family networks, creating a safe and supportive space for everyone to be heard.

Are you passionate about empowering families to find their own solutions and make plans that keep children safe and connected to those who matter most?

Would you like to engage wider family networks, facilitate meaningful discussions, and support families to work together during difficult times?

Do you have experience supporting children and their families through difficult times whilst encouraging them to take an active part in decisions that affect their lives?

The role will focus on helping families overcome barriers, strengthen relationships, connect with community resources and maintain progress towards agreed family plans. The post holder will promote family-led solutions, build resilience and support families to safely care for and nurture their children within their own family and community networks.

This is a relationship-based role where listening, curiosity, compassion and belief in families are as important as practical support. You will draw on family-led planning and strengths-based approaches reflected in FGDM practice and Children First's wider family support model.

What kind of people are we looking for?

• have experience of keeping children safe in their own families
• are fiercely passionate about children’s rights
• thinks it’s a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families and,
• are kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind

What kind of team member will you be?

Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:

• resilient, skilled and knowledgeable who wants to transform children’s lives
• determined to support children to stay safely with their own family
• big hearted and courageous
• able to build strong relationships and to manage the tricky conversations
• is compassionate and understanding of trauma
• a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
• inspiring colleagues and teams to be even better
• an amazing ambassador for children and Children First

Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

At Children First, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects communities across Scotland. Guided by our values, With Love, With Purpose, With Strength, we strive to create a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to thrive. We actively work to remove barriers to inclusion and promote equity in all aspects of our work. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those from marginalised communities, and are dedicated to ensuring a fair and supportive recruitment process.

Base

You will be based with our East Ayrshire FGDM team, co located in the HSCP, Kilmarnock/Cumnock.

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 9 public holidays). We have additional benefits such as a cash back health plan, cycle to work scheme, and option to join a Credit Union.

Further Information

We welcome and encourage applications from potential colleagues from all backgrounds, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, belief, disability who share our values. If you would like to discuss any aspect of the role before applying, please contact: rosemary.mccabe@childrenfirst.org.uk

Health All Round is dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of people living in South West Edinburgh. Our Action for Pain programme supports individuals with chronic pain by helping them better understand their condition and explore practical, effective strategies to manage and improve their symptoms.

We are seeking a compassionate and enthusiastic Project Worker to develop and coordinate an inclusive Peer Community Network, bringing together people with shared experiences to connect, support one another and build stronger community relationships.

You will create opportunities for people to share experiences, reduce isolation, build confidence and use their lived experience, skills and knowledge to support themselves and others.

The role will involve recruiting and supporting volunteers and peer supporters, organising peer support sessions and creating safe, welcoming spaces that encourage connection and participation.

You will build relationships with local healthcare providers, community organisations and referral partners, helping individuals access appropriate support and resources.

You will also provide guidance and ongoing support to volunteers, encourage peer leadership, maintain accurate records and work closely with the wider HAR team to promote the value of peer support and strengthen community connections.

If you would like the application in an alternative format, require reasonable adjustments for the interview process, or wish to make an informal enquiry, please contact Kirsten Marwick on 0131 337 1376 or at kirsten@healthallround.org.uk.

This post is funded by the National Lottery Fairer Life Fund.

Forth Valley Inclusion is a Charity established in 2013 by representatives of the churches and other faith communities in the Stirling area.

The charity works in partnership with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and operates Visitor Centres at HMP / YOI Stirling and HMP Glenochil.

The aim of the Visitor Centres is to provide a safe, supportive, friendly and welcoming environment for families and others visiting those in custody. The centres offer refreshments, a children’s play area and a place to sit and take a breath. Support is provided by staff and trained volunteers to ensure experiences of prison visiting are less stressful and more positive thereby encouraging more frequent visits and maintaining family ties in order to reduce re-offending, increase the stability of children's lives and achieve positive long-term outcomes for all of the family.

The Centres are funded through a grant from the Scottish Government enabling the employment of a small staff team and has successfully secured additional funding, including Lottery funding to support its services over the next 3 years. Staff work alongside volunteers to enable a range of activities and events, encourage family engagement and provide advice and information. The team works closely with the Prison Service staff, make referrals to other agencies as appropriate, undertakes outreach services and supports families to access digital resources.

We are currently hiring two positions (30 hours per week and 14 hours per week) for the role of Visitor Centre Worker for our centres in HMP/YOI Stirling and HMP Glenochil. These roles have responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the Visitor Centres with significant interface with clients, volunteers, SPS and partner agencies.

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland and we currently have over 3000 Care Experienced members.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced children and young people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory opportunity for Care Experienced young people across Scotland; we work alongside corporate parents and communities of all sorts to broaden understanding; we work with policy makers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice on the basis of all that can be learnt from the voices of those with experience of care – working together to build on the aspirations ofThe Promiseand secure positive change.

This role offers the opportunity to work directly with children and young people with experience of care. The Advocacy & Participation Worker will provide individual relationship-based advocacy support and will be a key member of the Advocacy and Participation team, supporting young people from across the Western Isles to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard.

In this role you will have the opportunity to provide independent advocacy, children’s rights, and participation opportunities for children and young people who are looked after, Care Experienced, or subject to formal processes and structures. The role will see you actively participating in child’s plan meetings, children’s hearings, and other formal processes. In partnership with professionals, carers, and organisations, you will help to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people.

The role will also include facilitating group opportunities for and with children and young people, including providing engagement and participation opportunities, both locally and nationally.

The post holder will raise awareness of Who Cares? Scotland and its services to children, young people, professionals, third sector partners and carers.

The right candidate for this post will be able to form positive relationships with children and young people and have good interpersonal skills. You will feel confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt your approach to a wide range of contexts. Secure in making effective plans, as well as evidencing your work, you will prioritize and meet deadlines. You will take enjoyment from working collaboratively with partners, believing in equal opportunities and inclusive working. Committed to children’s rights, you are someone who knows that all young people can make transformative changes happen in their lives if given the opportunity. You will have demonstrable knowledge of the current structures, developments, policy, and practice in relation to children and young people experiencing care in Scotland.

You will be flexible in your approach, be able to work occasional evening and weekends (with prior agreement), and have a full driving license, access to own transport and business insurance.

While we would welcome the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as interested in relevant work experience. We welcome and encourage applications from those with experience of care.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you. For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Leanne Murdoch, our Advocacy and Participation Manager at lmurdoch@whocaresscotland.org.

Would you love to support community organisations to thrive? Do you have experience of working with communities, helping to strengthen their business planning and take an enterprising approach to their work?

Development Trusts Association Scotland is looking for maternity cover for our Strengthening Communities Programme Advisor to support our members in receipt of Strengthening Communities Programme grant funding. Working with the member support team, this role will help groups to become more resilient and sustainable community anchor organisations.

This post will involve hybrid working from home and office, with travel throughout the country.

Angus Women’s Aid (AWA) has an exciting opportunity for people to join our court advocacy team. We are looking for individuals who have a genuine interest in working with women who are victims of domestic abuse, and are passionate about making a difference.

Angus Women’s Aid is a registered charity giving information, support and refuge to women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse.

Our Domestic Abuse Court Advocacy service is focused on reducing risk and improving the safety and wellbeing of victims of domestic abuse in Angus, which aims to ensure that all women, children and young people affected by domestic abuse, are safe, informed and supported throughout their involvement with the criminal justice system.

Applicants should have a knowledge of domestic abuse and be committed to working with those who experience it, be enthusiastic, motivated, have excellent communication skills and be able to work collaboratively in a multi-agency environment, evidencing a respectful and inclusive approach. The use of a non-judgemental approach is essential, and you should be committed to working within the ethos of a feminist analysis of abuse.

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our strategic vision is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual lifelong relationship-based independent advocacy and a range of local and national participatory and engagement opportunities for Care Experienced people across Scotland. We work alongside Corporate Parents and communities to broaden understanding and create change. We work with policy makers, leaders, and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy, and practice, working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

The post holder will work directly with children and young people with experience of care, in an individual relationship-based advocacy role, and within participation and group activity across North Lanarkshire. This unique role requires you to listen to what children and young people with experience of care say and support them to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard in the processes of making decisions about their lives. You will also help facilitate a broad range of participatory and engagement opportunities and create the conditions for collective advocacy.

The right candidate for this post will be brilliant at forming positive relationships with children and young people. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, adaptable to a wide range of contexts. You will enjoy working collaboratively with partners. You will be committed to children’s rights, inclusive working, equal opportunities, and believe that all young people can make transformative change happen in their lives if given the opportunity.

Flexibility will be required given the remit of the role. Some evening and weekend work will be necessary, as will a full driving licence and access to transport.

While we would welcome the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as interested in relevant work experience. We welcome and encourage applications from those with experience of care.

The successful candidate will be joining Who Cares? Scotland at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are in or have experienced care are growing in power, individually and collectively – bringing with them insight, challenge, hope and change.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you. To arrange an informal conversation about this opportunity, please contact Caroline Richardson, Director of Advocacy, Participation and Membership on crichardson@whocaresscotland.org

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our strategic vision is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual lifelong relationship-based independent advocacy and a range of local and national participatory and engagement opportunities for Care Experienced people across Scotland. We work alongside Corporate Parents and communities to broaden understanding and create change. We work with policy makers, leaders, and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy, and practice, working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

The post holder will work directly with children and young people with experience of care, in an individual relationship-based advocacy role, and within participation and group activity across East Lothian. This unique role requires you to listen to what children and young people with experience of care say and support them to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard in the processes of making decisions about their lives. You will also help facilitate a broad range of participatory and engagement opportunities and create the conditions for collective advocacy.

The right candidate for this post will be brilliant at forming positive relationships with children and young people. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, adaptable to a wide range of contexts. You will enjoy working collaboratively with partners. You will be committed to children’s rights, inclusive working, equal opportunities, and believe that all young people can make transformative change happen in their lives if given the opportunity.

Flexibility will be required given the remit of the role. Some evening and weekend work will be necessary, as will a full driving licence and access to transport.

While we would welcome the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as interested in relevant work experience. We welcome and encourage applications from those with experience of care.

The successful candidate will be joining Who Cares? Scotland at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are in or have experienced care are growing in power, individually and collectively – bringing with them insight, challenge, hope and change.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you. To arrange an informal conversation about this opportunity, please contact Ray MacLean, Advocacy and Participation Manager on rmaclean@whocaresscotland.org

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland and we currently have over 3000 Care Experienced members.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced children and young people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory opportunity for Care Experienced young people across Scotland; we work alongside corporate parents and communities of all sorts to broaden understanding; we work with policy makers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice on the basis of all that can be learnt from the voices of those with experience of care – working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

This unique role offers the opportunity to listen to and work directly with children and young people with experience of care, in an individual relationship-based advocacy role, and within participation and group activity across our South East region.

The post-holder will be a key member of the Advocacy and Participation team, supporting young people from across Edinburgh to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard. In this role you will have the opportunity to provide independent advocacy, children’s rights, and participation opportunities for children and young people who are looked after, Care Experienced, or subject to formal processes and structures. The role will see you actively participating in child’s plan meetings, children’s hearings, and other formal processes, as well as assisting children and young people to prepare for them. In partnership with professionals, carers, and organisations, you will help to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people by keeping detailed records of the work you undertake, writing liaison reports, and monitoring statistics.

As a vital part of the work of Who Cares? Scotland, your role will include facilitating group opportunities for and with children and young people within Edinburghl. This includes providing engagement and participation opportunities throughout the Who Cares? Scotland local and national network, as well as meeting with care experienced children and young people to introduce the service in agreement with the local authority. Raising awareness of Who Cares? Scotland and its services with children, young people, professionals, and carers you will also be responsible for facilitating training amongst care corporate parents.

The right candidate for this post will be able to form positive relationships with children and young people and have good interpersonal skills. You will feel confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt to a wide range of contexts. Secure in making effective plans, as well as evidencing your work, you can prioritise and meet deadlines. You take enjoyment from working collaboratively with partners, believing in equal opportunities and inclusive working. Committed to children’s rights, you are someone who knows that all young people can make transformative change happen in their lives if given the opportunity. You can demonstrate knowledge of the current structure, developments, policy, and practice in relation to children and young people experiencing care in Scotland. You are also flexible, given the remit of the role, as some evening and weekend work will be necessary, along with a full driving licence and access to transport.

While we would welcome the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as interested in relevant work experience. We welcome and encourage applications from those with experience of care.

The successful candidate will be joining Who Cares? Scotland and working within the South East team at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are in or have experienced care are growing in power, individually and collectively – bringing with them insight, challenge, hope and change.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you. To arrange an informal conversation about this opportunity, please contact Ray MacLean Manager of Advocacy and Participation, on rmaclean@whocaresscotland.org.

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?

You don't need previous experience or qualifications in this field. If you share our values and have a genuine commitment to supporting people, this could be the role for you.

At LinkLiving, our values and people are at the heart of everything we do:

• 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)

We are proud of the positive culture within our Edinburgh Mental Health Services, recently recognised during a Care Inspection, where inspectors noted that "staff worked extremely well together within a culture of exceptionally strong values, compassion and respect."

We are looking for people who can contribute to that culture by building positive relationships, working collaboratively with colleagues, and treating everyone with dignity, empathy and respect.

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

About the Service

Our Edinburgh Mental Health Services are made up of three housing support teams who provide visiting support across Edinburgh to people experiencing mental ill health.

The service also includes a Core and Cluster accommodation service, providing more intensive, accommodation-based support to people with complex needs, including those who have spent time in long-term hospital care.

Across all parts of the service, our support enables people to live as independently as possible, maintain their tenancy and accommodation, improve their mental and physical wellbeing, and work towards the life they want for themselves.

The Job

We have an exciting opportunity for ambitious and motivated Support Workers to join our Edinburgh Mental Health Services and make a positive difference in the lives of the people we support.

In this role, you will be supported to work in a person-centred and trauma-informed way, building effective relationships with people affected by a range of mental health challenges. You will support people through difficult periods in their lives, helping them build resilience, develop skills and confidence, and work towards recovery and a good life.

Depending on your role within the service, you may provide support through our visiting housing support teams or within our Core and Cluster accommodation service.

You will provide emotional, practical and social support that promotes independence, wellbeing and informed choice in all aspects of daily life.

This role involves the administration of medication for some of the people we support. Full training will be provided.

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 above.

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

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 registeredwithin 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.