About Edinburgh Samaritans

Samaritans of Edinburgh and the Lothians is a registered Scottish charity whose vision is that fewer people die by suicide. Based in Edinburgh, our volunteers provide confidential emotional support 24/7 via phone and online chat. Our branch is run almost entirely by volunteers and we operate a successful charity shop, which is our largest regular income source.

Our Mission

• To provide 24/7 confidential emotional support for anyone struggling to cope.
• To provide people with somewhere to turn to and get support when they need it most.
• To collaborate with Samaritans Central Charity and affiliated branches to further these objectives.

Organisational Structure

• The Board of Trustees includes the Branch Director, Secretary, Treasurer, and up to eight elected trustees, all unpaid volunteers.
• The Branch Leadership Team (BLT) manages day-to-day operations.
• The Board meets at least four times a year, often more frequently.

The Treasurer Role

We are seeking to appoint a new voluntary Treasurer when the current post holder steps down in September 2026.

The Treasurer is a Trustee and a member of the Branch Leadership Team, accountable to the Branch Director. The branch Accountant reports into the Treasurer. Time commitment is estimated between 4 to 6 hours each week, but this is variable with some peak periods of activity around budget, forecasts and year end.

General Purpose of the Role

The Treasurer is a trustee of the charity with particular responsibility for overseeing the charity’s financial affairs. The Treasurer helps ensure that the charity remains financially sustainable, compliant with Scottish charity law, and able to deliver its charitable purposes.

Working closely with the Board of Trustees, the Director, and any paid staff or third party suppliers, the Treasurer provides leadership on financial governance while sharing collective responsibility for the overall direction and management of the charity.

Aberlour Options Lothian, Prestonpans

Aberlour Options Lothian offers a range of short break services to children and young people with complex needs. We offer a safe, homely environment for a child to come and stay for a short break that gives their families a rest from their caring role. During that break, children enjoy a range of fun activities and experiences with our staff. Our service is very much a ‘home from home’ for the children who stay with us. We are within easy commuting distance of Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian with access via the number 26, 111 and 124 bus routes.

The difference we make to families:

“It’s not easy to accept that sometimes you need help. We had reached rock bottom, but Aberlour Options Lothian was that lifesaving buoyancy aid.

It wasn't easy accepting leaving my son there especially in the early days when it was new to everyone. It is a safe and welcoming place and a second home in many respects now. Somewhere he is safe, cared for and has loads of fun with the carers and other children.

It’s not just about respite; we have received help with managing behaviour, preparing for hospital visits and operations. Help and advice when there seemed to be no one else listening or who understands. It’s hard to look back to where we were but no we wouldn't be here today without their help and support.

To sum it up: Saved our lives. Peace of mind. Finally a rest.”

What we are looking for....

Our relief workers play a crucial role in supporting our team. This work is offered on a casual, hourly paid basis to provide cover during staff absence and/or particularly busy periods. Availability should be specified on your application form. As part of a small team, you will ensure that the highest level of physical and emotional care is provided to the children and young people. Experience in this type of work is preferred however we will consider all applications. The service opens Wednesday’s afterschool and from Friday 11am to Monday 12pm. As such, the requirement is to work mainly weekends. Shifts at weekends are 8am - 8pm or 12pm - 10pm and include sleepovers and wakened night shifts.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. To have a look at our values to understand more about what we are looking for from our employees click here.

What we offer...

You will receive a planned and supported induction consisting of a varied training programme, including Child Protection. You will be working alongside a highly motivated and skilled team. Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity on our website.

Aberlour is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our service users and uses a thorough and rigorous recruitment and selection process including PVG Scheme checks to ensure this commitment is not compromised.

Enquire is the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning. The service is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Children in Scotland.

Our goal is to help parents, carers, professionals and children and young people understand pupils’ rights to extra support in school and early years settings. Our vision is that all children in Scotland are supported, included, and listened to throughout their education.

We are looking for an experienced and caring adviser whose primary responsibility will be responding to helpline enquiries. The right candidate will have excellent listening skills and be able to explain complex information in a clear and concise way, both over the telephone and in writing.

An understanding of the issues affecting children and young people with additional support needs and their families and knowledge of the Scottish education system would be an advantage.

About Children in Scotland

Children in Scotland is a welcoming and dynamic charity that amplifies the voices, views and experiences of our members and children, families and professionals across Scotland. We achieve this through direct services, meaningful participation, policy work, inspiring communications and sector-leading events and learning opportunities.

We are a vibrant and inclusive community of dedicated individuals and organisations who use our skills and passion to bring evidence-based and fresh thinking together, with one shared aim of giving all children in Scotland an equal chance to flourish.

We are stronger together in driving lasting impact for Scotland’s children.

Diversity

Children in Scotland values the contribution of all our staff, whatever their background. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open processes, with appointment on merit. We welcome applications from everyone.

Further information

For an informal chat about the job, please contact Mark Patterson, Senior Advice and Information Officer by email on mpatterson@childreninscotland.org.uk

If you’re looking for the next step on your career in social care, you’ve just discovered it.

***Benefits - 32 days holidays per year, increasing to 37 with service, Up to 8% company contribution pension scheme, Perks at Work, £600 Refer a Friend & much more!***

Housing Support, Care at Home, Residential and Day Services – there’s something for everyone in this role!

About the Role

We are looking to recruit a Team Leader who will support our Service Manager in managing our vibrant Day Centre and Community Outreach teams in Perth. If you’re passionate about supporting adults with complex disabilities and you want every day at work to truly make a difference, this is the role for you.

You will lead our support teams to provide care and support to disabled adults in our purpose-built day hub and within their own homes, residential spaces and communities.

Our Upper Springland Campus offers amazing facilities, including sensory spaces, craft and kitchen areas, hydrotherapy pool, rebound therapy, and an accessible gym all designed to promote independence, creativity, and wellbeing.

As an experienced social care Team Leader, you will ensure that our people continue to receive the exceptional, person-centred support we provide by being responsible for:

• Rota management
• Staff management, supervision, recruitment, and development
• Managing supported persons activities
• Health and Safety
• Compiling and checking Care and Support plans for people we support
• Management of medicines procedures
• Financial management for people we support
• Liaising with families, health and care professionals and social workers
• Regular on-call support – shared between existing group of Team Leaders – Across our Upper Springland Services.

What you need to know

Hours – 37 hours per week

Example Shifts - Monday – Friday: 7.5 hours, (8.30am or 9am – 4.30pm or 5pm)

On-call Support – 7 days out of 28 including evenings and weekends

Experience/qualifications/key skills required

Experience of leading a team within a social care environment is essential, as is a willingness to take on any personal development opportunities. You should have a care related SVQ Level 4, or the willingness to gain this qualification in a given timescale. You should have good interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team and on your own initiative. Driving Licence preferred due to the travel requirements of the role.

Working with Capability Scotland brings you lots of benefits:

• Competitive salary - £32,391 (£16.79 per hour).
• We offer a fully funded SVQ – a qualification which is yours for life.
• 32 days holidays per year, increasing to 37 with service.
• Free PVG checks throughout your employment.
• Up to 8% company contribution pension scheme.
• Up to 3 x annual salary death in service.
• Perks at Work – shopping discount scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• £600 refer a friend scheme.
• 24/7 employee assistance
• Working for us means you would qualify for Blue Light & Concert for Carer discounts

*Benefits are subject to contractual terms.

We are One Voice, One Charity, One Spirit, #OneCapability.

What you need to know

This is a fixed term contact until 28th February 2026 - with the potential to become permanent due to planned retirement in the service.

Driving licence and access to a vehicle preferred – due to travel requirements of the role.

A full job description of this role is available by clicking here: Team Leader (Res Resp)

For more information on this role, you can contact our Admin Team at 01738 632995 quoting reference – CS1507263

The Communications Lead role is critical in supporting the development, delivery and coordination of See Me’s communication strategy, to achieve our vision and strategic aims. You will co-ordinate development of a Communications Plan for the programme that engages our volunteers and critical partners and ensures action on mental health stigma and discrimination is prioritised, understood, and acted upon.

Working with colleagues, partners, volunteers and other people with diverse lived experience you will produce engaging, high-quality communications that are credible and informed by data and emerging evidence about the nature, scale and impact of stigma. You will provide communications advice and support to the programme team in the development of their work and ensure that programme messages and outputs reach key audiences and encourages them to act on mental health stigma and discrimination.

You will support the ongoing monitoring of the impact of work and prioritise amendments to the Communications Plan as required to ensure See Me continues to engage with key audiences purposefully and in ways that support delivery of the programme’s outcomes.

For more information, including full job description and application/interview guidance, please download our recruitment pack.

The Policy Lead role is critical in supporting the development, delivery and coordination of See Me’s policy strategy, to achieve our vision and strategic aims. In this role, you will work with colleagues, volunteers, people and partners with diverse lived experience to produce engaging, high-quality policy outputs that are credible and informed by data and emerging evidence about the nature, scale and impact of mental health stigma. Working with the Director and Programme Managers, you will create clear policy position papers and briefings that centres tackling mental health stigma and discrimination, taking account of other forms of discrimination as relevant.

You will co-ordinate and lead a joint approach to policy influencing and stakeholder engagement & empowerment through carrying out a comprehensive stakeholder mapping to inform a policy plan that ensures action on mental health stigma and discrimination is prioritised, understood, and acted upon. Working with See Me colleagues you will support the ongoing monitoring of the impact of work and prioritise amendments to policy plan as part of the wider delivery plan required to ensure See Me continues to engage with key audiences purposefully and in ways that support delivery of the programmes outcomes.

For more information, including full job description and application/interview guidance, please download our recruitment pack.

The Project Officer (No More Shame) will co-ordinate and support delivery of the partnership project ‘No More Shame’ specifically leading on the See Me deliverables. This role works in partnership with colleagues in SAMH, Combat Stress, and local area peer networks & groups to understand and tackle mental health stigma and discrimination experienced by ex‑service women in Scotland, and fulfil the requirements of the project plan agreed with the Armed Forces Covenant Trust.

Key milestones for the programme involve:

• Peer engagement and research to test the findings of a literature review.
• Support the peer/volunteer role with Combat Stress.
• Support the pilot of The Changing Rooms With SAMH.
• Co- produce a campaign with ex-service women.
• Co-ordinate activity to build a peer led movement to highlight the issues, advocate and influence change in policy and practice in health care services (including mental health).
• Support SAMH to develop a Peer-led Toolkit to support transitions.
• Support evaluation of the project.

For more information, including full job description and application/interview guidance, please download our recruitment pack.

The Programme Manager (Communities and Priority Groups) makes a distinct contribution to tackling mental health stigma and discrimination in Scotland. They lead a programme of work that is designed to identify, understand and challenge mental health stigma and discrimination as it is experienced by different people, in groups and communities across Scotland using approaches underpinned by community development, human rights and equalities principles. They drive forward action at four levels (structural, cultural, institutional and personal) seeking to move beyond universal approaches, towards targeted, equitable and culturally safe solutions underpinned by lived experience and community led action.

The Programme Manager provides strategic leadership and works with the Director and colleagues in Mental Health Foundation, Penumbra and See Me to ensure diverse lived experience data, evidence, learning and leadership is prioritised and centred in the research programme, three national change programmes (workplaces, education and mental health services), in our community focused work and in our policy, communications and media work. Through community development approaches the manager will engage with volunteers, people, partners and grassroots organisations with lived and living experience of mental health stigma and discrimination; working with them to understand, challenge and influence systemic change.

For more information, including full job description and application/interview guidance, please download our recruitment pack.

The Programme Manager (Workplaces) makes a distinct contribution to tackling mental health stigma and discrimination in Scotland. They lead a programme of work that is designed to identify, understand and challenge mental health stigma and discrimination as it is experienced by employees and employers in workplaces across Scotland. The approach centres on mainstreaming action on mental health stigma and discrimination as a core part of a mentally healthy workplace approach. It is framed on international evidence of whole organisation approaches to reducing mental health stigma. The post holder will drive forward action at four levels (structural, cultural, institutional and personal) seeking to move beyond universal approaches, towards targeted, equitable and culturally safe solutions underpinned by lived experience leadership and community led action.

They will lead, facilitate and contribute to strategic partnerships and alliances at local, national and UK level to take forward activity to deliver the Workplace Programme commitments within the annual delivery plan. This will involve driving improvements in policy, leadership, culture, practice and continuous improvement to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination in workplaces in line with national policy, the emerging business case from investment and to respond to rising levels of reported stigma and discrimination in workplaces across all sectors.

The role will seek to mainstream activity in workplaces based on emerging data and research, evidence-based practice, lived experience led action and by mainstreaming anti stigma actions linked to their continuous improvement plan. The post holder will ensure high-quality programme delivery, strong partnership, focusing on leadership and management, strategic influence, and impactful lived experience involvement across all areas of work.

For more information, including full job description and application/interview guidance, please download our recruitment pack.

Help shape bereavement support across Scotland

Every day, Cruse Scotland supports people all across Scotland who are grieving the death of someone important to them. Through the compassion and commitment of our highly trained volunteers and staff, we provide bereavement support that helps people navigate one of the most difficult times in their lives.

We're looking for an experienced, compassionate and confident leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as our Head of Client Services.

This is a unique opportunity to lead our national bereavement services, ensuring they remain safe, effective, accessible and responsive while helping shape how we continue to develop and improve support for people across Scotland.

"The support group more than exceeded my expectations. I felt heard, felt safe, felt understood and felt less alone." – Cruse Scotland client May 2026

About the role

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, you'll provide strategic and operational leadership for Cruse Scotland's client services. You'll lead a team of Area Managers, our Helpline Development Manager and Client Services Co-ordinator, to ensure our core services and projects are delivered consistently and continue to meet the changing needs of the people who rely on us.

This is a busy and varied leadership role. Alongside supporting and developing your managers, you'll oversee service quality, safeguarding, clinical governance, service performance and continuous improvement. You'll contribute to organisational strategy, work closely with the Board and senior colleagues, and use data, feedback and lived experience to help shape future services.

About you

We're looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with practical operational leadership.

You will have experience of leading services, developing managers and driving continuous improvement within psychologically informed, counselling, therapeutic, health, social care or similar environments. You'll be comfortable leading through complexity, making sound decisions, managing safeguarding responsibilities and using data and insight to improve services.

“Cruse Scotland got me to the place in my life I need to be and not blaming myself about my mum’s death”

- Cruse Scotland client March 2026

Most importantly, you'll be someone who leads with compassion, integrity and confidence, building positive relationships and creating an environment where staff and volunteers can thrive.

Why join Cruse Scotland?

This is a role where you'll make a genuine difference - not only to the people who access our services, but to the volunteers and staff who make those services possible.

Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Their commitment, compassion and generosity are truly inspiring, and you'll have the privilege of supporting services that enable them to make such a positive impact across Scotland.

“Volunteering with Cruse Scotland has given me a real sense of connection—both with the clients I support and with my fellow volunteer counsellors, who are incredibly supportive. It’s also strengthened my connection to my local community by allowing me to support people during one of the most difficult times in their lives. Seeing clients feel heard, understood and accepted as they process their grief is incredibly meaningful” – Cruse Scotland volunteer June 2026

You'll also become part of a small but mighty staff team of 18. Although we're based across Scotland with many working remotely much of the time, we make a real effort to stay connected. We meet online every fortnight to share ideas, support one another and celebrate successes, and we come together in person at set times across the year because we know that strong relationships help us do our best work.

“It's been an absolute pleasure working with such a genuinely lovely and dedicated group of people, I'll really miss working with everyone” – employee quote July 2026

If you're looking for a leadership role where you'll have the opportunity to shape services, inspire others and improve the experience of bereaved people across Scotland, we'd love to hear from you.