About Us

Borders Independent Advocacy Service has established itself as one of Scotland’s leading providers of independent advocacy, delivering exceptional services since 1995. At the heart of our work are the rights of children and young people and the power of their voices to bring about positive change.

We provide individual, relationship-based independent advocacy and a wide range of participatory opportunities for people across the Scottish Borders. We work alongside corporate parents and communities to broaden understanding, and with policymakers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice based on the lived experience of Scottish Borders people.

The Role

As an independent advocacy worker, you will have the privilege of providing one-to-one independent advocacy to children and young people who live in the Scottish Borders. Through this role, you will ensure that their voices and wishes are heard, enabling them to make informed choices, protect their rights and have a meaningful impact on decisions that affect their lives.

The post-holder will be a key member of the advocacy team, supporting children and young people 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.

Working 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 Borders Independent Advocacy Service your role will include facilitating group opportunities for and with children and young people. This includes providing engagement and participation opportunities throughout the Borders Independent Advocacy 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 Borders Independent Advocacy Service and its services with children, young people, professionals, and carers you will also be responsible for facilitating training amongst professionals, carers, and organisations.

The successful candidate for this post will be able to form positive relationships with children and young people and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills. You will be confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt to a wide range of situations. You will be confident 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 will demonstrate knowledge of the current structures, 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 may be necessary. A full driving licence and access to transport are essential.

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 Borders Independent Advocacy Service 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 or any other enquiries, please contact us, at recruitment@bordersadvocacy.org.uk and a member of the team will get back to you.

We strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. If you believe your skills, experience, and expertise align with the criteria outlined in the person specification, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please complete the application form, ensuring that you provide examples of how your knowledge and experience fulfil each aspect of the person specification.

Why Join Us?

You will join Borders Independent Advocacy Service at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are the most vulnerable are growing in strength and influence, bringing insight, challenge, hope and change. You will play a key role in shaping and strengthening advocacy services across the Scottish Borders.

We offer:

• A generous pension contribution scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement, plus public holidays
• Flexible working where possible
• A highly supportive, values-led organisation
• Commitment to staff wellbeing and professional development.

Borders Independent Advocacy Service is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible working environment. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds.

Borders Community Action is seeking to appoint an additional trustee/director who will join the Board immediately and become Chair Designate, with the intention of assuming the role of Chair of the organisation in 2027.

Role Profile

As Chair Designate, the successful candidate will first serve as a full trustee/director of the organisation. Trustees are collectively responsible for ensuring the charity is well run, financially responsible and acting in line with its purposes, while safeguarding its assets, values and reputation.

This is an opportunity for an experienced and dynamic individual to help lead a growing and ambitious organisation through its next stage of development. The successful candidate will work alongside fellow trustees/directors, the current Chair and the Chief Executive to ensure a well-supported and effective transition into the

Chair role.

In addition to the general duties of a trustee, the Chair Designate should be willing and able to:

• Provide strategic leadership at Board level and help guide the long-term direction of the organisation.
• Build effective working relationships with trustees, staff and key partners.
• Support good governance, sound decision-making and collective responsibility within the Board.
• Work closely with the current Chair and Chief Executive during the transition period ahead of 2027.
• Act as an ambassador for Borders Community Action and the wider third sector in the Scottish Borders

Roxburgh and Berwickshire CAB is an independent charity providing advice, information and support to people across our community. We are a friendly team of staff and volunteers working over 4 locations (Eyemouth, Duns, Kelso, and Hawick) delivering a busy advice service. We strive to deliver a good quality service that meets the needs of our clients in a non-judgemental and confidential manner. We aim for individuals not to suffer through not knowing or understanding their rights and responsibilities or not being aware of the services available to them. We provide advice and options to our clients so that they can make informed decision and feel empowered to improve their personal circumstance.

Job description:

To ensure the provision and development of quality advice, information and representation on statutory benefits and other social welfare matters in the Scottish Borders.

Key Responsibilities

• Interview clients over the phone, and face-to-face to gather relevant information about their circumstances and identify the areas they require assistance with.

• Research advice areas to identify possible options for the client.

• Improving access to benefit entitlements and maximising income.

• Provide representation for clients at social security first tier tribunals.

• Provide support and guidance on complex cases to CAB staff and volunteers.

• Run outreach sessions across Roxburgh and Berwickshire to enable our clients to access advice within their local community.

• Identify social policy issues to feedback to the wider network to help benefit both local and national social policy campaigns.

• Negotiate with third parties on the client’s behalf to resolve issues they are facing, for example, with employers, benefit agencies, and landlords, etc.

• Coordinate with other specialist advisors and projects within the Citizens Advice Bureau network to ensure clients receive support with complex issues.

• Keep comprehensive records of casework which meet audit requirements, including use of CASTLE case recording system.

• Identify areas for personal development and proactively explore training opportunities to continue your own personal development.

• Keep up to date on relevant legislation and case law relevant to the role.

• Carry out case checking responsibilities to help ensure cases are meeting audit requirements.

• Uphold the principles of Roxburgh and Berwickshire CAB at all times.

This list is not exhaustive, and you will be expected to carry out any other reasonable duties as requested by the operations coordinator or the bureau manager.

Ark is a major provider of Housing, Care and Support to people with long term and enduring conditions such as learning disabilities, mental health issues, dementia and autism.

Ark supports people to live independently in their own homes providing everything from a few hours a week social and life admin support to 24/7 care supporting with personal care, medication, household tasks, attending appointments and leisure activities.

We have lots of opportunities across Scotland for our Support Worker roles. As we provide full training no previous is experience is required.

If you are enthusiastic about supporting people to live their best lives, then apply now to join our team!

Your main duties will include but not be limited to:

• Working with colleagues as part of an effective and efficient team to support vulnerable people.
• Communicate and work well with our supported people to provide individual care and maintain appropriate relationships.
• Being responsible in supporting individuals throughout the activities, giving positive feedback and encouragement.
• Updating and maintaining accurate records using a tablet on Arks Information Management system.

Previous experience of the following is an advantage but not essential as Ark will provide full training: Care Worker, Social worker, Home Carer, Case Worker, Care Assistant, Autism Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant , Social Care Worker.

View our job outline, find out what you working week could look like and hear from our current Support Workers on Arks website arkha.org.uk/work-with-us

Why Ark?

• No Previous Experience Required - Ark provide full training so no previous experience is required making our Support Worker roles the perfect place to start your career in Adult Social Care.
• Get a qualification while you work - Ark fully fund your SVQ2 in Health & Social Care which you complete with the support of our in house SVQ team.
• Employee Discounts - Employee Discounts Portal with 1000s of discounts on your favourite brands including Supermarkets, Cinema Tickets, Gym Membership and Holidays.
• Career Progression -Over 75% of all Managers within Care & Support have been promoted internally.
• Employee Assistance Program - Arks Employee Assistance program (EAP) gives all employees access to counselling sessions. There is also support available through weekly webinars and the EAP Website & App.
• Contracted hours to suit you-We have Full-time, Part-time and Relief Support Worker roles available at our services throughout Scotland.

In return for your valuable contribution, Ark will also offer you:

• Up to 36 days paid holiday per year pro rata
• 4% Contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Fully funded PVG & 1st year SSSC registration paid by Ark

Our employees told us in a recent survey that they stay with Ark because they believe in our values, we have supportive managers who continually appreciate their staff and they love making a positive difference in our supported peoples lives, helping them to achieve their dreams.

Ark would love to hear from you whether you are an experienced Support Worker or new to Social Care.

Ark is a major provider of Housing, Care and Support to people with long term and enduring conditions such as learning disabilities, mental health issues, dementia and autism.

Ark supports people to live independently in their own homes providing everything from a few hours a week social and life admin support to 24/7 care supporting with personal care, medication, household tasks, attending appointments and leisure activities.

We have lots of opportunities across Scotland for our Support Worker roles. As we provide full training no previous is experience is required.

If you are enthusiastic about supporting people to live their best lives, then apply now to join our team!

Your main duties will include but not be limited to:

• Working with colleagues as part of an effective and efficient team to support vulnerable people.
• Communicate and work well with our supported people to provide individual care and maintain appropriate relationships.
• Being responsible in supporting individuals throughout the activities, giving positive feedback and encouragement.
• Updating and maintaining accurate records using a tablet on Arks Information Management system.

Previous experience of the following is an advantage but not essential as Ark will provide full training: Care Worker, Social worker, Home Carer, Case Worker, Care Assistant, Autism Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant , Social Care Worker.

View our job outline, find out what you working week could look like and hear from our current Support Workers on Arks website arkha.org.uk/work-with-us

Why Ark?

• No Previous Experience Required - Ark provide full training so no previous experience is required making our Support Worker roles the perfect place to start your career in Adult Social Care.
• Get a qualification while you work - Ark fully fund your SVQ2 in Health & Social Care which you complete with the support of our in house SVQ team.
• Employee Discounts - Employee Discounts Portal with 1000s of discounts on your favourite brands including Supermarkets, Cinema Tickets, Gym Membership and Holidays.
• Career Progression -Over 75% of all Managers within Care & Support have been promoted internally.
• Employee Assistance Program - Arks Employee Assistance program (EAP) gives all employees access to counselling sessions. There is also support available through weekly webinars and the EAP Website & App.
• Contracted hours to suit you-We have Full-time, Part-time and Relief Support Worker roles available at our services throughout Scotland.

In return for your valuable contribution, Ark will also offer you:

• Up to 36 days paid holiday per year pro rata
• 4% Contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Fully funded PVG & 1st year SSSC registration paid by Ark

Our employees told us in a recent survey that they stay with Ark because they believe in our values, we have supportive managers who continually appreciate their staff and they love making a positive difference in our supported peoples lives, helping them to achieve their dreams.

Ark would love to hear from you whether you are an experienced Support Worker or new to Social Care.