This is an exciting time to join Stirling Council as we work to enhance our leadership capacity and drive improvement activities that make a difference for people in Stirling.
Are you ready to lead and innovate in relation to improving the lives of children, families and justice in Stirling? Are you committed to leading on and promoting the value and contribution of our social work professionals and practice, including child protection, adult protection and practice learning and development for across our workforce? The role of Chief Social Worker is critical to supporting the development, promotion and value of our social work profession and professionals whilst leading and managing our Children, Family and Justice services that put the child and/or person at the heart of every decision.
In Stirling, our children, young people, parents and carers have a vision of a Stirling that is safe, inclusive and nurturing and where all children and young people are able to thrive. We have a vision of Stirling as a place where every child grows up feeling loved, safe, and respected, so that they can realise their full potential. We work together putting children and families at the centre. Children and young people want services which promote and defend their rights as children, and which involve them in the decisions that affect them.
Requirements
You will be a highly effective communicator and team player, a strategic thinker and experienced senior manager, who has used your record of success in delivering effective services to champion and embed opportunities for all children, young people and care leavers, within Council and partnership systems and arrangements.
Analytical skills and astute political awareness and understanding are needed, together with a commitment to customer-focused public services. Working with our communities and public, private and third sector organisations, as well as colleagues and teams across the organisation, you will build and develop relationships to deliver improvements for the benefit of all our citizens.
Responsibilities
Children and Family and Justice Services
There are currently 18,194 children and young people aged 0-18 years in Stirling, comprising 19.5% of the total population, with almost twice as many residents living within a rural area (33.4%) than the Scottish average (17.2%). When looking at Stirling’s outcomes for children and young people, the majority are improving. Comparatively Stirling is the same or better than Scotland as whole. This overall picture, however, masks deep inequalities, with outcomes for some children and young people being significantly poorer than others.
In Children and Family Services, our work to deliver on The Promise and our commitment to the revised guidance on Getting It Right for Every Child are changing the way we work to protect those who are most vulnerable and ensure the voice and rights of the child are at the heart of all we do.
In relation to our Justice services, the Children’s Care and Justice Bill and processes around places of safety will have a significant impact on delivery of services for those young people who come into conflict with the law. Similarly, for those working in adult justice, guidance around electronic court submissions, alongside the newly introduced Community Justice Strategy and Hate Crime Strategy are changing the way we deliver services as well.
Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) (Adult) Service
At the heart of this is our commitment to strengthen our Health, Social Work and Social Care Services, and deliver a service to our communities that is defined by quality, inclusive practices, innovation, accountability and achieving effective and positive outcomes which will change lives for the better.
As Chief Social Work Officer in Stirling, you will contribute to HSCP strategic priorities while maintaining productive and co-operative working relationships with Elected Members, NHS Non-Executives, Heads of Service, senior officers and stakeholders across partner organisations whilst operating as a non-voting member of the Integration Joint Board (IJB) and any other appropriate national and or local bodies.
You will also manage the day to day delivery and strategic direction of the following specific functions: Child Protection, Adult Protection and Practice Learning & Professional Social Work Practice Development.Working with us, you can expect to enjoy a varied, challenging and rewarding career, the chance to make a real difference for people and communities. With your ongoing commitment we can continue to offer invaluable support for adults, families and children when they need it most.
We are passionate about our people and how we deliver services to our community in Stirling. That’s why we encourage a culture that puts children, families and people at the heart of everything we do - by empowering our people to work together to find solutions, be open, honest, and respectful, take responsibility and listen and learn. If you value these behaviours too, we’d love to hear from you
The Individual
About Stirling
Stirling is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city set within a world-class historic built environment and is a hub of contemporary culture.
The area is popular with tourists, attracting millions of visitors every year thanks to the region's rich history and stunning countryside, including Scotland's first National Park. Add to this theatres, cinemas, galleries, great restaurants, sporting facilities and easily accessible shopping, and it's easy to see why life in Stirling is hard to beat. Equidistant to both Glasgow and Edinburgh, Stirling is ideally situated for business, as well as to live, work, study and visit. Stirling's population is approximately 94,210 and is projected to rise significantly in the coming years. The Stirling Council area benefits from a vast mix of urban and rural communities, covering 2,187 square kilometres in total and includes areas as far south as Strathblane and as far North as Killin
Benefits of Working for Stirling Council
If this sounds like the challenge for you, please apply with your CV and covering letter by midnight on 11th August 2024. For an informal chat please contact Lisa Dunlop at dunlopli@stirling.gov.uk
As a member of the senior management team, the Assistant Director (Programmes and Participation) is instrumental in leading Together’s strategic initiatives across a broad spectrum of programme development, with a significant focus on enhancing the rights and participation of babies, toddlers, and early years children. This role is pivotal in supporting the Director by managing essential areas of operational and strategic responsibility, facilitating the effective implementation of Together’s strategic priorities, and ensuring programmes are impactful and aligned with organisational goals.
Key areas of responsibility include:
Throughout the role, the post-holder will be expected to involve Together’s membership – including children and young people – whenever possible and appropriate.
Reporting to: Director
The applicant will support Black and Minority Ethnic women, their children (if any), and young people who are experiencing and/ or fleeing domestic abuse due to their sexuality and/ or gender identity.
The applicant ideally have a minimum of 2 years’ experience of working with Black Minority Ethnic (BME) communities. Must have good knowledge and understanding of equalities issues and the issues affecting BME and/ or LGBT women, children, and young people; understanding of the legislative and cultural issues surrounding domestic abuse, honour-based abuse such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation, and their effects on Black Minority Ethnic women, their children, and young people.
The applicant must have a minimum of SVQ Level III in Social Care or relevant qualification such as degree in Social Work or Community Education. All the above posts involve unsocial and flexible hours including evenings and weekends. Successful applicants will be subjected to disclosure checks through the PVG Scheme. ‘Women only need apply for these posts under paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010’.
The post holder ideally be a bilingual speaker in one of the BME community languages.
Shakti is a feminist Black Minority Ethnic voluntary organisation which offers information, advocacy, emotional/practical support and refuge/temporary accommodation to all Black Minority Ethnic women and their children, who are experiencing or fleeing domestic abuse.
The post holder will assist the CEO, operational manager and team leaders as required, undertaking general administration/recruitment duties and support for the whole organisation. The post holder will deal with enquiries (telephone, e-mail and social media), maintain databases, organise events bookings, and undertake filing, minute taking, and petty cash.
The post holder must have a good knowledge of Microsoft packages, particularly Outlook and Word; be IT literate and have good keyboard skills; have good planning and organisational skills; be a good communicator and be experienced in managing websites and social media. The post holder must have knowledge and understanding of domestic abuse within Black Minority Ethnic communities.
She should have a relevant qualification, preferably HNC or equivalent in administration-related subject, and a working knowledge of an office.
Post involves unsocial and flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
Successful applicants will be subjected to disclosure checks through the PVG Scheme.
‘Women only need apply for these posts under paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010’.
Family Engagement Practitioners (FEPs) with Early Years Scotland (EYS) have a unique, exciting role within the early years sector. The Family Engagement Practitioner has responsibility for providing support and promoting parental engagement and a whole family wellbeing service through the adoption of a multi-agency collaborative approach.
Our EYS staff team work together with children and families on a continual basis, across a variety of settings within communities with a focus on enriching and enhancing parental skills and capacity to improve, strengthen and maximise:
• positive attachments and relationships between parents/carers and children
• early literacy and communication skills
• shared interactions and approaches to learning
• cost-free and enriching and nurturing home learning environments
• healthy living approaches
• support for entitlements.
• meaningful transitions
You will be fully involved in shaping, developing, and evaluating the early years health programmes and innovative shared play and learning sessions you deliver.
A typical week’s activity could consist of:
· delivering a health programme to parents
· delivering Stay Play and Learn sessions incorporating health-based learning experiences.
EYS will likewise invest in you, providing regular and supported professional learning and experience opportunities that will enhance your career profile, develop your skills and knowledge in creative and unique ways and inspire your practice in new and exciting ways!
Post details:
(all pay, and allowances are pro-rata and subject to continued funding)
· Part time / Full time posts available, 52 weeks per annum
· Salary starting at £24,448 per annum FTE. (Point 24 on scale 24-26).
· 35 hours per week (9 - 4.30pm working hours)
· Fixed Term for 2 years until 31st March 2025, subject to continuing funding.
· Hybrid working opportunities.
· Based at Early Years Scotland Office, 23 Granville Street, Glasgow G3 7EE.
· Free parking at Glasgow office (Car Park Club)
· Accessible premises
· Generous annual leave entitlement - 25 days annual leave in the first year rising to 30 days after the completion of a successful six months probationary period review
· 12 public holidays per annum
· Family friendly policies
· Supported training and development.
· 5% employer pension contribution from 3 months’ service
· BUPA Employee Assistance Programme.
· Paid sick leave entitlement on a service-related increasing scale.
· Support for professional learning qualifications.
· Staff Consultation Committee/Social events committee
· Winter wellbeing day allocated in addition to annual leave entitlement.
Qualifications:
Applicants’ qualifications must be consistent with those required to register as a Practitioner with
SSSC, e.g:
· HNC Childhood Practice at SCQF Level 7
· SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) at SCQF Level 7
Additional ELC qualifications welcomed.
Our team is expanding and we are looking for an additional part time Dads Worker to Support Dads, children and families across North Ayrshire. This role involves engaging with Dads and families to offer bespoke support and signposting in both one to one and small group settings.
Working alongside our existing Dads worker and health and social care professionals in the universal early years team, you will help provide Dads and other male carers with the tools they need to become more confident and resilient and ensure the best start in life for their children.
Are you passionate and committed to making a meaningful difference for families with young children experiencing barriers to moving out of poverty.
Within the UK, there is an estimated £22.7 billion a year in unclaimed welfare benefits and in Edinburgh 1 in 5 children are living in poverty.
This is an exciting opportunity for an Advice Worker to join our ‘Advice For Families’ team and deliver a high quality advice service to families in Edinburgh with pre-school children. Taking an early intervention and trauma-informed approach, the adviser will provide benefits, housing and debt advice to parents, in order to promote improved financial and social wellbeing for families.
The role will involve developing strong professional partnerships with other early years practitioners including Early Years Centres; Nurseries; Midwifery and Family Nurse Partnerships and Health Visitor teams.
Extensive in-house training and support will be provided to the successful candidate who demonstrates the right qualities for this role.
Are you?:
At CHAI we offer the following:
Are you outward going, like inspiring both professionals and young people and would like to work for a young people’s charity in a flexible way with guaranteed hours? We are looking for a teacher with experience of teaching PSHE or with pastoral experience, a health professional or someone with youth work/youth justice experience to join our small team.
The Talk About Trust charity has 15 years’ experience of providing alcohol and substance education and awareness in different ways, to young people age 11–25, and their parents/carers, and providing engaging and evidence-based resources and training for teachers, community leaders and for those working with young people. We work across England and Scotland with schools, local authorities, youth groups, foster agencies, police, housing associations, pupil referral units, special schools and parents/carers to provide holistic support to young people of all abilities and backgrounds. This part time role involves providing training and workshops in settings across Scotland.
Main Responsibilities:
The position is home based, but you must be willing to travel throughout Scotland.
You are expected to:
Benefits:
Schedule:
We would like to hear from energetic professionals who are able to help the charity set, develop and deliver its strategy, transforming the lives of the individuals we work with. Cruse Scotland is a unique organisation – as we are Scotland's only open-to-all bereavement charity.
Our work offers bereaved people the vital support they so badly need when someone close dies. We have a proven record of providing personalised, quality support to bereaved adults and children across Scotland over the last 50 years. During 2023-24 we delivered over 5,000 counselling sessions across Scotland – all of which was this provided by a skilled volunteer workforce – supported by just 22 members of staff. Our telephone helpline is also delivered by another volunteer team who responded to 9324 calls across the year!
This is an exciting time for the charity, in 2022 we launched a new 5-year strategy with ambitious plans for growth and development and are looking to strengthen our Board of Directors in order that they can further guide our success. The role of the Board of Directors is crucial to the success of Cruse Scotland, providing good governance, guidance and leadership at the highest level of the charity. We are seeking people with relevant expertise, with the time and commitment to devote to this challenging role and who share our values as an organisation.
We are particularly interested in hearing from dynamic professionals who are looking for opportunities to broaden their own experience; improve their own career prospects and/or share their existing knowledge. We are particularly keen, but not exclusively, to hear from those with existing or previous careers in one of the following:
Cruse Scotland strives to create a fair and inclusive organisational culture. In our commitment towards Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we particularly welcome applications from people with protected characteristics who are under-represented in our trustee membership.
Who are we looking for and why work at Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS)?
At CHS we recruit, train and support empathetic and committed volunteers across Scotland.
Our 2,200 volunteer Panel Members take part in children’s hearings in their local areas, making decisions with and for infants, children and young people. We also work closely with a network of nine regional teams who support Panel Members in their local communities. This role provides a great opportunity to help children, their families, and the panel community by using feedback to enhance practice.
We are looking for someone with a proven track record in handling feedback and complaints. You must be passionate about resolving issues and making sure deadlines are met, using what we learn from feedback and complaints to improve outcomes for children. You’ll be the main point of contact, either by e-mail, web form or telephone. You’ll have great interpersonal skills, be an excellent communicator and be able to multi-task and prioritise effectively.
You will need to capture the detail of the complaint accurately, establish what outcomes are required and work with our panel community and other partners to establish the facts so that you can respond to the complaint appropriately within the timelines required.
Ideally you will a good understanding of public sector complaints and the requirements of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman’s Model Complaints Handling Procedure.
Supporting the Complaints Management Officer you will be involved with several exciting projects we are working on, including the continued development of our child friendly feedback and complaints approach, an improved feedback loop and supporting the continued development of relationships with our key partners. CHS has also introduced a new Tribunal Support Model for managing our internal volunteer organisational structure and you’ll be expected to support those changes through the lens of your feedback and complaints role.
You’ll also need a good eye for detail, be comfortable using complaints management systems and be familiar with Office 365 products, including Teams. You’ll be able to produce reports in relation to complaints and have the confidence and skills to engage with our partners and senior leaders. You need excellent analytical skills and the ability to accurately capture data to inform improvements.
Please be aware that occasional travel may be required as a requirement of this role, as well as very occasionally having to work outside CHS’s normal working hours.
Feedback & Complaints at CHS
We are keen to enhance our feedback channels and our primary aim is to resolve most of our complaints at the frontline, without the need for formal investigation. As Feedback and Complaints Officer, you will play a key role in improving processes relating to feedback and complaints management. As well as handling complaints in line with SPSO guidelines we also have a pastoral responsibility for our panel community so it’s important to understand what that means and get the balance just right.
You will have the opportunity to get involved in other projects which will enhance our insight and awareness of the experience of children and young people in hearings as well as from other partners. There will also be opportunity for career development for the right candidate.
Complaints sits within the Practice and Standards Team at CHS and that provides the perfect route for us to take the learning from complaints and feedback and translate that in to practice improvements within children’s hearings, as well as making sure we involve children in improving practice and policy.
Life at CHS
As an organisation that works within the children’s hearings system, we are passionate about making a positive contribution to improving outcomes for Scotland’s infants, children and young people. Our values are at the very heart of what we do every day. By working with us, you’ll be joining a diverse community of colleagues and volunteers.
At CHS we are proud to celebrate difference. We all have different skills, experience and backgrounds and we strive to have a friendly and inclusive culture where you can be yourself.
We offer an excellent benefits package, from health and wellness to finances and family. including: generous annual leave, flexible working and other leave policies, fantastic pension, Employee Assistance Programme, development opportunities and wider employee wellbeing initiatives.
Diversity and Inclusion
CHS is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We actively encourage applicants from all protected characteristics and commit to providing any reasonable adjustments required during application and assessment process, and upon joining CHS.