Change-makers sought!

This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of the CELCIS Protecting Children programme supporting the improvement of child protection within the context of GIRFEC in Scotland.

We drive forward improvements by working in partnership to support systemic and strategic changes in processes, procedures, policy, planning and practice, carrying out a number of crucial functions in order to support Child Protection Committees (CPCs) to identify and manage the risk to children and young people, and to monitor and improve performance.

You will work alongside key stakeholders to support the delivery of the national Child Protection Improvement Programme (CPIP) and support the work of Child Protection Committees Scotland (CPCS) in delivering the revised National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (2021). This role provides professional support to CPCS and its sub-groups with a view to making a positive difference in the lives of children and young people.

CPCS brings together multi-agency knowledge and expertise to the development, promotion and continuous improvement of public policy and best practices for the protection of children and young people across Scotland. It plays a leading role in the development and promotion of child protection policy and agrees on common standards and efficient and effective procedures. CPCS informs national child protection policy and practice, working alongside the Scottish Government to contribute to improved outcomes.

The successful candidate must have significant experience in Child Protection practice and strong knowledge of the sector and workforces responsible for supporting ‘looked after’ children in Scotland, and bring to this role a range of skills including negotiation, relationship building and communication skills.

Working knowledge of the role and function of a Child Protection Committee and the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (2021) is essential.

We welcome and support applications from a range of backgrounds including lived experience.

The post is funded for 12 months, with a further year of funding indicated by the Scottish Government at this stage.

As a leading improvement and innovation centre in Scotland, at CELCIS we work to improve the lives of children and young people in need of care and protection, and their families and carers. We do this by supporting people and organisations responsible for their care to make changes in services and in the practices and skills they use, all based on the needs and experiences of children and young people.

Want to make a difference in one of the most influential places in Scotland? Now is your chance!

This is a great opportunity to join the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) as a Senior Researcher.

SPICe comprises a research and information service and supports the scrutiny and legislative functions of the Parliament. We provide impartial, accurate and timely research, information and briefings to Members of the Scottish Parliament, their staff, and Parliamentary staff.

Working within the Justice and Social Affairs Research Unit, a team of 12, you’ll share responsibility with one other researcher for the Parliament’s work on criminal justice. You’ll be involved in answering enquiries on a wide range of subjects, including police, prisons, courts, prosecution, criminal law and the justice budget; and other relevant topics as required. You’ll prepare committee briefings and analysis to help MSPs scrutinise the related policies of the Scottish Government, and you’ll publish briefings and blog articles on relevant issues.

We’re looking for an experienced researcher with detailed knowledge of the criminal justice policy area. You’ll be an excellent communicator who is able to produce comprehensive briefings with brevity, accuracy and impartiality, and have a commitment to producing high quality research and analysis.

You’ll demonstrate a high level of personal credibility with excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships.

If you’re looking for a new challenge and the opportunity to contribute to the Parliament’s vision, we’d love to hear from you.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a Minority Ethnic background and Disabled candidates. All appointments will be made on merit. We have a values-based culture of respect and inclusion embedded in our organisation, and everyone has the ability to make a difference.

We offer a great range of benefits including: 41.5 leave days (including public holidays), flexible working, paid professional subscriptions, family-friendly policies, Season Ticket advance loans, an onsite gym facility, Health and Wellbeing Schemes including discounted gym membership, a confidential counselling and information service, and the Cycle to Work Scheme.

You’ll also have the opportunity to join the Alpha Civil Service pension scheme, where we’ll offer you an employer contribution of up to 27.9% of your basic salary.

Do you want to play a lead role at the heart of an organisation which makes a real difference to people’s lives?

If you’d love to lead an innovative and varied suite of programmes which improve outcomes for young people, then this could be the job for you!

About the role

This is a newly created role, due to organisational growth. We’re looking for someone to lead our new Skills and Development ‘pillar’, by bringing together some of our existing young people’s projects and services, and driving further opportunities.

This includes our:

• Keys programmes – Key to Potential, Key to College and Key to Work – which support young people towards positive destinations
• Our Creative Natives programme, a space where we support young people to grow their creative confidence, skills and connections in a design studio.

About you

You will have a knack for translating strategic aims into operational reality, and be keen to use your excellent management skills to create opportunities for young people to reach their potential. You’ll relish the opportunity to be in ‘from the start’ of this new pillar, building on our existing areas of expertise, and be able to identify and innovate potential areas for development.

Your skills in bringing people along with you will be invaluable, enabling you to support your team and engage with partners to create positive, innovative programmes and projects which contribute to achieving our strategic aims.

How we’ll support you

You’ll be supported by an experienced Director of Services, and join a collaborative, knowledgeable senior management team, who will support you to develop and grow in your role. You’ll also have access to wider Cyrenians’ support, including our learning programme, and staff wellbeing services.

About Cyrenians

At Cyrenians we tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness by taking a values-led and relationships-based approach to delivering our services. You can find out more about our organisation and our impact online.

Our values

Compassion | Respect | Integrity | Innovation

Scotland’s Citizens Advice Network is an essential community service that empowers people through our local bureaux and national services by providing free, confidential, and independent advice. We use people’s real-life experiences to influence policy and drive positive change. We are on the side of people in Scotland who need help, and we change lives for the better.

The Citizens Advice network is made up of 59 local Citizens Advice Bureaux, each its own independent charity, and Citizens Advice Scotland as the national charity and membership body, which includes the GB delivery of Extra Help Unit service, a group of specialist case workers supporting vulnerable energy and post consumers. We provide advice across over 200 locations and deliver 12 national advice projects for UK and Scottish Government including the Money Talks advice service and the Help to Claim Universal Support advice service.

Our vision is for a Fairer Scotland where everyone has the advice and information they need to realise their rights, and that the barriers to accessing those rights are effectively challenged.

This Opportunity

This is a great opportunity for an enthusiastic, forward thinking and experienced senior HR professional to join Citizens Advice Scotland as the Head of HR to cover a period of maternity leave. The role is full time and offered on a fixed term basis.

CAS strives to put our people first in everything we do. We have recently launched our latest CAS Strategy for 2022 to 2025, which sets out our overarching vision, mission and a new set of values. We recognise our people are critical in achieving our vision and mission and so we have also recently launched a brand new People Strategy, which sets out our aspirations to put our people first in everything we do, as well as how we will do this in practice. The successful candidate will play an exciting part in delivering against the People Strategy and ensuring it makes a real difference to our people and their working lives.

Day to day, the post holder will be responsible for the management and strategic direction of the HR function at CAS, leading and managing the HR team and driving delivery against the CAS People Strategy to ensure we are continuously developing and improving.

The HR team at CAS provides advice and support internally to CAS managers and staff, as well as providing an HR advice service to the 59 local Citizens Advice bureaux across Scotland via a helpline and email service.

The successful candidate will report to the People Committee of the Board and be responsible for delivering against the CAS People Strategy. They will also work as an integral member of the CAS senior leadership team and contribute to the achieving CAS’s overall strategic objectives.

You should have substantial and demonstrable generalist HR knowledge and experience at a senior level, covering all major HR functions including recruitment and selection, performance management, learning and development, employee engagement, reward, employment legislation and consulting with trade unions.

You will have excellent working knowledge of UK employment law and experience of managing employee relations issues, and be willing to get involved with advising directly on particularly complex or sensitive cases.

In addition, you will have a strong problem solving ability and pragmatic approach to resolving both operational and strategic issues in normal day to day operations, as well as in relation to change management initiatives. All this will be backed up with excellent influencing and communication skills and the ability to working collaboratively with stakeholders and employees at all levels.

Employee benefits

Citizens Advice Scotland offers excellent terms and conditions. We want our people to have a great work life balance and we have designed our working practices and benefits to support this. Here are some of things ouremployees benefit from: a 35-hour full time working week, 40 days annual leave, genuine flexibility in working hours with a flexi-time system, and blended/hybrid working opportunities for every role.

Citizens Advice Scotland is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and flexible working arrangements to support all our staff. We are also committed to equality of opportunity for all and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

CAS provides options for blended working to allow employees to balance their time attending the office with time working from home. The number of days you will be able to work from home each week will be dependent on your job role and can be discussed as part of the recruitment process.