Since 1984 Granton Information Centre (GIC) have worked hard to improve the lives of individuals and families by providing free & impartial advice, advocacy and representation on matters relating to welfare rights, debt and housing. If you are passionate about alleviating poverty and supporting people and communities in Edinburgh, we want to hear from you!

Main Tasks

• Provide advice, assistance and when necessary representation with welfare benefit entitlement claims and money, debt and general housing issues, via centre based, telephone, outreach and home visit appointments.

• Represent claimants at appeal tribunals.

• Record and maintain accurate client case records using our Advice Pro recording system.

• Maintain an up to date knowledge of changes and developments in welfare, housing and debt legislation and liaise with colleagues on any issues that need to be communicated wider.

Volunteering Matters

At Volunteering Matters we use volunteering’s unique power to bring people together and build stronger, more resilient communities across the UK.

We bring people together to resolve some of society’s most complex issues. From social isolation and loneliness; improving health and wellbeing; building skills, confidence, and opportunity; to ensuring young people can become change makers in their community, the impact that we make is great. And we won’t stop until everyone in the UK has the opportunity to thrive.

People-led and impact driven, we are a national charity that is deeply embedded in local areas across the UK. We operate in five regions: London and the South East; Wales and the West of England; East of England; the Midlands and North West England; and Scotland and North East England. We also have an Employee Volunteering Team with over 25 years’ experience, acting as a broker to provide tailor-made solutions to employers. We turn local knowledge and energy into action and progress, building stronger communities and a better future for all.

This is an exciting time to be joining the team. We’re changing the way we work to meet new ambitions and make sure our impact continues to grow alongside out business.

Role Purpose

As the HR Manager at Volunteering Matters, you will be at the heart of the organisation, empowering its leaders and future leaders, embedding robust systems and processes to ensure high levels of organisational compliance is maintained and supporting the whole organisation to achieve our strategic goals including being ‘the best place to work and volunteer.’ Although this role focuses on employed staff at Volunteering Matters, we are looking for a HR Manager who understands and is energized by the impact and power of volunteering and social action.

Furthermore, the HR Manager will ensure a value focused, efficient, quality orientated process with an inclusive lens to all aspects of the work of Volunteering Matters HR function.

The HR case work advice and guidance at Volunteering Matters is outsourced to a specialist provider.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Embed inclusive practice across all aspects of Volunteering Matters HR Policies and Procedures, testing out new and innovative approaches to recruiting people into paid roles across Volunteering Matters and its sub brands.

• Oversee and monitor the HR system, ensuring information is up to date and support with collating employee reports.

• Implementation and ongoing review of HR policies, practices and frameworks, to support the charity in its needs.

• Ensure a consistent, values focused, quality orientated process to recruitment with an inclusive lens, which attracts a broader & more diverse range of high-quality candidates.

• Upskill and collaborate the staff team at Volunteering Matters, by delivering training and ongoing coaching for recruiting managers on the key aspects of our recruitment framework.

• Monitor staff turnover and ensure that exit interviews are carried out, analysing and reporting on findings.

• Ensure the HR and Payroll team are meeting their objectives and delivering a good service to the organisation.

• Attend leadership meetings where strategic and high-level operational input is required.

• Ensure terms and conditions and policies and procedures are up-to-date and comprehensive with regards to legislation and best practice.

• Develop the staff training and development framework, which includes inclusive formal and informal learning and development opportunities.

• Lead the HR team, line manage the HR Advisor and the HR administrator.

• Liaise regularly with the outsourced HR Provider, linking the HR case work trends with the wider HR strategic development priorities at Volunteering Matters.

• Monitor all aspects of HR compliance at Volunteering Matters, ensuring effective records are kept, reviewed, and reflected on and learning is adopted.

Personal Competencies

• A values driven leader, who can demonstrate a strong commitment to our Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti Racist approach.

• Good coaching & mentoring skills.

• Strong people focus.

• Excellent “active-listening” skills.

• A proactive and can-do approach

• Open communication style, with ability to communicate at all levels in an organisation.

• Good ambassadorial and diplomatic skills.

Skills Required

• Delivery focused with the ability to prioritise and organise workload agreed within deadlines.

• Ability to resolve conflict situations and demanding workloads.

• Excellent presentation skills and able to cater to a variety of audiences.

• Numerate and financially aware with the ability to produce reports and statistics as required.

• Ability to develop a HR Strategy and to input into the strategic development of Volunteering Matters

• Excellent up to date knowledge of UK employment law legislation.

• Strong written skills with the ability to draft policies, procedures and reports

• Extensive knowledge of policies and procedures related to an HR Function.

• Experience of leadership and managing an HR team

Experience Required

• Proven ability to develop a HR Strategy

• Excellent up to date knowledge of UK employment law legislation.

• Extensive knowledge of developing and managing policies and procedures related to an HR Function.

• Experience of leadership and managing an HR team

Qualifications

Candidates must be CIPD qualified.

Other

Location: Homebased, with occasional travel to Volunteering Matters locations across the UK. The postholder will require good internet access to enable remote working, and suitable home office space. I.T. equipment and infrastructure will be supplied.

PVG/DBS

This role does not require full DBS/ PVG clearance.

Our Values & Way of Working:

In all that we do, we embrace a philosophy of ‘Freedom within a Framework’ and are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward.

This job description is intended to include the broad range of responsibilities and requirements of the post. It is neither exhaustive nor exclusive but while some variations will be expected, these will be at an appropriate level for the role.

Diversity & Inclusion

Volunteering Matters welcomes all applicants and are keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from disabled, LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, along with candidates with any protected characteristics and from disadvantaged groups.

Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments:

We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the “Experience/Skills” section of this advert.

To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your application or contact join@volunteeringmatters.org.uk for more information.

We have also committed to the following pledges which positively encompass our recruitment and selection processes and methodology: The Promise, Show The Salary, Salary History.

Benefits

Our employee benefits reflect our culture which is built on an approach of full flexibility with accountability, and designed to let you make your most positive contribution; we offer Flexible Working by Default (re hours & place of work), Unlimited Annual Leave, Employee Pension scheme, Life Assurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loan, Employee Assistance Programme, enhanced sick and family leave. We are also open to discuss job share applications.

GDPR Statement

If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to 6 months. We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.

Bright Light is seeking suitable skilled and motivated people to join its Board of Trustees in an exciting and challenging period.

Along with many organisations, we are having to adapt and change post-pandemic and manage financial challenges, but we have ambitious plans to continue delivering an excellent service to people in need of counselling and family therapy across the Lothians.

About us

Bright Light provides counselling support for families, children, and young people in both family and individual sessions. Our focus is supporting the positive mental health of the individual in relationship to others - family members, friends, people they encounter including professionals, their communities and with themselves. Established in 1948, our services have developed and evolved considerably over the years.

About the role

To help support the organisation Bright Light seeks skilled and motivated individuals to join our Board of Trustees. As a non-executive member of the Board, you will play a central role in developing strategy, monitoring quality and governance and supporting the effective, and sustainable, delivery of counselling services across the Lothians. You will fulfil a constructive and supportive role in furthering the values and objectives of Bright Light, with a clear understanding of their governance responsibilities. We would particularly like to hear from you if you have experience in HR, IT & digital or fundraising.

We are keen to have a diverse group of Trustees so want to hear from people from different backgrounds and lived experiences, but you do not necessarily have to have experience of the charity sector or being a Trustee before – this is a great opportunity to gain fresh experiences and develop new skills. We do want people who share our values of professionalism, working together, optimism, kindness, and fairness.

There are 4 Board meetings each year, our AGM and an in person strategy day. These alternate between online and in-person and occasionally a mix of both.

An induction programme, including a ‘Trustee buddy’ system, will be provided and we encourage Trustees to join the SCVO Trustees Network. Ongoing training is available to meet identified needs.

Sacro is a Scottish community justice organisation that works to deliver life-changing services that empower people, give hope and protection, and help to build safe communities. For over 50 years we have supported people at all stages in the justice system in Scotland, helping them to find paths to positive change.

Our aim is to provide people with hope, empowerment and protection, resulting in safer communities.

At present society is facing a number of challenges which create pressures that can lead to people becoming involved in the criminal justice system. It is imperative that Sacro continues to thrive as the support we provide has never been more needed. Should you choose to become a member of our Board, you will have the opportunity to dedicate your time, skills, and experience to empowering people, giving hope and protection, and helping to build safer communities.

We are committed to inclusivity and encouraging diversity of thought, background and experience. We are looking to recruit 3 new board members who will ensure the effective governance of Sacro as a charity so that it meets its legal obligations, manages risks, and grows and develops its vital range of services. As a board, we bring diverse skills, experiences, and styles, but we all share a commitment to the values, aims and goals of Sacro. We believe that everyone has the right to the opportunity for positive change and we do not judge.

Previous board experience is not a pre-requisite, and we welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds who bring relevant experience, including lived experience and a passion to make a lasting difference. Our new board members should be committed to our mission and organisational values and bring one or more of the following areas of expertise:

• Knowledge of the justice sector or involvement in working with people in crisis (e.g. homelessness, domestic abuse sectors) in Scotland

• Accountancy or strategic financial management experience

• Business Development / Income diversification

• Public Affairs, Public Relations and/or external communication

• Front-line service development and delivery

If you join us, we strongly believe that Sacro will benefit, you will benefit and most importantly the people who use our services will benefit.