Are you looking for a role where you can truly make a difference to young people’s lives? We are recruiting a Young Persons Support Worker to join our Routes team. This post supports the delivery of Scottish Families ‘Routes’ Young Persons Project, working alongside young people in East and West Dunbartonshire, to provide a programme of support for 12-26 year olds affected by family alcohol and drug use. The post operates as part of the Routes team led by a Senior Family Support Development Officer and supported by two Development Officers and one other Support Assistant.

The post is predominantly located in East Dunbartonshire but will involve travel throughout both East and West Dunbartonshire for weekly groups and activities. Some home working is involved. Due to the nature of this post, access to a car is essential. There will be a close working relationship with young people, schools and other local partner agencies in East and West Dunbartonshire.

You will play an integral part in creating a supportive and nurturing environment for young people, helping them to thrive in all aspects of their lives. Routes is co-produced in collaboration with the young people we support, so their views are central to everything we do. The Routes model encourages young people to have hope and aspirations. We provide person-centred support which combines one-to-one and/or group support, helping them to build a positive future.

Alongside advocacy and one-to-one support, we also offer a busy programme of activities and groups. We are looking for an enthusiastic and innovative person to join our team.

We are seeking applicants who are educated to HNC level, have a vocational qualification (level 3) or relevant experience, along with an understanding of emotional and developmental issues for children and young people. We are seeking someone who can build rapport, positively engage and support young people, as well as having the ability to listen and talk to young people from differing abilities, understanding and backgrounds. Experience of identifying and managing risk and of delivering group work activities, along with knowledge of issues for young people affected by family substance use and an understanding of child protection issues and safeguarding practice, are an advantage.

This is a full-time role, but job share, part-time or flexible working will be considered.

Since 1949, the Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health.

Our vision is for a world with good mental health for all. With prevention at the heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.

We will drive change towards a mentally healthy society for all, and support communities, families and individuals to live mentally healthier lives, with a particular focus on those at greatest risk.

The Foundation is the home of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Our approach is:

• Tell the world
• We publish studies and reports on what protects mental health and the causes of poor mental health and how to tackle them.
• Find solutions
• We test and evaluate the best approaches to improving mental health in communities and then roll them out as widely as possible.
• Inform and empower
• We give advice to millions of people on mental health. We are most well-known for running Mental Health Awareness Week across the UK each year. We enable mentally healthier lives through public information and engagement.
• Change policy and practice
• We propose solutions and campaign for change to address the underlying cause of poor mental health.
• Build a strong foundation
• We aim to become an exemplar employer and aim to continue to build an organisation that is financially sustainable and thriving.

We have pioneered change for over 70 years and we are not afraid to challenge the status quo. Come join us!

The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Senior Policy & Public Affairs Officer (Scotland) to support our Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland teams.

This exciting Senior Policy & Public Affairs Officer (Scotland) role will manage a portfolio of policy and influencing activities and play a significant role developing the Foundation’s policy and public affairs work in Scotland. This is an opportunity to join one of the UK’s leading charities and deliver social change by addressing the root causes of mental health problems and improving the mental health of people in Scotland.

What does the role involve?

• Developing and sustaining relationships with valuable decision-makers, influencers and allies
• Developing and implementing impactful influencing plans
• Providing policy intelligence and analysis and writing evidence-based submissions, policy reports, position papers, briefings and blogs
• Engaging with people with lived experience

Requirements

What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?

• Ability to shape and lead policy programmes professionally and strategically, working with others
• Skill in building strong relationships with relevant external stakeholders including senior officials, elected representatives, people with experience of mental health problems and people who experience inequity
• Experience of working in a public policy role, with experience of a range of policy and public affairs approaches and work

• Knowledge of public health and/or mental health policy or a related field

Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks. We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Stigma Free Lanarkshire team based in Motherwell, Lanarkshire. Building on a history of vigorous campaigning against mental health stigma, and working in partnership with See Me Scotland and NHS Lanarkshire, the Stigma Free Lanarkshire programme is leading in the planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of an ambitious programme of change at local level here.

We are looking for an experienced, focused and motivated person who understands the issues surrounding mental health stigma and is passionate and serious about tackling it. As Stigma Free Lanarkshire Senior Development Officer you will develop, manage, and maintain key relationships with NHS Lanarkshire, See Me colleagues, and other key stakeholders, in the promotion and delivery of the project across four areas: health and social care, communities, the workplace, and education and young people.

In addition, embedding a rights-based approach, you will assist in achieving the project’s aims to create inclusive systems, culture, and practice as well as encouraging opportunities for contact between those who experience stigma and those who perpetrate it.

This project is funded by NHS Lanarkshire. It is hosted by the service user and carer organisation, Lanarkshire Links, whose purpose is to support mental health service users and carers to be involved in the process of planning services and provision.