Are you a creative and motivated individual with the passion and drive to support people with a recent diagnosis of dementia to live well in their community?

If so, you can be part of a National Team of Post Diagnostic Support Link Workers (PDS Link Workers) providing high-quality, person-centred support to people living with dementia and their families for a minimum of a year following diagnosis in line the Scottish Government’s minimum guarantee.

The aim of the PDS National Service is to enable people to live well with dementia and is centred around Alzheimer Scotland's 5 pillar model so that people move on to a period of supported self- management.

The model includes understanding the illness and coming to terms with the diagnosis, peer support, connecting and maintaining links with their community along with planning for future care and decision making to develop an outcome focused plan to support their future hopes, desires and aspirations.

Supporting our Argyll & Bute locality, the post will be based within the Cowal Community Dementia Team. Alzheimer Scotland’s PDS Link Workers are required to be effective team workers and have the skills to build and maintain relationships with colleagues both within Alzheimer Scotland, the NHS and other stakeholders.

Skills in using digital platforms are essential as we use a blended approach to support people that involve some virtual meetings and on-line groups.

Applicants must hold a recognised relevant professional qualification, have a good understanding of dementia and how it affects people and their families along with excellent communication skills, a warm flexible approach, combined with skills in empathy and relationship building.

In addition, you should have skills and knowledge at the Enhanced Level of the Promoting Excellence Framework or be able to evidence you are working towards its completion.

This post requires a full driving licence and access to a car.

Location: Located within the Community Dementia Team, Cowal Community Hospital, 360 Argyll Street, Dunoon, PA23 7RL

“Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling the heart of another”

Alfred Adler

| Compassion | Integrity | Respect | Realising Potential | Inclusion |

Health in Mind is one of Scotland’s best-known and trusted Mental Health Charities. Established in 1982 we have evolved in response to need which means we actively promote positive mental health in local communities across Scotland. Our vision is straight forward, we build hope and live life through our values because people are at the heart of what we do.

We have a great opportunity for a number of experienced practitioners to join our team. You will bring compassion, integrity, positivity and reflection, delivering effective and high-quality support to those individuals who access support from Future Pathways.

Future Pathways offers support to people who were abused or neglected a child when they were in the Scottish care system. The service was established alongside the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry and has expanded considerably since its start in 2016. Future Pathways’ aim is to help people live well. To change paths, enjoy life, succeed and grow.

Reaching our shortlist is straightforward providing you can say ‘yes’ to our list of ‘must haves’. You can start your journey now by simply downloading an application pack from our website but before you start your travels, please kindly make sure the following ‘fits’ into your career and personal attributions rucksack because life is a journey.

• We’d like a degree in Health and Social Care, Social Work or equivalent but, if you hold a recognised, relevant professional qualification at a minimum SVQ Level 4 with relevant workplace experience this works too.
• Up to date child and vulnerable adult protection knowledge together and ideally completion of suicide prevention training such as ASIST.
• You are an exceptional compassionate individual with experience of working with those in society who’ve faced personal challenges, childhood disturbance, abuse, separation, institutional care and trauma
• Curiosity, empathy and a focus on learning, empowerment, collaboration and self- awareness.
• Experience of personal outcomes focused approaches, working in partnership with people to set goals, agree plan and support people to achieve their potential.
• Able to hold hope and walk alongside someone on their journey, you are good at nurturing self confidence and supporting people to make positive changes in their lives
• Worked with staff in accordance with the statutory framework and requirement including GDPR, BACP, the SSSC and the Care Inspectorate.
• Knowledge of and positive engagement with Impact Evaluation and Quality Assurance Frameworks for the purposes of continuous improvement. and practice development.

With a great range of benefits including 30 days annual leave plus 10 public holidays and 2 wellbeing days, we work fulltime 36.25 hours per week.

Committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we embrace and encourage people from all walks of life, including welcoming applications from Neurodiverse individuals. It is important to us that you feel comfortable and confident and, as such, we are willing to adjust or adapt our application, interview and selection process to suit your needs, including working patterns and hybrid working wherever and whenever we can. Simply contact us and we’ll come back to you.

This role does, however, require periodic but not continuous office presence.

You First Advocacy provide an independent professional advocacy service to a wide range of vulnerable adults in Renfrewshire, who require short-term advocacy to address specific issues arising from health, community care or legal interventions. The service is provided by paid staff and trained volunteers.

“Our vision is to provide independent professional advocacy support to individuals who reside in a community, residential or hospital setting, giving them a voice and supporting their rights and wishes”

This fixed-term post (12 months) will contribute effectively to the You First Advocacy Service and will do so, by providing dedicated advocacy support for people affected by drug or alcohol use, as part of YFA’s operational team.

• The post holder will be required to clearly show an understanding of the concept of advocacy for people affected by drug or alcohol use and associated issues.
• An awareness of individual rights, objectivity and empathy will be required.
• A mature ability to challenge individuals/organisations on behalf of the service user, without recourse to confrontation is essential.

This is an exciting and challenging post for a person who supports social justice and the rights of vulnerable individuals. It is essential that you have knowledge and experience of Addictions, Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and other generic client groups. A knowledge of advocacy is also essential. You should have excellent interpersonal skills and self-motivated.

In 2024, Hearts & Minds, the home of Clowndoctors and Elderflowers, will be marking 25 years delivering therapeutic clowning across health care units, schools for children with complex needs and hospices.

The role of Fundraising Manager at Hearts & Minds offers an incredibly exciting opportunity to drive meaningful change and support our impactful programmes at this momentous time in the charity’s history. As a pivotal member of the team, you'll spearhead the development of a comprehensive fundraising strategy that directly fuels the organization's initiatives. This role isn't just about securing funds; it's about crafting compelling narratives and fostering connections to inspire individuals, communities, and corporations to support a cause that truly matters. The dynamism lies in the ability to shape the future of Hearts & Minds by creating sustainable income streams that directly translate into tangible support for their programmes.

The Job Description and Person Specification is available to download below.