Policy Assistant
- Full time or Part time
- £23,428 – £28,287
- Edinburgh based, with hybrid options and flexibility to work in other service bases.
- Closing 9th February 2024
- Advertised from 12th January 2024
Role
Children 1st works to keep children safe, loved and well and together with their families, whenever it is safe to do so. We believe that children do well when their families do well, and we offer practical, emotional and financial support to prevent and protect children and their families from harm and to support them to recover from trauma and abuse.
Children 1st has twin aims of delivering high-quality, relationship-based services for children and families and of supporting and influencing change for children and families on the key issues that affect them. This vital role will support the organisation to deliver its ambitions for children supporting the Policy, Evidence and Impact team, which includes policy, participation, evidence and data operations.
This involves working collaboratively internally in a dynamic and fast-paced environment with the main aim of upholding children’s care, protection, justice and recovery rights and in particular to support the development of high quality and well-informed policy briefings, proposals and advice in relation to our strategic priorities with a specific focus on Family Group Decision Making.
What kind of person are we looking for?
- Someone who is fiercely passionate about children’s rights and transforming the lives of children across Scotland.
- Someone who thinks it’s a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families.
- Someone who understands the importance of children and their family voices at the heart of decisions about them.
- Someone who is kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind.
- Someone who is compassionate and understanding of trauma.
- Someone who shares our vision that children in Scotland will be safer, will grow up in strong, resilient families and will have access to early help and support when they need it.
- Someone who can collaborate effectively with internal and external colleagues to uphold and promote children’s rights.
If this sounds like you, please read on because we’d love to hear from you!
Further Information
This is a full-time, fixed term role until 31 March 2025, however we would consider applicants wishing to work a minimum of 25 hours per week. While we support flexible working you will need to be based within an office base.
Please download our Job Description/Person Specification to read more about this exciting and key role!
As well as knowing that what we do is making a positive difference to people’s lives, you will receive the following salary and benefits:
40 days annual leave (inclusive of 9 public holidays). We also have a contributory pension scheme (the charity will pay up to 8% of your salary) and life assurance.
Application notes
To apply, please visit children1st.org.uk/jobs
Please also refer to the ‘Job Description and Person Specification’ and ‘Terms and Conditions’ for further information as per relevant documents attached below.
Your interest and application to work at Children 1st is appreciated.
For further information or enquiries, please visit our website children1st.org.uk or email: hr@children1st.org.uk
We welcome and encourage applications from potential people of all backgrounds, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, belief, disability, who reflect our values.
First Step is a community-based organisation working directly with families and young children in the early years. We support parents to build confidence, strengthen relationships and create a nurturing environment for their children. Our services include early learning and childcare, family learning and wellbeing activities, dedicated family support and outreach, and a range of opportunities for volunteering and community involvement.
We are seeking a motivated, self-starting Fundraising Officer, who will be central to the growth and sustainability of First Step’s work. You will lead on securing funding and developing new projects that respond to the needs of families with young children.
With excellent communication skills, you will work closely with the Project Manager and the Strategic Board to shape and deliver innovative, community led initiatives that make a real difference to the lives of children and their families. This includes identifying funding opportunities, writing compelling bids and building strong relationships with funders and partners.
Using your creativity, you will also be responsible for raising awareness of First Step’s services through events, presentations, marketing materials, and managing social media and website content. We’re looking for a versatile individual who communicates effectively at all levels, writes clearly, collaborates well with others, and can work independently when needed.
In addition to a highly satisfying role, we offer a range of staff benefits including:
- Enhanced annual leave
- Contributory pension scheme
- Enhanced sick pay
- Learning and development opportunities
Services Manager - Enquire (Maternity Cover)
- Part time
- £41,913 pro-rata
- Hybrid: Edinburgh
- Closing 12th January 2026
Children in Scotland are proud to have been delivering our Scottish Government funded Enquire service for over 25 years now. This national service continues to be a highly trusted and respected source of quality and accessible information and advice on additional support for learning.
The opportunity has arisen to take on the role of Service Manager for a period of 12 months on a maternity cover basis. Sitting within Children in Scotland’s Services, Policy and Participation department, this role will involve effective management of all areas of Enquire service delivery.
We are looking for a brilliant and experienced manager with excellent skills in communication, organisation, people management and budget management. The right candidate will also have a solid understanding of the additional support for learning landscape in Scotland to ensure that we maintain our high standards of delivery across all work streams.
If you feel like this role is for you, and that you have the ability to manage an outstandingly knowledgeable and committed team to provide a high quality service for our nation’s children, families and professionals relating to additional support for learning, then please read on.
About Children in Scotland
Giving all children in Scotland an equal chance to flourish is at the heart of everything we do.
By bringing together a network of people working with and for children, alongside children and young people themselves, we offer a broad, balanced and independent voice. We create solutions, provide support and develop positive change across all areas affecting children in Scotland. We do this by listening, gathering evidence, and applying and sharing our learning, while always working to uphold children’s rights.
Our range of knowledge and expertise means we can provide trusted support on issues as diverse as the people we work with and the varied lives of children and families in Scotland.
Diversity
Children in Scotland values the contribution of all our staff, whatever their background. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open processes, with appointment on merit. We welcome applications from everyone.
Further Information
For an informal chat about the job, please contact Billy Anderson, Head of Services, Participation and Policy by email on banderson@childreninscotland.org.uk
Chair/Treasurer
- Management Board
- Unpaid
- Hybrid: Scotland (Quarterly Board meetings online annual get together central belt)
- Closing 26th January 2026
Volunteer Chair and Treasurer (Trustees) – Help Dads Rock Support Dads and Families across Scotland
Dads Rock is a fast-growing, dynamic Scottish charity with a clear vision: Children thrive when Dads thrive. We are looking for passionate and experienced individuals to join our Board of Trustees.
We are currently recruiting for two key volunteer leadership roles:
- Chair: To provide strategic direction and ensure strong governance as we expand our services across Scotland.
- Treasurer: To utilise your financial expertise in overseeing our financial viability, budgets, and compliance. Experience in a finance role is highly valued.
This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute your skills to a critical mission with a low time commitment (approx. 2-3 hours per month) and a high societal impact.
The Yard is an award-winning charity that runs adventure play services for children with disabilities and/or additional support needs and their families across Scotland.
We are seeking an experienced HR Manager who is passionate about driving positive change at The Yard. You will bring the expertise and gravitas to influence and support senior leadership on HR and cultural initiatives.
About the role:
Some of your key responsibilities will include:
• Ensuring The Yard maintains the roles, skills and experience to deliver on its strategic priorities
• Measure employee engagement and agree action plans to develop and improve organisational culture
• Ensuring our recruitment policies and processes embody our values and enable us to recruit people with the skills and qualities to meet our goals
• Developing and managing our renumeration policy
About you:
This job is for you if you have:
• Proven experience of HR management
• Can lead by example, fostering a culture of trust and respect
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills
• Ability to develop HR strategies aligning with our strategic plan
If our ethos inspires you and you are eager to bring your knowledge and experience to a team that is deeply committed to our purpose, we would love to have you on board.
If you would like to discuss the role with our Director of Resources, please let us know and we can arrange a call.
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