Do you enjoy working both proactively and reactively in order to make best use of opportunities for influencing work?

Do you have experience in a policy, external affairs, research or influencing role?

This role is key to continuing to raise the external profile of our education work in Scotland and amplify awareness of the lived experience of unpaid carers in education to make positive change.

The successful candidate will support us to speak truth to power, ensuring unpaid carers' voices are heard through public policy development and influencing work. And will become an expert in the key issues facing unpaid carers in education.

The post holder will work closely with the Programme Officer (Education) in Scotland to deliver successful results for Carers Trust Scotland's Supporting Student Carers to Excel and Caring is Learning initiatives.

We are looking for someone who will put unpaid carer voice at the heart of our policy and external affairs education work in Scotland.

About us

Angus Carers Centre is a rights-based charity working with and for unpaid carers from all walks of life living across Angus. We exist to improve the quality of life for all carers by building genuine and equal relationships, connecting carers with each other to create a sense of belonging and community, providing practical and emotional supports, and influencing change at local and national level.

Established in 1996, we have grown significantly over the last 25 years, and we are now supporting nearly 2,000 unpaid adult and young carers across Angus. Our talented and passionate team of 25 staff and over 20 volunteers ensure the needs of our carers are meet. Together with our volunteers we strive to provide a first-class service to carers and their families, to make a lasting difference to their lives.

Our vision is that all unpaid carers in Angus will receive appropriate information and support to enable them to feel valued and confident in their caring situation and to develop their own potential.

Why should you consider applying?

The social, political and policy horizon is changing, and we need to ensure that we provide the right support at the right time. We are entering a new and exciting chapter, and there has never been a better time to join our organisation.

You will form part of the Leadership Team. You will be making an impact by building authentic and empowering relationships with our dedicated and change-driven teams supporting unpaid carers, their families and partner organisations. You will lead on the development of our service demonstrating its impact and added value. But most importantly, you will put the voice of carers at the centre of what we do.

Reporting to the CEO, you will have a positive non-judgemental regard and help unpaid carers exercise their rights and support them to realise their potential.

Job overview

The postholder will:

• Lead, recruit, and support volunteers to ensure they are motivated, and feel valued and respected making a lasting difference in our communities.
• Develop volunteering strategy, ensuring it is inclusive, future-focused, and carers-centered.
• Promote and champion the role of volunteers by building and maintaining relationships with key partners, local organisations, and influencers.
• Provide safe, nurturing, and developmental support supervision to a team of volunteers.
• Design, deliver and evaluate volunteering activities ensuring they align with local need and organisational vision.
• Continuously evidence and communicate the impact of volunteering, internally and externally to further demonstrate its value: individual, organisational, and societal.
• Establish strong relationships with other volunteer organisations to share learnings and good practice and build a network of support.
• Build a network of supportive organisations and communities of interest to strengthen the role and profile of unpaid carers.
• Collaborate with other teams, business support, finance, fundraising and others, to support all aspects of volunteering, including events management, training, and professional development.
• Continuously strive for excellence by ensuring learning is embedded in practice, policies, and systems
• Keep abreast of legislation, policy and good practice related to volunteering.
• Ensure organisational and local safeguarding and health & safety policies are adhered to and effectively implemented.
• Comply with Angus Carers Centre’s policies and procedures.

The above does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities and tasks but indicates the main responsibilities required from employees in the role. The organisation reserves the right to require employees to perform other duties from time to time.

Key values

• Strong sense of integrity.
• Authentic and true to themselves and others,
• Compassionate and boundaries,
• Drive for social justice and equity.

Qualifications and knowledge:

• Degree in community education, social care, project management or relevant experience in developing, leading, and supporting volunteers.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, health and safety, and data protection.
• Understanding of the needs of diverse individuals and communities.
• Full Driving License and a suitable vehicle for work with business insurance.

Experience

• Experience in all aspects of effective Volunteer Management (recruitment, training, support)
• Experience of collaborating with external stakeholders including communities, voluntary and private organisations, and individuals,
• Experience of project management, achieving goals, managing a busy workload, and working to deadlines
• Experience of partnership working, preferably in the Third Sector
• Experience of service development, delivery, and evaluation

Working hours

16 hours per week subject to organisational needs. Some work may have to be undertaken outside office hours, including evenings and weekends.

Special conditions

The post entails work with vulnerable people and falls within the definition of “regulated work” under the provision of the Protection of Vulnerable groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The post holder will require to be registered as a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme, which will involve a Disclosure Scotland check.

Office base

The post is based at 8 Grant Road, Arbroath, DD11 1JN.

Equal opportunities

Angus Carers Centre is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and we encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to consider joining Angus Carers Centre.

Benefits

• Training and development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 6% employer pension contribution
• Free car park
• 31 days of annual leave
• Flexible working, subject to organisation’s needs.

Founded in North West Edinburgh by Carers in 1998 Capital Carers is a highly regarded charity providing carer support to unpaid Carers of all ages. Our Ethos is to provide unpaid Carers with a range of high quality support services which enable them to have some normality of life whilst carrying out their caring role. Our Vision is that all Carers get the help and support they need to sustain their caring role.

We are in the process of organisational change and development having secured in collaboration with two other care support charities long term funding to support Young and Young Adult Carers across Edinburgh. We now wish to develop and expand our current services to older Carers to include Care at Home for their cared for. Specifically, we wish to apply for Approved Provider of Care at Home status.

If you are an experienced manager, four years minimum, hold SVQ Level 4 in Health and Social Care and Level 4 Management enabling registration with the Scottish Social Services Council; have experience of developing and managing projects/initiatives and are up for a demanding but we believe exciting challenge then we want to talk to you.

Do you have a creative and entrepreneurial approach to programme development and delivery?

Do you enjoy developing and delivering training to a range of audiences?

We are looking for a passionate programmes specialist with experience in programme development, from inception to completion. The successful postholder will be confident in working directly with unpaid carers, local carer organisations and education stakeholders to support them to design and pilot different interventions to improve education outcomes for unpaid carers.

The post holder will act as a central liaison point for internal and external stakeholders, including local carer centres, unpaid carers, schools, colleges, universities and funders.

The post holder will work closely with the Policy and External Affairs Officer (Education) in Scotland to deliver successful results for Carers Trust Scotland's Supporting Student Carers to Excel and Caring is Learning initiatives.

Our ideal candidate will have a background in developing programmes or interventions and be committed to co-design, measuring impact and making lasting change.