Circle is a Scottish charity providing whole family support services to some of the most marginalised children and families in Scotland.

We have an exciting opportunity for a committed and enthusiastic individual to join our team.

Funded by East Lothian Council, our Families Affected by Substance Use Service aims to address the needs of, and improve the safety, health and wellbeing of children, young people and families affected by parental substance use, while promoting their strengths.

Applicants should possess a qualification in social work, social care, health or education, and have relevant experience.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team in Midlothian which is expanding as a result of successful new funding in the areas of mental health and kinship care. You will join an existing team working with families with experience of parental substance use, trauma, poverty and poor mental health, amongst other factors.

We work alongside children and their families, offering individual and whole family supports, peer led groups and connection through community partners. This is an exciting yet demanding role which will require you to get alongside children and their families where, when and how best suits them, offering the right support at the right time.

What kind of Children 1st team member will you be?

Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:

• Resilient, skilled and knowledgeable, who wants to transform children’s lives
• Determined to support children to stay safely with their own family
• Big hearted and courageous
• Able to build strong relationships and to manage difficult conversations
• Calm and clear minded during times of challenge or distress
• Kind and compassionate
• Passionate about Childrens Rights

If you have a professional qualification in a relevant area such as Social Work, Health, Teaching or equivalent in Child Care/Social Care or related area, accredited counselling qualification, or other relevant qualification at SCQF level 9 or higher then we want to hear from you. In particular, we are seeking to further enhance our diversity from the perspective of ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender and disability.

Base

You will be based in our Dalkeith office and will work with families across Midlothian. There will be some flexibility to work at home when this suits the needs of families and/or the service .

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 9 public holidays), flexible working opportunities and a contributory pension scheme.

Further Information

We have two posts available:

One fixed term 35 hour post funded initially for 12 months initially (with possibility of extension) and one fixed term 17.5 hour post funded initially until 31 March 2025 (with possibility of extension).

(if you are applying for the part time post, can you please note this on your supporting statement/CV)

hours to be worked flexibly across the week to meet the needs of families and the service. However, Thursdays are our ‘core day’ when essential service activities take place such as team meetings.

So why are we looking for a new Project Worker?

Our ambition is for every child in Scotland to be safe, loved and well, together with their family. Children 1st is committed to protecting children by preventing harm through abuse and neglect. We will promote their wellbeing by respecting, protecting, and fulfilling children’s human rights.

We have a long history of working with children and families and partners in the Scottish Borders. Children 1st along with our partners share a determination to act upon the recommendations from The Independent Care Review and deliver The Promise to children and young people. We are also determined that the full incorporation of the UNCRC means that children will have their rights respected in all areas of their lives and will have a real say in the way they are supported.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Project Worker to join a large, creative and vibrant team. Our Service delivers a number of diverse supports alongside children and families. Our activities include Family Group Decision Making alongside our Social Work Colleagues creating alternative plans to support children growing up where they are safe and loved, support for children and families to recover from trauma and harm and whole family wellbeing support.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in the delivery of the service, ensuring high quality relationships with children and families and working alongside our partners to evidence impact.

What kind of people are we looking for?

• have experience of keeping children safe in their own families
• are fiercely passionate about children’s rights
• thinks it’s a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families and,
• are kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind

What kind of team member will you be?

Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:

• resilient, skilled and knowledgeable who wants to transform children’s lives
• determined to support children to stay safely with their own family
• big hearted and courageous
• able to build strong relationships and to manage the tricky conversations
• is compassionate and have an understanding of trauma
• a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
• inspiring colleagues and teams to be even better
• an amazing ambassador for children and Children 1st

Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

Base

Your base will be shared between our office in Selkirk as well as venues within the local community. You will work on an outreach basis to connect with children and families in communities across Scottish Borders.

Further Information

This is a permanent, full-time post of 35 hours per week.

We are an established, respected and trusted organisation that has been rooted in the heart of our community for many years. We use relationship-focussed, play-based, interactions to focus on the wellbeing of children and families, as well as the regeneration of the local area.

We are passionate about play and what it can do for the individual, family and community. We inspire both children and families to overcome their difficulties, build strengths and resilience and fulfil their goals more effectively.

We support the people of Armadale to help shape and build their own community. Our success is dependent upon the creativeness, enthusiasm, passion, experience, knowledge and empathy of our staff. All of our work is about prevention and early intervention. We work in partnership with a wide-range of stakeholders and are well connected and trusted, both as a strategic partner, that has the pulse of the local community and as a key delivery member of the Armadale Regeneration Team.

This job has a key role within the organisation to ensure we achieve our aims, and will:

• Promote positive emotional wellbeing for our service users

• Immerse children in high quality play opportunities

• Develop & deliver our family learning and adult support groups

• Offer bespoke one-to-one family support

• Practice in a way that is Trauma Informed

• Establish and maintain strong networks & positive relationships with partner agencies

• Lead our Pantry service with dignity

• Ensure that we continue to deliver, as a key anchor agency in the local Regeneration Team

• Signpost to relevant partner agencies and maintain a sound local knowledge

• Work with colleagues to develop and maintain our outdoor space

• Be inclusive and diverse, to minimise inequalities

• Contribute to our social media presence

You will be:

• Enthusiastic, passionate and caring

• Creative, engaging and motivated

• Experienced in working with families

• Flexible in your approach to work

• Loves play and understands its importance

• Positive about working and play outdoors

• Fun loving and enthusiastic in your approach to work

• Able to establish authentic connections with people

• Professional at all times

• Experienced in working within and contributing to, multiagency teams

• Excellent at organisational skills, as this role is varied and fast paced

• Approachable and non-judgemental

• Passionate about fairness and equality

• Able to work autonomously and take ownership and responsibility for delivering results

• A reflective practitioner who is keen to develop, learn and grow

In return we offer:

• A fun workplace

• A competitive salary

• 32 days annual leave

• An organisation that is committed to ensuring staff wellbeing

• Enhanced maternity, sick pay and stakeholder pension

Qualifications/experience: No specific qualification requirement, but experience of family and partnership work, is essential