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.

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

Are you passionate, committed, resilient and have a good sense of person-centred approaches and values?

About Options Fife Lochwood Park

Aberlour Options Fife - Lochwood Park service, based in Kingseat, is a forever home for one young man who has complex needs. Our service is a safe space for not only our young man but for his family to spend meaningful time. Although there can be challenging behaviour, it is the small steps of progress that this young person makes daily that makes our work meaningful. We are looking for someone to join our small team, who is a patient and understanding person. These are key skills for this role.

What we are looking for....

We are looking for a Young People’s Worker who will work 15 hours per week. You will work these hours as part of a residential rota, this will include days, nights, evenings, weekends and public holidays. There is also the requirement to undertake occasional sleep overs.

As a Young People’s Worker you will play a fundamental role in ensuring that our young person will have the best possible experience in working towards their objectives in line with their care plan, supporting them to progress within their individual outcomes. Whilst not without its challenges and demands, this is a highly rewarding role, where the work we do has a demonstrable impact on our young person's progress.

Using a person-centred approach, you will provide enabling support ensuring the highest level of physical, personal, and emotional care for our young person.

We are looking for candidates who have a passion with working with young people with disabilities. It is desired but not essential that candidates hold a relevant qualification at an SCQF level 7 or above. Due to SSSC requirements you will be required to gain qualifications after starting with Aberlour.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support, and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

Aberlour is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our service users and uses a thorough and rigorous recruitment and selection process including PVG Scheme checks to ensure this commitment is not compromised.

About Options Fife Housing Support

At Aberlour we listen to understand what our young people want and need within our local area. Our Options Fife Housing Support service in Glenrothes supports young people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live and thrive within the local community.

This service will be home to 4 young people aged 16 plus who will all have their own individual flat. Our rota has been drafted to suit the needs of the young people.

What we are looking for....

We are looking for full time (37.5 hours) and part time (20 hours) Young People’s Workers to join our team. Shifts can be up to 12.5 hours long. You will play a fundamental role in our young people’s lives to ensure that they get the best possible experience whilst working towards goals in their care plan. Using a person-centred approach, you will provide enabling support ensuring the highest level of physical and emotional care, supporting our young people in their daily living and within the local community.

If you have an interest in working with young people, we would like to hear from you. Ideally, candidates will have social care experience, understanding of autism, complex needs and disability. You will hold, or be willing to work towards, a relevant professional qualification at SCQF level 7 or above (for example: SVQ3 Care plus an HNC) together with relevant experience of working with children or young people. You must also be able to demonstrate awareness of the key elements of working with people affected by disability as well as an understanding of, and commitment to, young people’s rights.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to

join our team. To have a look at our values to understand more about what we are looking for from our employees please see our website for further information.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.