Benefits:

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts.
• Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 670,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.

A bit about the role

Our Residential Support Worker is a great opportunity for those experienced working in a care setting and looking to implement those skills with an aim to progress to the next stage of their career with our help. You'll manage risk in a way which empowers young people and builds resilience, whilst at the same time ensuring their safety. You'll demonstrate a high standard of person-centred practice, have good social care values and be a strong role model to our children and young people.

In return we'll offer you amazing opportunities to progress within our organisation.​​

We offer an in-depth induction process and training.

Alongside this, we'll enrol you in the qualifications which you need to work in the industry.​

Regular supervision with your line manager, team meetings etc. will ensure you feel part of our team. ​​

Once you've gained the relevant experience and qualifications you'll be ready to progress to the next step in your career with us.

About the service

Our Gilmerton Road Project provides short breaks and outreach support for children and young people (aged 5-21) with learning disabilities and we're excited to offer a unique opportunity for experienced Residential Support Worker's to join our dedicated team.

As a Residential Support Worker, you'll play a pivotal role in empowering children and young people to explore their world, build connections, and create lasting memories by;

Facilitating Short Breaks: As part of a highly skilled team of practitioners, you'll welcome the young people we support to make the most of their short breaks, developing new skills, socialising, and gaining independence while they are in our care.

Community Engagement: You'll also spend time out and about, supporting our children to access local communities. Whether it's a trip to the beach, an afternoon at the zoo, or playtime in the park, you'll be there to facilitate enriching experiences.

We also work in partnership with CAMHS ID and our own Behaviour Consultant to develop and deliver person centred support plans that offer consistency and clear outcomes for all our young people.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

Some key responsibilities of the Residential Support Worker roles are;

• Provide lead case/care planning management, including assessing, reviewing and managing risk.
• Co-ordinating responsibilities within the service, with multi agency and producing family information, including analysis and written reports.
• Attendance at professional meetings including reviews, court work etc.
• Help young people in all aspects of their daily lives.
• Have good communication skills and the ability to engage well with both young people, colleagues and other professionals.
• Be a creative thinker and having a solution focused approach.

Let's talk about you

Are you resilient and have a positive approach to change and challenge? We're looking for someone with a ‘can do' attitude to join our team. Ideally you'll have:

• Demonstrable experience of working in a care setting and developing positive relationships through trust.
• Application of a range of techniques to co-ordinate and communicate with service users and their families.
• Demonstrate a solution focused approach to address problems, individually and in a team setting.
• Demonstrate emotional resilience to respond to the challenging nature of the role.
• Possess a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare (or recognised equivalent) or if you do not possess this you must be prepared to complete this within 2 years of commencing employment with us, full support will be provided.

‘At Options Aberdeen we strive to be the best that we can be – for the young people we support and for our staff’

About Options Aberdeen

Options Aberdeen was developed by a dynamic partnership of Aberlour working with Aberdeen City Council and A-ND (Autism and Neurodiversity Scotland). Providing a mix of residential short breaks, care at home and care in the community. We offer services that best suit the needs of the children and young people we support. When their child is with us, parents and families can relax in the knowledge that their child is getting the best possible nurturing care in a ‘home from home’ environment. This maximises the benefit they gain whilst they get a crucial break to recharge and refresh their batteries enabling them to provide the needed high level of support for their child when they return home from their short break. Our exciting programme enables children with complex disabilities to have new experiences and make new friends. The Hub also provides holistic family support through a menu of services that support and complement direct support offered to children and young people. Working with the children is not a ‘quick fix’ but a long-term endeavour supporting them to make small incremental change that over time becomes significant. The role is challenging but also immensely rewarding. Options Aberdeen has a strong reputation and as part of the team, staff who already have some experience will be supported to consolidate and build on their skills enhancing their ability to take advantage of any future new opportunities and challenges.

Family feedback:

“Aberlour Options Aberdeen for us has been a godsend. Our lives have changed at home. They listen to your views and try and help with whatever is the problem.” Parent.

What we are looking for....

If you are looking for a new challenge and to build on your existing experience and skills, you will be supported to do this within an inclusive team. Our Lead Practitioners provide guidance and mentoring which will enable you, as an individual, to build your confidence and enhance your skills resulting in excellent service delivery for the children and young people we support. We are looking for individuals who, ideally, can bring their own experience and skills to complement those of our team. But if you are starting out in your social childcare career, you will also be a welcome addition to the team and in return for your commitment and hard work we will support your development in the role. You will be enthusiastic, motivated and a caring individual who will contribute to the development of care and support plans, working in a child centred outcomes focused manner to ensure that children, young people and their families get the most out of their service. You will work closely with internal and external colleagues in a multi-agency approach to ensure that the holistic needs of children, young people and families are central to service provision. We are particularly looking for workers who have health care experience, knowledge and skills to support children and young people with complex health needs within their own homes.

We are looking for candidates who are passionate about supporting young people, families and communities, who are flexible and share our vision that collaborative working and relationship based early intervention is the best option for young people and families who are feeling overwhelmed or excluded.

Full time and part time staff participate in a three week rolling rota. This includes evening, weekends, overnights across 7 days per week. Minimum 15 hours per week for part time staff, up to 37.5 hours per week for full time staff.

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. Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity on our website.

Do you want to make a positive impact on the lives of children and young people with a disability and or Autism?

About Options Moray

Aberlour Options Moray is a community-based service for children/young people with learning disabilities offering residential, short breaks, family-based care and community support matched with the individual needs of every young person.

What we are looking for....

We have an opening for a Young People’s Worker, to work 26 hours per week on a permanent basis. The team work no more than 4 days before a day off and currently have every second weekend off. Rotas are designed around the needs of the young people we care for and ensuring the wellness of the practitioners we employ. Late shifts are 2pm to 10pm. Early shifts are 7.30am to 2pm. Overnight sleep ins are part of the role, alongside an awake member of night staff. Shifts can be subject to change as and when required for the needs of the service.

Individuals need to bring a range of qualities to the role including being playful, warm and accepting and must be able to adapt their practice to appropriately meet the varying individual needs of each young person. This role can be challenging but is also immensely rewarding and provides postholders with rich opportunities to develop their own practice and understanding of the needs of children and young people with disabilities.

You must be comfortable working in a culture based on respect, integrity, innovation and the ability to challenge – both yourself and other people. We support our staff to be as effective as they can be through dedicated training and supervision. In return our staff act as exceptional role models supporting the children and young people, as well as sharing knowledge and learning with colleagues.

Ideally, you will have a relevant professional qualification at SCQF level 7 or above, or be willing to work to this requirement as per SSSC registration.

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. Aberlour’s values are critical and drive everything we do. We will be looking for someone who can demonstrate how Aberlour’s values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity and Challenge will be visible in their practice. You must be comfortable working in an environment where Aberlour’s values are lived in practice.

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. Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity on our website.

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.