Change Mental Health is a leading national mental health charity providing unique support to people with severe and enduring mental ill health. With over 50 years’ experience across Scotland, we believe people affected by poor mental health and illness deserve the highest quality of support in the community and that every person has the right to be valued and to share in the opportunities, challenges, and joys of everyday life.

In this critical role you will work closely with the Co-Investigator (Jim Hume, Director of Public Affairs & Communications) to ensure effective and impactful delivery of all project outputs and outcomes. The position is a multi-agency project employed by Change Mental Health and will be working in partnership with NHS Highland Public Health, High Life Highland, Museums Heritage Highland, Highland third sector organisations, local community groups and the academic research team.

Our Project Coordinator will engage very closely with regional and local community members, setting up and chairing groups where required in partnership with the wider research team, researching process and impact, developing a toolkit, and disseminating findings via events and online media and communication.

The position requires travel throughout the Highlands. Therefore we are looking for the candidate to be based in the highlands, or in Edinburgh (at our National Office).

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish and manage the regional stakeholder group; organise and attend the group meetings, deputising for the Co-Investigator (Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Change Mental Health, Jim Hume) as required.
• Proactively assist in the set-up and management of the local co-design stakeholder groups in partnership with the research team; help with engaging local communities, networking and recruiting group members; liaise with Museums Heritage Highland and High Life Highland (providing venues).
• Chairing the co-design stakeholder groups and organising all the meetings.
• Organise online forums for the co-design groups to share experiences, which includes deputising for the Co-Investigator as required.
• Contribute fully and proactively to: (i) project research, for example by giving feedback on the co-design process; (ii) development of the project toolkit; and (iii) recording of project impacts.
• Dissemination of findings as required at multiple stages throughout the project including at the project’s conclusion, which will include leading the organisation of two dissemination events.
• Proactively assist with the setting up of the project website, ensuring website design and maintenance is kept within budget; managing and updating the project website.
• Contribute to communications and publicity, including updates/email bulletins, regular website updates.
• Contribute to and identify others to write blogs, ensure events and project news are publicised

General Duties:

• Acting in accordance with Data Protection legislation. Ensure all records, personal, staff and client data are managed in line with Data Management and Information Governance policies.
• Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements such as provisions set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• Acting in accordance with the charity’s Health & Safety and Safeguarding policies and to notify your line manager promptly if there are any concerns.
• Participating in regular supervision and appraisal and undertake any relevant training as appropriate to the role.
• Working in accordance with Change Mental Health’s national policies and local operating procedures and those of external regulators or professional bodies.
• To be friendly, polite and professional to all project partners, community members, stakeholders and the public always.

Essential Criteria:

• Experience and knowledge of co-design
• Project management experience
• Community development/engagement experience.

Desirable Criteria

• An understanding of remote and rural communities and their service needs, and I understand the impact of health inequalities. I have experience of mental health.
• A people person that can make great relationships, whilst also organised and enjoy immersing yourself in detail.
• Comfortable and adept with the tools of the modern world including various online communications platforms and social media.
• Have a positive and enthusiastic ‘can do’ attitude and thrive on working in a dynamic team, understanding that everyone needs to be a leader.
• Have excellent interpersonal skills and work well with others. Can demonstrate that you have built relationships within communities and with external stakeholders.
• Enjoy organising and managing meetings that generate positive outcomes for all.
• Can work under pressure and to exacting timelines plus always produce high quality work.
• Ambitious about project team outcomes and achievements. Ability to see a challenge as an opportunity to improve and deliver outstanding service and support.
• Have a driving licence.

This job profile and list of duties is not exhaustive and serves only to highlight the main requirements. The line manager may stipulate other reasonable requirements and projects commensurate with the general profile and grade of the post.

Successful applicants for this post will require a Basic Disclosure.

Benefits

• 24/7 access to an award-winning Employee Assistance Programme providing free legal, financial, and medical advice as well as support with life’s challenges.
• A 35-hour working week, enhanced sick pay & season ticket loan.
• A great work life balance with flexible and blended working environment.
• Access to purchase a Blue Light Discount Card
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Enhanced sick pay and leave entitlements.
• Generous 37 days’ holiday.
• Paid Mental Wellbeing days.
• Professional development including funded opportunities.

Epilepsy Scotland - Welfare Rights Officer – application extended

Epilepsy Scotland is seeking an experienced, compassionate and enthusiastic Welfare Rights Officer to join its highly successful Welfare Rights service. The Welfare Rights Officer will work alongside our existing Welfare Rights Officer to provide information, advice, practical assistance and advocacy on welfare benefits to people affected by epilepsy. This includes support for assessments, appeals and tribunals, and delivering training and information to a variety of audiences.

You will be a highly motivated individual, have proven experience in welfare and benefits, have excellent communication skills and enjoy new challenges. A clear understanding of statutory welfare and benefits systems and processes is essential as well as an awareness of the barriers faced by people affected by epilepsy as they attempt to access disability and other benefits.

The Welfare Rights Officer will also contribute to our policy work related to welfare benefits in Scotland. Initially fixed term for 12 months. This post forms a key part of our services to people affected by epilepsy in Scotland and may be extended subject to funding.

As part of the Public Affairs and Communications team and working with the Public Affairs and Policy Manager, the post holder will support SAMH public affairs activities across Scotland to achieve positive change in legislation and policy for people with mental health problems and people who use our services.

The postholder will help to ensure SAMH’s policy, research and lobbying work is credible, well evidenced and informed by lived experience, and contribute to increasing SAMH’s profile and reputation as a key influencer of public and political life in Scotland.

What we are looking for

We are looking for an enthusiastic, organised person with a background in public affairs and a clear understanding of Scottish politics. You will have the skills to translate information from a range of sources - most importantly, people’s lived experience of mental health – into credible policy positions, to support our efforts to ensure mental health is central to the political agenda in

the run up to the 2026 Scottish parliamentary elections and beyond.

This is a role for someone with the ability to work across a variety of issues as part of a small team, and the skills to communicate confidently with a wide range of people from policy-makers and politicians to colleagues across SAMH. If that’s you, and you want to influence positive change for people living with mental health problems, please apply.

What we will provide for you

You will work in a supportive environment and will be provided with a full induction and training

opportunities. You will be given the chance to develop your knowledge and skills, as well as develop

professionally. Some of our benefits include;

• Funded continuous learning and development opportunities, access to over 100 courses
• online in addition to classroom and virtual training sessions
• 30 days annual leave rising to 33 after 5 years’ service
• 4 public holidays
• 2 paid wellbeing days off per year to use on what matters to you.
• Team wellbeing budgets
• Workplace pension scheme
• Life Assurance policy
• Employee Assistance Programme