We are looking for an experienced Mentor Support Worker to join our team developing Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s ‘Ready, Willing and Able’ new Inclusive Employment Programme for adults with Down’s syndrome seeking meaningful employment to reach their fullest potential.

The Mentor Support Officer will play a key role in the success of this new Inclusive Employment Programme by providing direct support to two employed mentors with Down’s syndrome. This position is dedicated to empowering the mentors, offering guidance, encouragement, and practical assistance to ensure they thrive in their roles and are equipped to support programme participants effectively.

The role requires someone with experience of supporting individuals with Down’s Syndrome and/or learning disabilities, the ideal candidate will have a strong background in mentoring/coaching adults, familiarity within the employability sector would be beneficial. A proactive approach to problem-solving and mentorship is key.

We are excited to be developing ‘Ready, Willing and Able’ Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s new Inclusive Employment Programme for adults with Down’s syndrome seeking meaningful employment to reach their fullest potential and are now looking for an efficient and organised Programme Coordinator to join our team.

The Programme Coordinator will play a key role in supporting our Inclusive Employment Programme, helping to deliver effective, responsive services to both internal and external stakeholders. This position requires a flexible, organised individual with strong communication and administrative skills.

The coordinator will work closely with the Programme Lead, Mentor Support Worker, mentors, and volunteers to ensure smooth operation and ongoing support for the programme’s goals.

About us

At Sense Scotland we deliver vital support that makes a real positive impact to vulnerable individuals, and we value the work each staff member provides to ensure key goals are supported for those we care for. Our vision is for the people we support to live meaningful independent lives in a world that supports them to achieve their own ambitions. We do this by committing to our core values in practice and align this to all we do. We want our colleagues to feel valued and recognised for the life-changing work that they deliver. By joining our team, you'll not only help us achieve the delivery of high-quality care and support, but you’ll also be a key player with supporting and maintaining a developing, high performing and valued workforce.

About the team

The learning and development team is dedicated to providing a high-quality and innovative blended learning programme for all staff. It is their primary goal to ensure that, through the Sense Scotland L&D framework, they continually develop and maintain highly skilled staff who can meet the needs of the people we support. The team develop and oversee the training and development across all areas of the organisation, from face-to-face and virtual delivery as well as eLearning modules and ongoing development through focused, service-specific support.

The team continually develop learning and development initiatives based on ongoing need. They are committed to exploring using digital methods to deliver training while improving digital literacy. By keeping abreast of changing healthcare and communication training strategies, as well as the rapidly evolving digital landscape which promises to revolutionise learning, Sense Scotland maintains a pioneering approach to learning and development and we want you to be apart of that.

About you

Are you already a trainer within Health & Social Care, or a nurse or Senior Care Worker looking to develop into the role of a trainer? If so, we are looking to recruit a trainer to join our skilled Learning and development team.

The main focus of the role is to deliver health and social care courses to staff across our services, which are all over Scotland. This role can be based at either our Glasgow, Dundee, or Kirkcaldy office, with travel required across Scotland and the option to work from home.

You will be working in partnership with experienced training colleagues and operational managers and be responsible for delivering high quality and engaging training face to face and occasionally via Microsoft Teams. In addition to delivering training, you will also be assessing competence and coaching new and existing colleagues, and be expected to help nurture and form long-term relationships with new and existing staff, supporting their continuing professional development and training. You should be able to adapt your communication and training style depending on the trainees and naturally build rapport with new people.

Some of the topics you would be required to deliver training in (but not limited to):

• Organisational induction
• Safeguarding
• Epilepsy and rescue medication
• Moving and assisting
• First Aid
• Administration of medication

Expected qualifications and experience

• Minimum SCQF 7 qualification in a care related subject or a qualification that would allow registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
• Experience in training delivering within a health or social care setting
• A minimum of 1 years’ experience within a setting that would develop a detailed knowledge of current issues affecting health and social care.
• Be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of current training and qualification requirements in relation to SSSC registration, organisational policy and procedures, National Health and Social Care Standards and the SSSC Codes of Practice.
• Extremely confident and have a good grasp of IT applications such as Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, MS Teams.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral are required, as well as excellent organisational skills and to be able to work on your own initiative.
• Be passionate and caring about what you do.
• Be able and willing to work flexibly in terms of locations across Scotland and times of day to accommodate staff shift
• patterns and service needs – including overnight stays and unsocial hours (evenings and weekends).
• You must have a full UK driving licence and the use of a car (business mileage is reimbursed), as travel will be frequent and include travel to services all over Scotland.

What would make you stand out?

• Hold or be working towards a learning and development qualification.
• Be qualified to support at least one of the core courses (Epilepsy, Moving and Assisting, First Aid) and be prepared to undertake additional training for trainers’ courses as required.

Working for us

We offer a rewarding role with the opportunity to develop your skills and future career in an enriching environment, some of these include:

• Retention payment of £500 – we reward our people
• 100’s of discount options to use at high street stores, events, cinemas, restaurants and more!
• Earn £250 by referring a friend
• Training and development – opportunities to expand your skills and knowledge via our e-learning packages and so much more
• Generous annual leave entitlement – 24 days annual leave plus 12 Public Holidays which increases with length of service
• Pension scheme to help you save for the future
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme which offers practical, impartial support on issues impacting your life
• Cycle to Work scheme and HSF Health Plan, your health and wellbeing is important to us.

Our full list of benefits can be found here.

Please note that Terms and Conditions and/or qualifying criteria apply to the benefits listed above.

We are excited to share this great opportunity to join our Board of Directors.

It is a very important time for Cornerstone with our current strategy ‘Future proofing Cornerstone’ coming to an end in 2025 we begin looking ahead, understanding the landscape in which we operate and developing a new strategy which will allow us to continue providing high quality care and support to people with autism, learning disabilities and other support needs across Scotland.

As a member of our Board, you will be instrumental in guiding the strategic future of the charity and ensuring exemplary governance and fiscal control. The main Board meets four times a year and board members will be expected to be a member of one of the sub committees. You will also act as a local ambassador for Cornerstone.

We are keen to hear from those with skills, knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas who feel they can make a positive contribution to our charitable activities: -

Senior management experience in the social work / social care sector preferably with strategic planning skills

Accountancy/financial experience preferably at management level

Personal experience of providing care and support of a relative or carer of a person who has experience of care

About Us

Cornerstone is one of Scotland’s largest charities and is a leading provider of social care services to more than 1,200 adults and young people with disabilities and other support needs. We employ over 1,900 people across Scotland and are fully committed to delivering high quality care and support.

In addition, we also operate our Cornerstone Self-Directed Support service. Across this service, we have over 200 Personal Assistants on our books and approximately 1000 active clients.

We’re committed to building a workforce that represents the true diversity of Scotland, where every single one of our colleagues feel enabled to deliver their best. We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer who selects the best person for the job. We value the diversity of our workforce and work hard to create an inclusive environment where each individual can bring their unique skills, experiences and ideas to the table to help us grow, bring create innovative solutions and develop of our people. We are keen to receive applications for board position that reflect the diversity of the organisation.

We welcome applications from anywhere in Scotland and are particularly interested in receiving applications from women and individuals from an ethnically diverse background as they are currently under-represented on our Board.

There is no remuneration attached to the role but expenses will be reimbursed.