At a time of continued financial pressure on individuals and families across Scotland, this is your chance to help ease that burden by joining the Impact Team at Citizens Advice Scotland as our Policy Officer.

This role is unique, offering a varied policy portfolio gaining key knowledge and skills on areas including financial and digital exclusion, the poverty premium, vulnerability and affordability such as social tariffs and debt repayment.

The Financial Health team focuses on supporting citizens through the ongoing cost of living crisis, improving the debt landscape as well as people’s wider financial wellbeing. The Strong Communities team focus on supporting citizens gaining connectivity, access to justice and upholding human rights.

As Policy Officer across both these teams, you will play a key role in helping Citizen Advice Scotland influence political and policy change leading to better outcomes for the people across the country. This is a superb opportunity not only to make a difference for citizens but to also learn and grow your own policy and influencing skills from extremely experienced colleagues in the both the Strong Communities and Financial Health Teams, skills that will benefit you throughout your career.

Policy at CAS

Using our wealth of data generated by our bureaux, we develop evidence-based policy which is grounded in the experience of our clients. Using our knowledge of national policy, we engage policymakers across Parliament, Government (both central and local) and stakeholder organisations to influence change in policy, law and practice as well as to empower individuals and communities.

In this role, you will work closely with both Policy Managers on the following areas:

• Affordability and Connectivity– Seeking improvements in the external environment in light of data poverty and access to banking services as barriers to inclusion, both digitally and financially. This includes promoting affordable social tariffs on the market and making products and services affordable in the first instance to ensure accessibility for all.
• Vulnerability – Driving calls for change in support for consumers with vulnerable circumstances and ensuring good practice across all sectors through enshrined good consumer protection.

Both workplans for Strong Communities and Financial Health, represents a great opportunity for any policy officer, experienced or otherwise to develop, major policy positions in both spaces, developing key relationships across each sector separately and where they interlink, giving that these issues routinely go hand in hand.

Your focus will be to collaborate with external stakeholders and advocate for change at a national level. This will involve using your policy skills to represent CAS on relevant Government groups and develop excellent relationships within the CAB network, engaging with them in your work and utilising their experience to better inform policy.

The Citizens Advice Network in Scotland

Scotland’s Citizens Advice Network is the largest advice service in the country which empowers people in every corner of Scotland through our local bureaux and national services by providing free, confidential, impartial and independent advice. We use people’s real-life experiences to influence policy and drive positive change. We are on the side of people in Scotland who need help, and we change lives for the better.

The Citizens Advice network is made up of 59 local CABs, each its own independent charity, the Extra Help Unit, a group of specialist case workers dealing with energy advice, and Citizens Advice Scotland as the membership body itself. We provide advice across over 200 locations and deliver 12 national advice projects for UK and Scottish Government including the Money Talks advice service and the Help to Claim Universal Support advice service.

We believe that every citizen should have access to free, impartial and confidential advice that helps them make informed decisions, whenever they need it and however they choose to access it.

During 2022-23, the entire Citizens Advice Network helped over 187,000 individuals and unlocked £142 million for people through things like social security payments and employment entitlements. Our extensive footprint is important in helping us understand how issues impact locally and nationally across the county and the different impacts that policies can have in different areas.

Citizens Advice Scotland is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and flexible working arrangements to support all our staff. We are also committed to equality of opportunity for all and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Employee benefits

Citizens Advice Scotland offers excellent terms and conditions. We want our people to have a great work life balance and we have designed our working practices and benefits to support this. Here are some of things our employees benefit from: a 35-hour full time working week, 40 days annual leave, genuine flexibility in working hours with a flexi-time system, and hybrid working opportunities for every role. For more details of some of the other benefits on offer to our employees, please see the section on employee benefits in the job pack.

Citizens Advice Scotland is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and flexible working arrangements to support all our staff. We are also committed to equality of opportunity for all and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

CAS provides options for hybrid working to allow employees to balance their time attending the office with time working from home. The number of days you will be able to work from home each week will be dependent on your job role and can be discussed as part of the recruitment process.

About Money Advice Scotland (MAS)

MAS is Scotland’s leading money charity, committed to promoting financial wellbeing across Scotland. We support individuals in debt, provide essential training and resources to money advisers, and influence policy to create a fairer financial landscape. As a membership organisation, we empower the money advice sector through comprehensive training, events, and resources, ensuring that advisers are well-equipped to meet the growing demand for financial guidance.

In addition to advocating for fair treatment of people in debt, we play a crucial role in influencing policy and improving financial capability. Our efforts include delivering educational workshops in schools, colleges, and workplaces, and providing a strong, persuasive voice for consumers and the advice sector. By working closely with our members, we address early signs of consumer harm and help shape a more just and responsive financial environment in Scotland.

Job Purpose

MAS is moving into an exciting new phase of its evolution. The Board of Trustees, in conjunction with the Senior Leadership Team have agreed to an ambitious new strategy to secure Money Advice Scotland as a thought leader with a clear mission:

“Money Advice Scotland is empowering all sectors in Scotland to build a collaborative and multi-disciplinary front-line to tackle the human impact of debt and improve financial well-being. Money Advisors can’t do this alone. Each sector is different with unique challenges and a specific role in helping Scotland’s money advisors tackle debt issues in the classrooms; workplaces and homes of Scotland. We will engage with each sector, understand its role and help to equip key decision makers to join our ‘trauma-informed’ debt network.

Let’s broaden the front-line of understanding and support to deal with individuals with debt. Wherever they are. And whoever they are.”

We are looking for a new CEO to help to deliver this vision. A natural campaigner with a track record of matching societal need with campaigns which cut-through and engage partners and potential funders. Our new CEO will have several key attributes:

• a track record of creating thought leadership via advocacy and campaigning underpinned by collaborative research
• well-networked in some or all of the sectors we are targeting (business, financial services, housing, education and political)
• a communicator and campaigner. Someone equally comfortable winning hearts and minds in the Boardroom as they are in the Newsroom
• commercially-savvy and politically connected
• someone who understands trauma and how to rectify it

The CEO will provide visionary leadership and work closely with the Board of Trustees and the Senior Leadership Team to advance the mission of MAS. Building on the strong foundation already established, the CEO will focus on driving the organisation’s external growth by forging strategic partnerships, expanding our influence, and developing new income streams. With a clear strategic plan in place, the CEO’s primary role will be to champion MAS’s mission externally, positioning the organisation as a leader in financial well-being across Scotland.

While the Senior Leadership Team oversees day-to-day operations, the CEO will be a dynamic and outward-focused leader, responsible for enhancing our public profile, fostering key relationships, and ensuring the financial sustainability of the organisation through innovative income generation and strategic networking.

Citizens Advice Scotland runs a series of national specialist services known as projects which require centralised project support. Your primary role will be Project Administrator supporting the Pension Wise service.

For your work with the Pension Wise team, you will support the appointment booking team assure a smooth client experience working closely with service users, network providers and project partners.

You may also provide some ad hoc support for the wider National Projects team, working closely with the department leads to provide administrative support to ensure the effective running of the department.

This is an exciting role with lots of variation in responsibilities and is critical in helping bureaux to deliver specialised support services for people across Scotland. To be successful, you must have excellent attention to detail and organisational skills, be proactive and conscientious, and able to work both independently, and as part of a large team.

Please note that there is a requirement for some 8am starts and occasional weekend working to cover the operational hours of the Pension Wise project.

This role offers you the opportunity to work at the heart of supporting Scotland's largest independent advice network and to make an invaluable contribution to citizen’s lives.

For more information, please refer to the Job Pack which can be downloaded on our vacancies page.

Employee benefits

Citizens Advice Scotland offers excellent terms and conditions. We want our people to have a great work life balance and we have designed our working practices and benefits to support this. Here are some of things our employees benefit from: a 35-hour full time working week, 40 days annual leave, a flexi-time system which recognises and protects the operational delivery aspects of the service, and blended/hybrid working opportunities for every role.

Citizens Advice Scotland is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and flexible working arrangements to support all our staff. We are also committed to equality of opportunity for all and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

CAS provides options for blended working to allow employees to balance their time attending the office with time working from home. The number of days you will be able to work from home each week will be dependent on your job role and can be discussed as part of the recruitment process.

Workplace type: Hybrid working. You will be required to work a minimum of 1 day per week in the office. This is a minimum, but you may opt to be office based up 5 days per week

Alzheimer Scotland, Scotland's national dementia charity, is seeking a passionate and dedicated Centre Activities Co-ordinator to join our team on a part time basis. As a Centre Activities Co-ordinator, you will play a vital role in developing and delivering our brain health and dementia support programs at our centre in Inverness

This unique approach is inspired by the pioneer, Alois Alzheimer, who first identified the brain disease we now recognise as the leading cause of dementia. By building a range of engaging and supportive services in the heart of their community, the Centre Activities Co-ordinator will support people to access:

Advice - our expert advisors can offer one-to-one help with anything from building cognitive resilience, to managing money matters and legal issues.

Listening - we offer places to be heard, whatever the question or concern, whenever help is needed.

Opportunities - to connect, learn and share with others in a similar situation.

Information - on all stages of the brain health journey, whether someone is worried about their brain health or living and caring well with dementia.

Support - everyone is welcome in our Centres, where those affected by dementia can feel safe with trusted staff who understand what they’re going through.

As a Centre Activities Co-Ordinator, you'll collaborate closely with the Centre Manager to create a comprehensive program of activities that align with our ALOIS principles. You'll play a key role in liaising with stakeholders from Health and Social Care, NHS, and the wider community to enhance service delivery and raise awareness about brain health.

Greet and welcome visitors to the centre, ensuring they sign in the visitor’s book and informing the relevant member of staff of their arrival, receive and transfer telephone calls and take brief messages, when necessary, dependent on the needs of the centre, as directed by the Centre Manager.

The Centre Activity Coordinator will support the daily running of the Centre, being a local point of contact for Centre visitors, and carrying out the associated administrative tasks. Produce a monthly programme detailing the services available, as outlined by the Centre Manager, and promote this widely across the networks.

Collate salary information (if applicable) and ensure that details are properly authorised and with the Payroll Administrator by the due date each month. Receive and bank donations and fundraised monies whilst following the correct policies and procedures for these and any other business banking required.

Your exceptional organisational skills will be put to use as you plan, review, and evaluate the activities within the Centres. With a focus on continuous improvement, you'll ensure that individuals accessing our services have a welcoming and inclusive experience, where their concerns are heard and understood.

To excel in this role, you'll bring excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Your passion for supporting individuals affected by dementia will drive you to create a safe and supportive environment. Familiarity with health and safety regulations, along with proficiency in standard office software and IT systems, will enable you to coordinate activities seamlessly.

If you're ready to contribute to our vision of ensuring nobody faces dementia alone, apply now for the Centre Activities Co-ordinator position at Alzheimer Scotland. Relevant experience of working with people with dementia would be an advantage, as well as a willingness to learn and participate in training.