Children in Scotland is currently seeking an experienced Communications Officer to join our collaborative and driven Communications & Marketing Team.

Children in Scotland has numerous functions that support the children’s sector in Scotland - from membership services and events, to policy and participation activities, as well as delivering a number of services (Enquire, Reach, Resolve, My Rights, My Say). The Communications Officer will play an important role in raising awareness of both the organisation, and the key issues facing the sector – through content marketing activity and media engagement, and as Editor of our Insight member publication.

We are looking for a great team player who enjoys the process of collaboration to achieve creative and engaging communications. They will take a highly organised and proactive approach to their responsibilities, and have a close eye for detail.

We would love to hear from candidates with experience of editing and producing publications, and a strong understanding of digital communications. A background in journalism, or a content creation role with a similar emphasis on writing and editing skills is preferred.

The successful candidate will be ready to hit the ground running, but will be offered an excellent induction and support through the first few months. Our commitment to staff wellbeing is reflected in our flexible and hybrid working policies, our organisational wellbeing working group, regular line manager one-to-ones, and quarterly in-person all-staff away days. They will join a brilliant group of supportive staff who are passionate about making a difference to children’s lives and work hard to achieve this.

Please read our full job description for a complete outline of the responsibilities and criteria for this role. This can be found in the recruitment pack on our website.

About Children in Scotland

Giving all children in Scotland an equal chance to flourish is at the heart of everything we do.

By bringing together a network of people working with and for children, alongside children and young people themselves, we offer a broad, balanced and independent voice. We create solutions, provide support and develop positive change across all areas affecting children in Scotland. We do this by listening, gathering evidence, and applying and sharing our learning, while always working to uphold children’s rights.

Our range of knowledge and expertise means we can provide trusted support on issues as diverse as the people we work with and the varied lives of children and families in Scotland.

Diversity

Children in Scotland values the contribution of all our staff, whatever their background. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open processes, with appointment on merit. We welcome applications from everyone.

Further information

For an informal chat about the job, please contact Julie Thomson, Communications and Marketing Manager by email on jthomson@childreninscotland.org.uk

The successful post-holder will be expected to operate in line with our values which are:

Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Overview

OPFS was founded in 1940 and since then we have been at the forefront of shaping policy and services in Scotland, that support single parents and their children. Today, there are over 144,000 single parent families in Scotland, 25% of all families. We involve parents, champion their voices and keep their needs at the heart of everything we do.

Purpose of Role

Working as part of the administration team based at OPFS HQ and provide administrative support by accurately, and efficiently, contributing to the operations of the HR & Administration, Finance and Business Development teams. The post holder will report to the HR & Administration Manager with day-to-day mentoring and support provided by the Administrator.

Equal opportunities and family friendly employment

• OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer and flexible working requests will be considered. OPFS has Investors In People silver status and Living Wage accreditation.

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.
• We are a Real Living Wage accredited employer

We are one of the largest children’s charities in the UK and have been making a difference to the lives of the UK’s vulnerable children for over 150 years.

Find out more about Action for Children here: Action for Children and on X, LinkedIn, Facebook or YouTube to get to know us better.

A bit about the role

Our Residential Support Worker opportunities are 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

At Woodburn, we understand how important it is to replicate a warm home environment for young people. We provide full-time care and support for two young people with learning disabilities who at times present behaviour that challenges and are unable to live with their own families. We focus on building meaningful relationships with children and young people and being able to support them achieving outcomes and gaining new skills and independence(whether that's making their own toast or independently accessing the community).

You’ll care for our young people by assisting with their daily routines, providing personal care, and administering medication after appropriate training. You’ll collaborate with the team to create and implement individualised plans tailored to each young person’s needs.

Additionally, you’ll engage our young people in activities they enjoy, such as arts and crafts, puzzles, X-Box, walks, swimming, and more!

We firmly believe that behaviour is communication and work to identify what the young people are trying to tell us through their behaviour and support them to communicate that in a positive way.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

Some key responsibilities of the Residential Support Worker roles are;

• Providing 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.
• Attending professional meetings including reviews, court work etc.
• Supporting children and young people with medical needs.
• Assisting the children and young people in all aspects of their care, supporting their health and wellbeing where you'll significantly improve their lives.
• Being 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.

Barnardo's are recruiting Senior Practitioner (Project Worker 3) to be involved in the delivery of our Residential Service, to support children and young people in a therapeutic and trauma enhanced approach in a residential child care setting. This position is based in our Residential Home and candidate will be expected to be part of the rota system of working including sleepover and evening shifts.

We are looking for an committed practitioner with experience of working with young people and their families preferably within the context of care experienced. They should be passionate about improving outcomes for young people who are accommodated through child-centred therapeutic approach underpinned by Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy principals.

At Barnardo's we believe every child has the right to a fulfilling life, to realise their potential and to have a positive future. Working in partnerships, we focus on building stronger families and improving family bonds.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document (if applicable). This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

The world of work has changed. We are understanding of what works best for our colleagues both current and future as we look to embrace this new way of working. Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or any combination of these.

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing after 5 years service
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values