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.

Edinburgh Family Support Partnership is a transformational new collaboration between City of Edinburgh Children's Services, Barnardo's Scotland, Children 1st, Citadel, Safe Families and Edinburgh Community Food. Our aim is to radically transform how Edinburgh Children's Services and partners deliver services to families within the city of Edinburgh whilst simultaneously improving a family's journey through the current complex landscape of accessing family support.

Our multi-disciplinary teams will be community based, in each of the 4 locality areas across the city of Edinburgh. As well as connecting families with holistic responsive and flexible support the multi-disciplinary teams will empower families to ‘reach in' themselves and be supported along their journey through a relational and strengths-based approach.

Our aim of providing early intervention that empowers families to take control encourages an integrated approach, leads to tailored plans and provides the right support when it is needed and diverts children and families from escalating into statutory processes. Families are at the heart of our approach and restorative family led decision making drives our support in partnership with families, their networks, communities and enables them to address challenges before they become a crisis.

If you are passionate about supporting and empowering families when the support is needed, then this is a great opportunity to be part of an innovative project and influence how family support is delivered in Edinburgh.

The team will have 3.5 FTE project workers – with one worker being located within each of the 4 locality hubs across Edinburgh to ensure maximum reach to families across the city.

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.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

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

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

Couthie House provides long-term residential care and support to children who are unable to live within their family home. The service offers a stable, secure, and nurturing environment with a strong focus on individual needs and developing life skills. These life skills empower each young person to make meaningful choices, develop, grow up, and become resilient.

Our Team Leader Residential plays a pivotal role in ensuring the highest quality of care and support for children who are unable to live within their family homes. With a compassionate and dedicated approach, the Team Leader oversees the day-to-day operations of our residential care service, fostering a stable, secure, and nurturing environment.

You'll lead, encourage, inspire and motivate a team of up to 14 staff and will work closely with the Registered Manager. With a strong background in managing complex learning disabilities and challenging behaviours, this role exemplifies dedication, insight, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by the children in our care. Your leadership is instrumental in creating an environment where every child can thrive and reach their full potential, as well as, creating and maintaining the culture across the services that's needed to support our staff.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

Some key responsibilities for the Team Leader Residential role are;

• Providing direct line management to a team of residential staff to deliver high standards of care.
• Support staff team development through training opportunities, staff supervision, and multidisciplinary working.
• Leading shifts and working with the Registered Manager to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and organisational policy and procedure.
• Working to achieve positive outcomes for individual children and young people and contributing to the achievement of an outstanding, good or equivalent rating in external inspection including deputising in the absence of the Registered Manager.

Let's talk about you

• Must possess SVQ4 Leadership & Management or willing to work towards within 2 years of taking up post.
• Experience of managing staff, also providing visible and effective leadership and management by example.
• SSSC registered.
• Significant experience of working with children and young people with Learning Disabilities.
• Demonstrate informed decision making and judgement, utilising these skills to anticipate and identify problems and find solutions
• Good knowledge of Safeguarding, and keeping young people safe.