Are you a creative and motivated individual with the passion and drive to support people with a recent diagnosis of dementia to live well in their community?

If so, you can be part of a National Team of Post Diagnostic Support Link Workers (PDS Link Workers) providing high-quality, person-centred support to people living with dementia and their families for a minimum of a year following diagnosis in line the Scottish Government’s minimum guarantee.

The aim of the PDS National Service is to enable people to live well with dementia and is centred around Alzheimer Scotland's 5 pillar model so that people move on to a period of supported self- management.

The model includes understanding the illness and coming to terms with the diagnosis, peer support, connecting and maintaining links with their community along with planning for future care and decision making to develop an outcome focused plan to support their future hopes, desires and aspirations.

Supporting our Skye and Lochalsh Highland locality, the post will be based within the Community Mental Health Team at Tigh Na Drochaid Resource Centre, Portree . Alzheimer Scotland’s PDS Link Workers are required to be effective team workers and have the skills to build and maintain relationships with colleagues both within Alzheimer Scotland, the NHS and other stakeholders.

Skills in using digital platforms are essential as we use a blended approach to support people that involve some virtual meetings and on-line groups.

Applicants must hold a recognised relevant professional qualification, have a good understanding of dementia and how it affects people and their families along with excellent communication skills, a warm flexible approach, combined with skills in empathy and relationship building.

In addition, you should have skills and knowledge at the Enhanced Level of the Promoting Excellence Framework or be able to evidence you are working towards its completion.

This post requires a full driving license and access to a car.

For a full job description and person specification please see the attachments section of this advert.

The successful candidate for this post will be subject to a criminal check through Disclosure Scotland.

A fantastic opportunity to come and join the Children First team in Midlothian

Children First’s ambition is for every child in Scotland to be safe, loved and well with their family. As a charity we offer emotional, practical, and financial support to help families to put children first and campaign to uphold the rights of every child.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of our team in Midlothian who are funded to support families experiencing challenges relating to parental substance use, poverty, poor mental health and trauma amongst other factors. In addition, we support Kinship carers and the children and young people in their care. You will join a team offering both whole family and individual supports, where systemic and relational approaches underpin the work we do. We offer peer led groups and connections through community supports also.

This position will predominantly focus on supporting children, young people and their parents where poor mental health is experienced. You will provide both individual and whole family based supports promoting positive mental health and wellbeing. You will also be expected to support group based supports for young people with poor mental health.

If you have experience of working within child protection processes, are committed to restorative approaches, meaningfully involving children and families, and have a professional qualification in a relevant area such as Social Work, Teaching or equivalent in Childcare/Social Care or related area, accredited counselling qualification, or other relevant qualification at SCQF level 9 or higher then we want to hear from you.

Children First are determined that the full incorporation of the UNCRC means that children will have their rights respected in all areas of their lives and will have a real say in the way they are supported. If you share this determination, we would love to hear from you.

What kind of people are we looking for?

• have experience of keeping children safe in their own families
• are fiercely passionate about children’s rights
• thinks it’s a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families and,
• are kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind
• What kind of team member will you be?

Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:

• resilient, skilled and knowledgeable who wants to transform children’s lives
• determined to support children to stay safely with their own family
• big hearted and courageous
• able to build strong relationships and to manage the tricky conversations
• is compassionate and understanding of trauma
• a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
• inspiring colleagues and teams to be even better
• an amazing ambassador for children and Children First

Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

Base

You will be based in our office in Hardengreen, Dalkeith but expected to work across Midlothian

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 9 public holidays). ​We have additional benefits such as a cash back health plan, cycle to work scheme, and option to join a ​Credit Union.

Who we are

Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s national dementia charity. Our aim is to make sure nobody faces dementia alone. We provide support and information to people with dementia, their carers and families, we campaign for the rights of people with dementia and fund vital dementia research.

What you’ll do

At present, there are an estimated 8,464 citizens living with dementia in Edinburgh. Around 300 of these people are under the age of 65 years old.

Would you like to make a difference to the lives of younger people living with dementia in Edinburgh?

Supporting individuals to achieve good outcomes, to keep connected to their communities, engage in their interests and hobbies and access peer support, using your own car to help people get around (mileage and expenses are paid).

Working as part of the Registered and Commissioned Services/Community Connections team you will have responsibility for ensuring that services are of the highest quality and meet Alzheimer Scotland’s vision for unique therapeutic, highly person-centred support.

You will work with the wider team and Day Services Manager to ensure safe practice and delivery of high-quality, person-centred, therapeutic Registered and Commissioned Services/Community Connections, ensuring practice complies with Alzheimer Scotland’s policies. You will contribute to evidencing, reviewing and continually improving the quality of the services and will participate in internal audit and Care Inspectorate inspections.

You may operate within a building-based Day Care or as part of a Community Connection team delivering Community Groups and Outreach services across an allocated area. At times, this will involve working without supervision in the absence of the Day Services Manager.

You will work with the wider team to evidence that services meet Alzheimer Scotland’s Quality Guarantees, Scotland’s Health and Social Care standards and other quality frameworks including those of the Care Inspectorate where relevant. This includes ensuring that the activities and support offered meet the identified personal outcomes of those attending the services.

What you’ll have

The successful candidate will have a good understanding and/or experience of working with or supporting people living with dementia and their families. This will include an understanding of the benefit of high quality, evidence based therapeutic activity, ongoing evaluation, quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Knowledge and understanding of the Health and Social Care Standards and SSSC codes of practice and the Care Inspectorate and their role in registered services.

Understanding and knowledge of dementia, mild cognitive impairment and Brain Health and experience of working with or supporting people living with dementia and their families.

The successful candidate will have a recognised professional qualification in health, social work or related field, to SCQF Level 6 (SVQ 2)

This post requires a full driving licence and access to a car.