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 is 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

This is an exciting opportunity to join Action for Children as a Senior Bid Writer, with responsibility for producing professionally written high scoring bid responses to meet defined quality standards.

Reporting to the Head of Business Development for Scotland, the successful candidate will predominantly be working on bids for the business in Scotland but will also work flexibly across the wider UK Business Development Team, as required.

The bids will be for a variety of service areas, and you will ensure that the written bid clearly articulates Action for Children's offer in a way that is compelling to provide a competitive advantage and is consistent with our brand and our passion to deliver service excellence.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

• Apply functional expertise to clearly articulate the quality of our service provision through written submissions.
• Work collaboratively and engagingly with internal colleagues to translate quality practice into conceptual model descriptors.
• Use a range of software packages to visually represent complex ideas in accessible ways.
• Work collaboratively and effectively with members of the Business Development team and Operational Colleagues.
• Interpret complex data to ensure the commissioners preference is evident in the written submission.
• Source business opportunities, including finding out about the service/sector for the written bid.
• Gather evidence to answer PQQ (Pre -Qualification Questionnaire) questions, including collecting data for bids.

Let's talk about you

• High level written skills to translate and structure complex information in a simple, straight forward, and logical way to support high scoring bids.
• Demonstrates the ability to lead or support the development of bids that win new business.
• Ability to gather and manage intelligence to inform the development of bid win narratives.
• Experience of bid work; transferable experience will also be acceptable.
• High level of IT skills including ability to use graphic design programmes to support bid production.
• Demonstrates the ability to lead or support the development of bids that win new business.

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 retailer's discounts.

About Options Fife Lochwood Park

Aberlour Options Fife - Lochwood Park service, based in Kingseat, is a forever home for one young man who has complex needs. Our service is a safe space for not only our young man but for his family to spend meaningful time. Although there can be behaviours that challenge, it is the small steps of progress that this young person makes daily that makes our work meaningful. We are looking for someone to join our small team, who is a patient and understanding person. These are key skills for this role.

What we are looking for....

As someone who has built up experience working in residential childcare, you will have the confidence to guide and direct the provision of care for our young person.

When on shift, you will play a lead role, mentoring and supporting staff and being a role model, delivering excellence in the services we provide. You will assist in assessing, planning and delivering services, taking responsibility for ensuring that assessment and interventions are prepared, monitored and evaluated.

Engaging positively with our Young Person and their family you will plan and implement appropriate support. Sensitive and accurate reporting is a key responsibility and so you will have good written communication skills and the ability to learn how to use effectively, Aberlour’s recording system: Dynamics.

This role offers the opportunity to consolidate and build on your experience combined with the ability to enhance your skills and knowledge through training, for example, in Dyadic Developmental Practice.

As part of the management team you will play an active role in ensuring that shift duties are delegated and completed in accordance with service guidance. You will work 2 x 7.5 hour shifts per week as part of a Residential Rota.

Overnight sleep ins are part of the role, alongside an awake member of night staff.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. Aberlour’s values are critical and drive everything we do. We will be looking for someone who can demonstrate how Aberlour’s values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity and Challenge will be visible in their practice. You must be comfortable working in an environment where Aberlour’s values are lived in practice.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

Every childhood is worth fighting for. This is our belief. It drives us, and it's the reason our Services team push themselves to transform the lives of children and families – in person, in Hubs nationwide, and through the knowledge they share.

Job Purpose

Provide direct services to babies, children, families, carers or adults (in an individual or group basis) maintaining professional practice standards as outlined to legislation and consistent with NSPCC standards and guidance.

Hold case accountability for a number of cases, some of which may be complex, ensuring all safe guarding practice and case recording conforms to NSPCC standards and guidance. Provide professional advice to internal and external partners.

Engage positively and respectfully with all partners agencies to serve the best interests of babies, children and families.

Plan and deliver services and contribute to their evaluation and ensure that issues of diversity and inclusion are identified and addressed in accordance with equal opportunity practices.

Develop and maintain professional relationships and work in partnership with other agencies in order to deliver effective services and attend a range of internal and external meetings as required.

Actively prepare for and participate in supervision, team meetings, briefings and training events and contribute to the development of learning materials or other resources.

Take responsibility for developing and improving your own professional knowledge and skills and contribute to policy development within the organisation.

Work with fundraising staff to promote the work of the team and the organisation to various audiences including supporters, fundraisers and volunteers.

Support colleagues through co-working, mentoring or critical appraisal and supervise students as appropriate in line with agency policy.

Key relationships- Internal

Reports to Team Manager

Assistant Director

Hub Relationship Manager

Person specification

• A recognised social work qualification and registration with the relevant social care county within the UK.
• Experience of direct prevention work with children and their families and proven ability in identifying risk and initiating child protection interventions, informed by a good knowledge of best practice, research and legislation.
• Experience and proven ability of working in a way that reflects a child centered approach and an understanding of children's rights, participation, needs, best interests and safeguarding practice.
• Ability to plan appropriate direct work and evaluate effectiveness.
• Evidence of an ability to develop and maintain professional relationships including with other child protection agencies and supporters and experience of effective multi-agency working.
• Experience and proven ability to champion equality, diversity, and inclusive practice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and the ability to present the NSPCC to internal and external audiences.

Applications will be considered from social work students who will be qualified and registered within three months of the closing date for the vacancy.