We are recruiting a dedicated and compassionate Young Carers Pathways Coordinator, to lead the delivery of a vital mentoring initiative supporting young carers aged 12-20 across Aberdeen.

About the role:

The Pathways Coordinator will work at the heart of a collaborative effort between MCR Pathways, the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, and all members of the Carers Strategy Implementation Group to identify, engage and empower young carers, particularly those currently hidden from formal support. Through strong partnerships, trauma-informed practice and community-based outreach, the Coordinator will build trusted relationships with young carers, facilitate group and one-to-one sessions and support consistent, life-changing mentor matches that help young people thrive emotionally, socially, and in their education and future pathways.

Key responsibilities:

• Adapt and test the MCR mentoring model for young carers outside of school settings, developing clear methods, structures, and protocols based on a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach.
• Identify, connect with and build trusted relationships with young carers and their families, while also developing and growing new relationships with private, voluntary and statutory organisations to establish effective referral routes.
• Plan and deliver the mentoring programme, customising it to meet young carers' needs and clearly documenting what works and what doesn't.
• Undertake stakeholder engagement activities to develop non-stigmatised referral methods, manage incoming referrals and provide pastoral support to young carers.
• Drive mentor recruitment, deliver effective inductions and core mentor training, and provide ongoing support and development to mentors.
• Maintain accurate programme and quality assurance records, including data on MCR's database and contribute to performance reports and case studies.
• Proactively contribute to securing key performance targets, feed back programme improvement strategies and participate in team and training meetings.

About you:

• Exceptional ability to build meaningful relationships with young people, education colleagues, volunteer mentors, key partners and local employers
• Awareness and understanding of the principles of safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults
• Ability and confidence to present programme information and deliver prepared training sessions to groups
• Ability to work well on own initiative, as part of a team and on a flexible basis in response to young person and organisational need
• An understanding of the challenges and barriers that care-experienced and/or vulnerable young people and young adults may encounter
• Experience or a knowledge of processes to document and evidence good practice and positive outcomes.

You may have experience as a Youth, Community or Advice Worker. You will be an empathetic person who is open minded, non-judgemental, resilient and who is driven to improve outcomes for care experienced and other vulnerable young people.

About MCR Pathways:

MCR Pathways is an award-winning charity established in Glasgow in 2007. Our mentoring programme is now delivered in schools across the whole of Scotland. Our passionate team is dedicated to helping the most vulnerable young people gain self-confidence, identify their skills and recognise and fulfil their potential. Our vision is for all young people to experience equality of education outcomes, career opportunities and life chances. Our in-school mentoring has profound impacts on school pupils in their confidence, wellbeing, achievement and post-school progression.

We are thrilled to be working with Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership and the Carers Strategy Implementation Group on this new initiative focusing on matching young carers with mentors. MCR Mentors are volunteers who make and experience a life-changing difference. You will be joining a friendly and supportive team who love what they do and enjoy working with each other. We model our values and many of us are also mentors ourselves.

Benefits of working for MCR Pathways include: 33 days annual leave in first year rising to 38 days from 2nd year of employment, additional day off for your birthday, Living Pensions Employer, Life Assurance - 4 x salary.

About Simon Community Scotland

Simon Community Scotland is the largest provider of homelessness services in Scotland.

Our vision is for everyone to have a safe place to live with access to the support they need. We help make positive things happen for people facing extremely difficult circumstances every day.

Everything we do is about and for people: the people we support, our staff, our partners, and everyone affected by homelessness.

Our values are built into every area of activity and tell the story of how people remain at the heart of the Simon Community.

Job Summary

The Simon Community is Scotland's leading homelessness charity. We are creative and innovative. We get things done with care and compassion that make a difference to our community, being true to our values. We are a community of staff, volunteers, and people that we support.

We are looking for someone passionate about changing the expectations and experiences of people we support, many of whom have experienced significant trauma, exclusion, and stigma. They often engage in risk-taking behaviors that put their physical and mental health, and their lives at risk. Despite their challenges, they have incredible resilience, survival skills, and a wicked sense of humor. They know what a good, and not-so-good service looks like.

Creating strong partnership relationships is essential to offer the best options for the people we support and help them link in with services they may have struggled to access in the past.

Our Edinburgh street team responds to people who are rough sleeping, meeting them where they are and providing that crucial first link into care. The team is out and about in all weathers on foot, bike, and car reaching out to all areas of Edinburgh. Supporting someone through the initial first steps on the journey from rough sleeping to more settled arrangements is challenging but incredibly rewarding and with this role, you will have the opportunity to work with those who are most far removed from society and show them that they matter.

Key responsibilities

Our values support:

• Warmth and Positive Regard
• Inclusion and Participation
• Innovation and Personalisation of Care and Support
• Ambition
• Partnership
• Learning and leadership

Your key responsibilities to support those values will be:

• Developing honest and open relationships with our community that foster trust
• Using our training and reflective practice to develop additional skills to support and respond appropriately to our community who have experienced trauma
• Working with people in our community with a wide range of experiences and cultural backgrounds with dignity, respect, and kindness
• Working as part of a team with a range of experiences and knowledge to the benefit of our community
• Supporting our community to influence their care and support to meet their goals
• Fostering connection, hope, a positive identity and meaning in life, and a sense of control for our community
• Working with other teams in SCS and with partners to support good outcomes for our community
• Seeking opportunities that will make a difference to our community
• Ensuring that our places reflect the respect we hold for our community

Frontline staff must be registered with SSSC and uphold the standards and values of the SSSC Code of Practice.

Personal Specification

Training and qualifications:

Essential:

• SVQ 3 social care or willing to work towards
• SSSC Registered or willing to become so

Desirable:

• Trauma-informed practice
• Assist / MHFA / SafeTalk trained
• Naloxone trained
• Mental Health or Substance Use qualifications

Experience:

Essential:

• Providing support to people with a range of experiences including homelessness, mental ill health and/or substance use
• Working in a fast-paced environment that requires quick decision-making

Desirable:

• The lived experience of homelessness
• Experience working with a range of agencies as a team
• Networking and connecting skills
• Experience working with a range of agencies as a team
• Providing support to people with a range of experiences including homelessness, mental ill health, and/or substance use
• Networking and connecting skills

Knowledge and Skills:

Essential:

• Experience of working with people with a variety of individual and cultural beliefs
• Ability to use empathy and relational skills to build positive relationships with our community and colleagues
• Understanding of, and ability to work within ethical and relational boundaries
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Desire to reflect, learn, and develop innovative practice

Desirable:

• Knowledge and understanding of homelessness, addictions, and mental health
• Understanding of services that support homelessness, substance use, and mental health
• Evidence of good communication skills; written, verbal, and digital

Personal:

Essential:

• Being a positive person who leads by example
• Have a willingness to learn and adapt to each situation
• Honest, ethical, and committed to our values at SCS

The Rapid Re-accommodation Welcome Centre provides emergency accommodation with support to anyone who would otherwise be rough sleeping in Edinburgh. We are looking for Project Workers to join the Welcome Centre:

Day Shift Project Workers (7.45am till 8pm, up to 39.375hrs a week)

Night Shift Project Workers (7.45pm till 8am, up to 39.375hrs a week)

The Day Shift Project Worker role involves working 12-hour day shifts (usually seven on/seven off). You will work alongside partner agencies to build support plans for individuals who are staying at the Rapid Re-accommodation Welcome Centre, to help move guests on to more suitable long-term accommodation.

The Night Shift Project Worker role involves working 12-hour night shifts (usually seven on/seven off). You will take directions from the night shift team leader who will distribute tasks throughout the night. These can include supporting volunteers as they serve hot meals to guests in the dining area, watching over the entrance to the Rapid Re-accommodation Welcome Centre, looking after reception, answering guest’s questions and keeping paperwork updated.

The post is for 32 weeks beginning on Monday, 22 September 2025, with a training week (weekdays, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm). The project commences on Wednesday, 01 October 2025, and ends on Wednesday, 29 April 2026.

We are looking for candidates with the following knowledge, skills and experience:

• Experience in working with the vulnerable
• An understanding of mental health and addiction issues
• Ability to deal appropriately with challenging behaviour
• An SVQ level 3 in Care/Promoting Independence or equivalent is desirable
• Administrative skills and experience in the use of Microsoft Office packages, especially Word, Excel and Outlook
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Flexibility to respond to a changing environment
• Ability to maintain clear & accurate records
• Successful applicants for this post will require membership in the PVG scheme.

As Bethany is a Christian organisation this post carries an Occupational Requirement in line with Equality Act 2010. Applicants should have and be able to evidence an active Christian faith and commitment.

The Rapid Re-accommodation Welcome Centre provides emergency accommodation with support to anyone who would otherwise be rough sleeping in Edinburgh. It will re-open in October 2025 and close in April 2026, and we are looking for Project Workers to cover a variety of shifts:

Day Shift Team Leader – 7:45 am to 8:00 pm (up to 39.375 hours per week)

Night Shift Team Leader – 7:45 pm to 8:00 am (up to 39.375 hours per week)

The Dayshift Team Leader role involves working 12-hour day shifts (seven on/seven off), overseeing volunteers and liaising with other agencies to identify suitable accommodations for each individual to move on to.

The Night Shift Team Leader role involves working continuous night shifts (seven nights on/seven nights off), overseeing volunteers and liaising with other support services.

Both Team Leaders will work closely with the Welcome Centre leadership team, with guests and volunteers. Good communication skills, along with problem-solving and decision-making, are essential.

The post is for 32 weeks beginning on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, with a training week (weekdays, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm). The project commences on Wednesday, 01 October 2025, and ends on Wednesday, 29 April 2026.

Successful applicants for this post will require membership in the PVG scheme.

As Bethany is a Christian organisation, this post carries an Occupational Requirement in line with Equality Act 2010. Applicants should have and be able to evidence an active Christian faith and commitment.