Are you passionate about helping people to live a better life? Do you want to work for a charity where your health
and wellbeing matter just as much as the people you support? Do you want to be part of a trauma-informed team
where you will be supported to develop creative and flexible ways of working?
At LinkLiving, our values and people are at the heart of everything we do including how we recruit our staff. It is
important for us to find people who share our values, which are:
- Empathy (listen to and understand an individual’s needs and circumstances)
- Respect (treat others the way
they wish to be treated)
- Integrity (be honest and have strong moral principles)
- Caring (show
kindness and concern for others)
LinkLiving is a Scottish health and wellbeing charity that supports people to manage or overcome the effects of
negative life experiences (including trauma, mental health challenges, poverty and inequality) so that they can
build on their strengths and aspirations in order to live their best possible lives. We support people through a
range of models including:
- Personal development and employability programmes
- Self-help coaching
- Supported
accommodation
- Care at home
- Housing support
- Befriending
- Social cafes
The Link Academy team works primarily with people with complex backgrounds. The experiences of these young people
often result in low self-esteem and confidence, poor mental health and a pattern of destructive behaviours.
Because of this, these young people find it difficult to manage key transitions such as moving into work or
training, into a tenancy or leaving care. The service works hard and creatively to maintain the early engagement
of participants. By offering mental health and wellbeing programmes, independent living skills and a wide range
of qualifications to support their progression, we give young people the tools to better manage their own mental
health. Doing so helps them break negative and destructive cycles of behaviour and thinking, with the aim of
putting them on the path to having the best life possible. Staff are trained in using a trauma-informed approach
to support young people to build confidence, develop resilience and realise their goals for the future.
The Job
The ‘Right Track (Navigating Positive Futures)’’ is a preventive programme which focuses on supporting young people
at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system, through the provision of one-to-one and group-based
support. The Development Worker will have a background in criminal justice and will support young people facing
issues including youth crime, antisocial behaviour, family breakdown and school-related difficulties, to achieve
their goals and aspirations, providing them with practical tools and techniques to overcome the challenges they
are facing. We welcome applications from people with lived experience and professional experience.
The Development Workers will also provide support to parents and caregivers, as well as leading a team of peer
education volunteers (16-24) who will use their own lived experiences of the criminal justice system to
positively influence young people supported through the programme.
About You
You are passionate about supporting young people to overcome challenges and achieve positive outcomes, particularly
those involved in or affected by the criminal justice system. You will be educated to SCQF Level 7 (HNC or
equivalent); however, we actively welcome applicants with relevant lived experience who may not hold formal
qualifications, as training and qualifications will be supported within the role. In these cases, you must have
demonstrable experience of working with this client group.
You will have a minimum of three years’ professional experience in youth work, including direct experience of working
with young people in a criminal justice setting. You are skilled at developing, shaping, and delivering engaging
programmes that respond to the current challenges facing young people, using a trauma-informed and
relationship-based approach.
You are confident in building positive, trusting relationships with young people and have experience creating or
identifying resources for one-to-one work and group delivery, including the effective use of digital tools and
resources. You will also have experience of building and sustaining partnerships with a range of
stakeholders.
You bring a good understanding of current Scottish policies and the social, economic, and systemic challenges
affecting young people and families in Scotland. You are highly organised, with excellent planning skills, and
are an effective communicator, confident in both oral presentations and written reporting. A good working
knowledge of ICT is essential.
You are a collaborative team player with a flexible, can-do attitude, willing to work across different areas as
required. Occasional evening or weekend work may be necessary to support specific training programmes or events,
although this sits outside normal delivery hours.
What’s in it for you?
The benefits of being a LinkLiving employee (subject to the policies and benefit terms and conditions) include:
- Competitive salary, reviewed annually, and opportunity for annual performance related salary increases and
discretionary non-consolidated pay awards, subject to terms of the scheme
- 35 days’ holiday per year
(inclusive of public holidays) pro rata plus additional 3 days pro rata after 3 years’
service
- opportunity to buy and sell holiday
- enhanced company sick and family friendly
pay
- access to paid SVQ qualifications and a wide range of learning and development
opportunities
- funded Disclosure Scotland and Scottish Social Services Council
memberships
- defined contribution pension scheme with generous employer contributions plus salary
exchange and additional voluntary contribution options
- access to an Electric vehicle leasing scheme,
subject to the terms of the scheme
- life assurance scheme providing death in service benefits to named
beneficiaries
- healthcare cash plan for employees (and dependents) to support health and wellbeing plus
discounts on shopping, restaurants, and other services
- employee assistance programme for employees and
their immediate household dependants to support health, mental and financial well-being
- annual flu
vaccination
- access to a savings and borrowing scheme
- cycle to work scheme
- monthly bus
pass scheme
- season/travel ticket loan and much more!
For a full list of benefits available to employees, please see the following link - https://www.linkliving.org.uk/work-with-us
This role is subject to PVG membership under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. Individuals who are barred from
working with children or protected adults will not be considered for this position. Link will meet the cost of
any new PVG scheme membership or membership update.