We are looking for an experienced Practitioner to join our team in Scotland to bring people with disabilities and dogs together, enabling life changing differences. The right candidate will:

• Carry out Animal Assisted Interventions and Activities alongside partnered health and social care professionals.
• Provide training and advice to people to develop a relationship and strong bond with a pet dog, to ease specific challenges.
• Support with training and placement of assistance dogs
• Recruit, train and support volunteers with their pet dogs to deliver Animal Assisted Activities in line with Dogs for Good’s standards and processes

This is initially a 3-year fixed term contract, and we have the intention to extend, subject to funding.

Ideally we are looking for someone in the Lothian area, but will consider applications from candidates within a reasonable commuting distance (60mins) for this role.

While this is a remote role, occasional travel to our Banbury HQ is required (reasonable expenses for this will be reimbursed).

About You

You’re someone who thrives on building meaningful relationships between people and dogs, and you’re motivated by the life-changing impact those connections can have. You bring sound judgement and confidence in dog handling, education and behaviour, using positive, non-coercive approaches to support both individual dogs and the people they work alongside. You’re experienced in working with people with disabilities and additional needs, and you understand how to tailor Animal Assisted Interventions and Activities to meet clear, person-centred goals while safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone involved – including the dog. You’re organised and reflective, comfortable planning, delivering and evaluating sessions, and you value evidence, learning and continuous improvement. You enjoy working independently but are also a strong team player, able to collaborate with health and social care professionals, colleagues and volunteers. Supporting, training and encouraging volunteers is something you do with care and clarity, helping them feel confident, valued and able to deliver to a high standard. You’re open to new ideas, adaptable in your approach and willing to think creatively to help Dogs for Good’s services grow and evolve. Above all, you believe in the power of the human–dog bond and are committed to turning that belief into high-quality, impactful support for people and communities.

Skills & Experience

For full details of the role and what's required, please visit our careers page to view the full job information pack.

Other Requirements

• You must be over 18 years of age.
• You must have the right to live and work in the UK.
• You must be comfortable working around dogs.
• Accompanying dogs in the charity’s vehicles is part of the role so a full driving licence is preferred but, where applicable, we will work with the chosen candidate to find alternative solutions in those instances where reasonable adjustments are required.
• The jobholder will be required to work to Dogs for Good’s standards of Animal Assisted Intervention, which embrace the standards of Animal Assisted Intervention International (AAII).
• As you will be working with vulnerable people, you will be required to undergo a PVG (Disclosure Scotland) check. This will be renewed every 5 years.
• You’ll be expected to have a good understanding of safeguarding issues and how they should be applied to the work of the charity and its partner organisations. Full training on this will be provided during your induction.
• Flexible working hours will be required in some instances to facilitate the effective delivery of services.
• You may occasionally be required to work and stay away from home for short periods of time.
• You may be required to accommodate a Community Dog in your home.

Are you looking for a role in which you will improve the lives of families in your community? A role that enables you to work differently, build your knowledge and skills and feel valued by clients, colleagues and the organisation you work for?

It’s an exciting time to be part of Scottish Huntington’s Association as the charity moves forward with Standing Tall: A Strategy For Growth 2023 – 28 to transform the care and support of Huntington’s families, expand services, raise awareness and deepen our involvement and support for world-leading research and clinical trials.

We are looking for a health and social care professional to join our nationwide network of Huntington’s Disease Specialists who provide care management, specialist assessment and emotional support to individuals and families across Scotland.

Working in partnership with local health and social care teams, you will also provide advice, training and education to professionals and voluntary agencies involved in all aspects of Huntington’s disease care.

The successful candidate will be enthusiastic and motivated to have a positive influence on the quality of life of the individuals and families they support. This role is open to medical, health and social care staff from backgrounds such as nursing, allied health, social work and medicine. Professional body membership is essential. Previous experience of Huntington’s disease is advantageous but not essential as full training will be provided.

You should be able to work autonomously in this challenging and rewarding position. Good listening, communication and interpersonal skills are vital, as are excellent time keeping and caseload management abilities. Community-based practice knowledge, a driving licence and use of a car complete our list of essential criteria. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced disclosure check.

Scottish Huntington’s Association is the only charity in Scotland dedicated exclusively to the care and support of individuals and families whose lives are impacted by Huntington’s disease, an incurable neurological condition with severe and complex physical, mental health and cognitive symptoms.

You will find a values-driven organisation, founded by families for families and recognised at national and international levels for expertise in supporting the Huntington’s disease community.

Role Purpose

To lead on the strategic use of data, insights, analysis, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems across SCAA, ensuring robust data governance, GDPR compliance and technical optimisation to inform fundraising, supporter engagement and organisational performance. This role is critical to embedding a culture of data-driven decision making, using insight and analysis to support future fundraising growth. The role will also provide leadership on data protection and organisational Data Protection Officer (DPO) responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Data Leadership and Governance

• Develop, introduce and then monitor the charity’s Data and Insights Strategy, aligning with organisational priorities, fundraising objectives and supporter engagement goals.
• Lead on the charity’s data governance and GDPR compliance, including data protection policies, DPIAs, SARs, PECR and risk management, with a view to adopting organisational DPO responsibilities in time.
• Oversee development, implementation and review of data governance policies, ROPA documentation, data security protocols, and internal staff training.
• Provide assurance to the charity Executive team and Board of Trustees on data compliance, reporting risks and delivering mitigating actions.
• Drive continuous improvement in data management practices, data integrations and strategic data effectiveness.

Join Our Team as a Digital Skills Tutor

Are you passionate about supporting people with a spinal cord injury across Scotland? Do you have a knowledge of assistive technologies and an ability to work with volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds?

Spinal Injuries Scotland is looking for a Digital Skills Tutor to join an exciting new project seeking to recruit and train volunteers to equip Spinal Cord Injured individuals with the technology and skills to improve their life chances by enabling them to access job opportunities, online learning, skills development, training and volunteering resources.

You'll be part of a dedicated team looking to enhance participants' quality of life through the provision of and training to use tailored assistive technology. This will be a fixed-term contract for 12 months initially, with a goal of developing a replicable model and continued funding for digitally enabling Spinal Injured people across Scotland. This is a fast-paced, varied role with real scope to make a lasting difference.