Job Purpose

To provide high quality advice and representation to individuals and families on income maximisation, welfare benefits, debt, housing and money, in line with the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers.

The adviser will deliver support across a range of settings in line with MAT Standard 8, which states that all people must have access to independent advocacy and support for housing, welfare and income needs. This includes helping individuals to navigate services, have their voice heard, and secure their rights, particularly where poverty, stigma or complex needs create barriers to engagement. The adviser’s work forms part of a project funded through the DDTF Improvement Fund, administered by Corra, which aims to reduce drug-related harm by addressing the wider social and structural factors that impact on recovery and wellbeing.

By joining our team, you will be helping alleviate poverty and improve individuals, families and children’s lives and ensure our Vision is fulfilled, in that no one in our communities endures hardship.

We are looking for a Communications Assistant to support the smooth running of Inspiring Scotland’s communication team. In this role, you will provide support across a variety of projects and help deliver purposeful, creative, and engaging communications materials.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone that is looking to build upon their communications experience. Support and training can be provided, as most importantly we are looking for someone who is proactive and team minded. Someone able to listen to colleagues’ varying needs; contribute ideas and work collaboratively to create solutions. You should be comfortable organising your own time and adapting to priorities. You will have an awareness of communication activity and an interest in being creative and using this skill to help make communications stand out.

In this role you will work alongside the Communications Manager and be line managed by the Senior Communications Officer who are responsible for managing a wide range of activity for Inspiring Scotland. Alongside this team, you will be able to work with colleagues across the organisation and across policy areas such as equality and human rights, outdoor play, mental health, and youth employability.

Do you want to help alleviate poverty and improve the lives of families and children impacted by illness and disability? The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People provides care to patients from across Edinburgh and nationally. Many will be experiencing very challenging and life changing events which also impact the finances and circumstances of the family.

This is an exciting opportunity to join CHAI Advice Service and help deliver benefits and housing advice through our highly successful service at the RHCYP. Comprehensive and continuous training is provided by CHAI to support this rewarding role.

Are you?:

• Resilient and able to demonstrate empathy at a challenging time in peoples’ lives, which will sometimes involve children who have terminal illnesses.
• Able to quickly learn complex rules and legislation on Welfare Benefits and Housing.
• Able to grow trusting professional relationships in a formal setting.
• Understanding of people’s journeys and the challenges they have had in their lives, and how poverty can have an impact on them.

As an Adviser in CHAI, You will:

• Provide high quality accurate advice, information, and representation in line with the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers.
• Provide advice within a range of settings from on site at the hospital, the CHAI office, community venues and some home working.
• Work in partnership with NHS practitioners at the RHCYP, social work teams and other children’s charity providers.

CHAI offers the following exceptional benefits:

• Extensive training programme
• Flexible working
• Access to Simply Health benefit plan
• 33 days of annual leave + public holidays
• Enrolment to NOW pension scheme
• Supportive work environment
• Opportunities to improve services and make a difference

Purpose of the role

The post will engage with communities in Edinburgh, with particular focus on our Kids Bike Life programme. Kids Bike Life (KBL) is a project designed to enable more young people and their adults to choose cycling. Having started delivery of the project in 2024/25, we have built relationships with schools, young people, their adults and the surrounding communities to deliver a programme of activity to increase cycling in the area.

The role will primarily involve working with our Cycle Trainer Ride Leaders to schedule activities for the Kids Bike Life programme, developing new partnerships (with schools and community organisations) and maintaining existing relationships. Throughout the delivery of the programme you will be expected to keep records and evaluate in line with reporting requirements. You may be expected to support the Communities Manager in future fundraising bids for the project or other such community projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate delivery of the Kids Bike Life programme in Edinburgh
• Engage with partner organisations, identify the most appropriate partnerships for Bike Station projects and develop and maintain relationships with
• selected partners.
• Act as the primary point of contact for partners, sharing information about the programme and dealing with their enquiries and any problems that
• arise.
• Ensure appropriate data is collected for robust evaluation of the programme, contribute to analysis and presentation of data for reporting and funding
• applications etc.
• Work with Communities Manager and Perth counterpart to ensure the projects are delivered consistently and are continually improved.
• Work closely with the Cycle Trainer Ride Leaders to schedule Kids Bike Life sessions
• Develop a strategy for the integration of cargo bikes into the Kids Bike Life project
• Coordination of any freelancers or volunteers required to assist with delivery of activities.
• With support of Community Mechanics and/or Cycle Trainer Ride Leader, design events for the programme
• Support the recruitment of staff joining the Communities Team
• Support the Communications Officer by providing relevant materials (e.g. photos, quotes etc).
• Operate within a set delivery budget that is prescribed and monitored.
• Comply with all current legislation and Recycle to Cycle policies.
• Work with the Bike Station team.
• Assist with the delivery of other communities projects and activities.
• Where necessary, assist in the development of new community programmes.

Person Specification

Experience:

• Delivering behaviour change programmes using a community development approach.
• Partnership working with local authorities, community planning partners and the community and voluntary sector.
• Ability to work independently and make decisions with minimal supervision; enthusiastic and self-motivated.
• Good level of IT literacy including use of Google suite.
• Good understanding and experience of community development theory and practice.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the workings of the community and voluntary sector.
• Understanding of local and national social policy.
• Developing and delivering projects in seldom heard communities.
• Excellent track record of organising, promoting and carrying through events.
• Leading group workshops and training activities.
• Contributing to successful funding applications.

Skills:

• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of the community and voluntary sector.
• Good time-management skills and attention to detail.
• Innovative, analytical and a great problem solver.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience of participatory processes of community engagement.