Partners in Advocacy has delivered independent advocacy services since 1998 and is a trusted provider across Scotland.

We are pleased to offer an opportunity to join our Edinburgh service as an Independent Advocacy Worker.

This is a rewarding role in a supportive, experienced team, where you will make a genuine difference by providing one-to-one independent advocacy to people aged 16 and over with learning or physical disabilities, autism, and older people. You will support individuals in having their voices heard, helping them express their views, understand their rights, explore their options, and participate in decisions that affect their lives.

The role involves travelling throughout Edinburgh to meet people in a range of community and clinical settings. Travel expenses are covered, and you will be supported to plan your work in a way that is both effective and sustainable.

Working closely with the Service Coordinator, you will help maintain accurate service data and support the development of quarterly reports, helping demonstrate the impact of advocacy.

This is a role that offers a high degree of autonomy, alongside regular support, supervision, and opportunities to connect with colleagues across the organisation.

We warmly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds.

If your skills and experience align with the job description and person specification, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please complete the application form, providing examples of how you meet each aspect of the job description and person specification.

Partners in Advocacy is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible working environment.

What the role is really like

• You’ll be working most of the time independently, managing your own diary and priorities
• You’ll need to be confident working with people aged 16 and over with learning or physical disabilities, autism, and older people
• Your days will vary from supporting someone in a meeting, to travelling across Edinburgh, to completing case notes at home
• Some situations are complex or emotionally demanding, so strong boundaries are essential
• You’ll need to be able to understand complex information and processes, translate them to your advocacy partners, helping them to understand their rights and explore their options
• You’ll need to be comfortable making decisions and working proactively, while staying connected to your wider team
• You’ll be speaking to a range of professionals in a range of settings, communicating and amplifying your advocacy partner's opinions and wishes
• You’ll record, track and compile statistical and other information, writing it into tracking spreadsheets, Microsoft Word forms and create anonymised case studies

You’ll be a good fit if you:

• Are comfortable working autonomously and managing your own workload
• Are comfortable with regular travel across Edinburgh as part of your working day
• Can recognise the right times to check in with your line manager
• Have good planning and are punctual
• Can build trust with people and communicate clearly in a range of situations
• Are organised and able to balance direct work and admin responsibilities
• Have good writing and IT skills
• Are confident travelling independently across Edinburgh
• Value equality, rights, and person-led support
• Can research, read and understand complex information, then translate it and explain it in clear terms

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Bid Writer to assist Advice Direct Scotland to secure sustainable income and drive long term organisational growth. This is an exciting opportunity to use your writing expertise to make a real social impact, shaping and developing high quality bids that support vital advice services across Scotland.

This role offers a highly competitive salary alongside an exceptional 4 day working week, giving you meaningful work and genuine work–life balance.

About us

Advice Direct Scotland (ADS) is Scotland’s national advice service, providing free, practical, and impartial advice to people across Scotland on issues including consumer rights, energy, debt, housing, and more.

Our mission is simple: to ensure that everyone in Scotland has access to the support they need, when they need it.

We are a modern, digital-first, omni-channel organisation, delivering advice and support through telephone, webchat, email, SMS, social media, and self-service digital tools. This innovative model allows us to reach people in the way that suits them best, ensuring accessibility, speed, and impact.

What we offer

• Salary of £32,200 per annum
• 31.25 hours over a 4 day working week
• 30.5 days annual leave (38 days pro rata), enabling excellent work–life balance
• 8% employer pension contribution
• Life Insurance for added peace of mind
• Cycle to work scheme
• EAP and Wellbeing Support
• Fresh Fruit and snacks daily
• Company events
• Company Sick pay
• Reward and benefit programmes

About the Role

As Bid Writer, you will play a critical role in securing funding and business opportunities that support Advice Direct Scotland’s services, innovation and strategic development. Reporting to the Head of Business Development, you will lead the development of high quality, persuasive and fully compliant funding applications, grants and tenders.

You’ll translate Advice Direct Scotland’s services, evidence and social impact into compelling written submissions that clearly demonstrate outcomes, fairness and value for money — strengthening our reputation as a trusted national advice provider.

What you need to succeed

Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field (e.g. communications, business, public policy, or third sector work), you will bring proven experience in researching, writing and submitting high quality funding applications or tender responses, with a strong ability to tailor persuasive narratives to different funder priorities and evaluation criteria.

You will have a solid understanding of outcomes focused funding, impact measurement, fairness and value for money and be confident using data, evidence and case studies to strengthen submissions.

Strong written communication skills, exceptional attention to detail and the ability to interpret complex guidance are essential, alongside experience coordinating input from senior stakeholders, finance and operational teams. You will be highly organised, able to manage multiple deadlines in a fast paced environment.

If you’re looking for a role where your delivering real social impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Equality and inclusion

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities.

If you require adjustments or alternative ways to apply, please let us know — we’re happy to help.

Key duties include developing effective policy narratives and using these to create change in key areas relating to anti-racism in Scotland.

The successful candidate will have excellent awareness of the Scottish policy environment and experience of previous work in informing public policy or in campaigning. They will have knowledge of equality issues and most importantly, the desire and ability to make a real improvement to racial equality in Scotland.

Argyll & Bute Citizens Advice Bureau (ABCAB) is an independent member of the Citizens Advice network in Scotland. The Bureau provides free, impartial, confidential and independent advice to residents across Argyll & Bute on a wide range of issues including debt, benefits, housing, energy, and consumer rights. The Citizens Advice network in Scotland plays a key role in tackling poverty, inequality and social injustice, while influencing policy and practice at both local and national levels.

The Energy Debt Adviser role sits within the ABCAB Energy Debt Project, which has developed in response to the ongoing fuel crisis and persistently high levels of fuel poverty across Argyll & Bute. The project aims to support individuals and families who are struggling to manage fuel costs, address energy-related debt, improve energy efficiency, and resolve disputes with energy suppliers.

The post holder will provide in-depth energy and fuel debt advice, advocacy, and casework support to clients, with a particular focus on vulnerable households. The role also has a proactive outreach element, supporting community engagement and contributing to improved awareness of energy efficiency, fuel rights, and available support schemes.

Job description

The Energy Debt Adviser is responsible for delivering high-quality, impartial energy advice and undertaking casework to support clients experiencing fuel debt, fuel poverty, and energy supplier disputes. The role requires specialist knowledge of the energy sector, strong advocacy skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and partner organisations.

Employee benefits

Argyll & Bute Citizens Advice Bureau offers excellent terms and conditions, including a total of 35 days leave and a pension scheme with an 6% employer contribution, and life assurance. The Bureau is an inclusive employer considering flexible & remote working arrangements where appropriate, and operates a 4 Day Working Week.