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. Every day we help make positive things happen for people facing extremely difficult circumstances. 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 Simon Community.

Day by day, person-to-person, we tailor what we offer to what people need. We are here to provide consistent, friendly and informed support so that people can explore options and take 'the next step' towards a positive future. We offer support across a range of service delivery points; Street Outreach teams, Housing First initiatives, Floating Support, Information Hubs, Managed Alcohol Program (MAP), Supported Accommodations, Emergency Accommodation, Rapid Access Accommodation, and our own rented properties. These services are delivered across many local authorities within Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Perth.

We welcome people with a wide range of skills and experiences to our team. To make a difference, we need to work flexibly, with everyday leadership and a 'can-do' approach. We want to make it right and make it happen –not only for the people we support, but also for each other.

Our #OneTeam ethos is core to who we are, and it means caring for and supporting each other regardless of our role, service or location. Find out more about our services here.

Our Support Services

Job Purpose

Working as a Service Coordinator within Simon Community Scotland’s Milestone service is a unique opportunity. You are operating at the intersection of acute clinical care, harm reduction, social prescribing and residential support.

Milestone is an intermediate care service designed for people experiencing homelessness who have complex health needs. To succeed here, your role must bridge the gap between the Safer Services (risk management and trauma-informed care) and the complex health issues (physical and psychosocial recovery). This is a great opportunity for the right person.

Service Delivery

This role will support the Service Lead at Milestone with the day-to-day delivery of the service and the development of our Safer Services Model at Milestone.

The Safer Services framework is about more than just physical safety. It focuses on psychological safety and reducing harm in a way that keeps the person at the centre.

Trauma-Informed Triage

Work with the Service Lead to ensure that Milestone operates within the Safer Services model, informing MDT decisions, creating holistic safety and wellbeing plans based on each person’s unique needs, and leading on activity coordination.

Harm Reduction Coordination

Lead on Naloxone training, overdose prevention education, and providing safety plans for people when they move on from Milestone. This includes social prescribing and community mapping.

Safe Transitions

Help remove the “cliff edge” of discharge by coordinating warm handovers between Milestone and community GP or harm reduction services, healthcare providers, and community-based services.

Coordinate SCS Pathways

Ensure the service is connected with all relevant Simon Community Scotland services, including Street Services, Housing First, VHS and Safer Communities, We See You, and StreetReads.

Job Summary

Community Mapping: “The Strengths-Based Approach”

In this role, community mapping isn’t just about making a list of nearby GPs. It’s about identifying the person’s strengths and community and healthcare options and people that offer connection without judgement.

• Community Mapping: You will support the team to sit with a person to create a literal or digital map of their “safe zones”. This includes identifying recovery cafes or services, libraries with digital hubs (like SCS’s Get Connected, Gambling Harms or Streetreads), or green spaces that support mental wellbeing.
• Service Landscapes: You will map the “warmest” routes to secondary care. For example, which pharmacies in Edinburgh are most supportive of those on Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST)?
• Which dental practices specialise in working with people with anxiety? Ensure the people we support are fully included in We See You and our Edinburgh Support Hub and Edinburgh Pathways Services.
• Safety Mapping: Under the “Safer Services” model, you will identify high-risk areas to avoid, helping the people we support plan transit routes that don’t pass through areas associated with previous trauma.
• Suitable Accommodation: Ensuring the person moves on to a suitable safe space, whatever that means to them.
• Expanding the Service Coordinator role to include community mapping, reintegration, and psychosocial activities turns the position from a clinical facilitator into a community connector for the guests at Milestone.
• In the Simon Community Scotland context, this means moving beyond just “getting healthy” to “staying healthy by belonging”.

Reintegration: The Warm Handover

Milestone is a temporary stay. Reintegration is the most important phase of the journey.

• The Transition Bridge: You will coordinate with partners like Cyrenians or The Access Place to ensure that when a person leaves, their health momentum doesn’t stop.
• Social Prescribing: Instead of just a medical prescription, you might “prescribe” a peer-support group or a volunteering opportunity. You will physically accompany a guest to their first session to lower the “barrier of the unknown”.
• Digital Inclusion: Utilising SCS’s Get Digital model, you’d ensure that people have the hardware and the data to manage their own health appointments and stay connected to their new community assets post-discharge.

Psychosocial Activities: Building Social Capital

Psychosocial support at Milestone focuses on the idea that recovery is easier when life is full of meaningful

alternatives to harmful activities.

• Therapeutic Connection to Nature & Arts: You might lead or coordinate sessions that allow for non-verbal expression of trauma, such as gardening or outdoor activities.
• Community and Support Groups: Facilitating groups that focus on the MAT Standards (Medication Assisted Treatment), helping people understand their rights and empowering them to take an active role in their clinical decisions.
• Life Skills for Independence: Practical psychosocial work like “Cooking for Health” on a budget or “Sleep Hygiene” workshops. These activities reduce the anxiety of returning to independent living. These will be co-designed and co-created in partnership with the people we support.

Admission

Health Outcome Focus: Acute medical stabilisation; BBV screening, attending appointments, transport and advocacy, holistic healthcare planning and safety plans.

Psychosocial/Mapping Focus:Creating a “Safety Map” & building trust.

Mid-Stay

Health Outcome Focus: Medication adherence; chronic condition management.

Psychosocial/Mapping Focus: Engaging in group activities; identifying community assets.

Discharge

Health Outcome Focus: GP registration; “Warm” clinical handover. Warm handovers for health and housing services.

Psychosocial/Mapping Focus: First visit to a community hub; digital health setup.

Post-Stay

Health Outcome Focus: Reduced A&E presentations.

Psychosocial/Mapping Focus: Enhanced community networks and engagement. Sustained social connection; peer support engagement.

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. Every day we help make positive things happen for people facing extremely difficult circumstances. 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 Simon Community.

Day by day, person-to-person, we tailor what we offer to what people need. We are here to provide consistent, friendly and informed support so that people can explore options and take 'the next step' towards a positive future. We offer support across a range of service delivery points; Street Outreach teams, Housing First initiatives, Floating Support, Information Hubs, Managed Alcohol Program (MAP), Supported Accommodations, Emergency Accommodation, Rapid Access Accommodation, and our own rented properties. These services are delivered across many local authorities within Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Perth.

We welcome people with a wide range of skills and experiences to our team. To make a difference, we need to work flexibly, with everyday leadership and a 'can-do' approach. We want to make it right and make it happen –not only for the people we support, but also for each other.

Our #OneTeam ethos is core to who we are, and it means caring for and supporting each other regardless of our role, service or location. Find out more about our services here.

Our Support Services

Job Purpose

The Health Improvement Worker delivers compassionate, person-centered care to individuals experiencing homelessness who face severe health inequalities, including complex trauma, mental health challenges, problem drug and alcohol use, and blood-borne viruses (BBVs). Working as an essential part of a 24/7 residential care team at the Milestone Intermediary Care Unit (MICU), you will provide hands-on clinical and practical support, including medication administration, harm reduction interventions, and 1:1 emotional support, to promote recovery and stability. Through trauma-informed practice and close collaboration with multi-agency health partners, you will empower people to overcome barriers to their wellbeing, build resilience, and transition safely toward positive, long-term outcomes.

Job Summary

The Milestone Intermediate Care Unit (MICU) is a ten-bed Care Inspectorate registered care facility that provides short-term residential care and support for vulnerable people recently discharged from the hospital who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, as well as those in the community where admission can lead to early intervention, prevent hospitalisation, or mitigate serious harm. The service supports people navigating multiple complex needs across physical health conditions, mental health challenges, and severe morbidity, including those requiring the initiation or stabilisation of medication-assisted treatment for addiction, starting or adjusting treatment regimes for blood-borne viruses, or needing to engage with intensive community care to manage complex wound infections and trauma related to substance use. Accepting referrals from both in-patient care through a step-down pathway and the community through a step-up pathway, MICU delivers a patient-centered and trauma-informed holistic package of care to facilitate recovery, address health needs, and offer connection to other community projects both within Simon Community Scotland and externally to enable a safe and appropriate discharge.

The shift patterns are 3 or 4 days over 7, day shift 7.30am to 7.45pm and waking night shift 7.00pm to 7.45am for a total of 37.5hrs per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Service Delivery & Direct Support
• Harm Reduction & Health Support: Deliver practical harm-reduction interventions (including Naloxone administration/guidance) Provide support to adhere to new and re-started medication regimes and ensure prescriptions are accurate and taken as prescribed. Support to attend community healthcare appointments, case discussions, and review meetings. Assist people in identifying dietary needs and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Personalised Care Planning: Work collaboratively with people to complete initial assessments, safety plans, create outcome-focused personal plans, and carry out regular reviews.
• 1:1 & Group Interventions: Provide 1:1 emotional and practical support to assist people in overcoming barriers to their health and wellbeing. Facilitate group activities and events that build confidence, self-esteem, and social connection.
• Trauma Informed Crisis Intervention: Provide calm, compassionate support to people in distress or crisis, utilising de-escalation skills and working alongside partners to ensure a safe environment.
• Professional Standards: Maintain excellent standards of care and support which meet regulatory requirements such as SSSC and Care Inspectorate, including confidentiality and GDPR.
• Data Recording: Record accurate and professional case notes in order to gather qualitative and quantitative data for reporting purposes, in line with SSSC.
• Multidisciplinary & Partner Collaboration: Actively participate in Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and communicate professionally with internal and external partners to coordinate high-quality care, advocate for people, and unlock the best available support and opportunities for each person.

Organisational Profile

Transform Forth Valley is a Scottish registered charity and company limited by guarantee (SC033772), providing a wide range of services to support individuals and families experiencing inequality, trauma, addiction and health challenges across Forth Valley.

Since 2007 we have worked alongside individuals, families and communities to improve wellbeing, reduce inequality and create opportunities for sustainable change. Our person-centred approach recognises that challenges such as substance use, poor health, financial hardship, housing instability and social exclusion are often interconnected and require holistic support.

Transform Forth Valley is dedicated to empowering individuals and families to live more fulfilled lives. We work with partners to actively challenge inequalities and achieve sustainable change.

Vision Statement

A Scotland that is healthy, inclusive, and free from inequality, trauma, and addiction. Where everyone thrives, reaches their full potential, has a safe place to call home, and can lead long, happy, fulfilling lives.

Mission Statement

Transform Forth Valley is dedicated to empowering individuals and families to live a more fulfilled life. We work with partners to actively challenge inequalities and to achieve sustainable change.

Core Values

Compassion • Inclusion • Respect • Partnership

You can find out more about Transform Forth Valley here: transformfv.org.uk.

Role Profile

Transform Forth Valley is seeking new Trustees to join our Board and help shape the future of a charity that supports individuals and families affected by inequality, trauma, addiction and health challenges across Forth Valley.

As a Trustee, you will play an important role in the governance and strategic direction of the organisation, helping to ensure that Transform Forth Valley continues to deliver high-quality services, remains financially sustainable and meets its charitable objectives.

We welcome applications from individuals with a broad range of skills, knowledge and experience. Previous Board experience is not essential, and we would encourage applications from people who are committed to our values and passionate about making a positive difference within local communities.

Trustees contribute to:

• Setting and maintaining the charity's vision, mission and values.

• Supporting strategic planning and organisational development.

• Monitoring performance and managing risk.

• Ensuring strong governance, compliance and accountability.

• Supporting the financial stewardship of the organisation.

• Acting as ambassadors for Transform Forth Valley.

Board meetings are normally held every six weeks via Microsoft Teams, with occasional in-person meetings and events across Forth Valley. Full induction, training and ongoing support will be provided. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed in line with organisational policies.

We are committed to building a diverse Board that reflects the communities we serve and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

Whether you have previous Trustee experience or are considering your first Board role, we would be pleased to hear from you. We are looking for people who share our values, can think strategically, and are committed to supporting the continued development of Transform Forth Valley.