“Aberlour has helped me to “learn how to be a Mum again, how to listen and regulate my emotions and support my children to do the same.” -Parent

About Aberlour Family Matters South Ayrshire

Aberlour Family Matters works in partnership with South Ayrshire Council and offers support to mums and dads who have had children permanently removed from their care. You will offer individual and group support alongside relationship based and strengths focused whole family support where appropriate. You will also work with South Ayrshire Council partners to ensure the voices and experiences of parents, carers and practitioners can help support the ongoing improvement of the permanence process. The project has been funded by Scottish Government since April 2022.

You will build up relationships with families facing disadvantage and work together with them to assess their strengths and needs and deliver an agreed family plan, offering emotional and practical support. You will work individually and in groups to strengthen health and wellbeing, building esteem, skills and confidence.

What we are looking for....

We are looking for a kind, committed and experienced individual to join our team.

You will have experience in working alongside partner services and families who have often experienced the impact of trauma, poverty, and social exclusion. You will have good listening skills and be able to plan, deliver and evaluate a range of family and wellbeing support strategies which help families to their own solutions. You will have experience of child and adult protection issues. Knowledge of the permanency process would also be advantageous. Your values should be aligned with The Promise, GIRFEC and UNCRC as well as Aberlour values. You must share our vision that collaborative working, relationship based, strengths focussed early intervention is the best option for children and families who are feeling overwhelmed or excluded.

We one role available at 16 hours per week. These hours will be planned and worked flexibly Monday - Sunday, 7am - 10pm, to meet the needs of families we support. This post is currently funded until 31st March 2027, however we will be actively seeking funding to extend this further.

It would be helpful if candidates hold a valid driver’s licence and have use of a car for working hours, the role will cover the whole of South Ayrshire.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. To have a look at our values to understand more about what we are looking for from our employees click here .

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers. Find out more about our Employee Benefits here and our commitment to Equality and Diversity here.

Benefits:

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.

A bit about the role

Residential Worker – Hillcrest House, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.

Hillcrest House is a five-bedded Children’s home in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. We provide high-quality, trauma-informed care to care-experienced children and young people, as well as short breaks for those with additional needs.

Our aim is simple: to create a safe, nurturing home where young people feel secure, valued, and able to thrive.

We are expanding and are looking to welcome Residential Workers who will be a consistent and supportive presence in the daily lives of our young people — people who understands that relationships change lives.

We are committed to supporting our staff through regular supervision, reflective practice, high quality training and ongoing professional development – because those that care for others deserve to be supported too.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

• Build trusting relationships using a trauma-informed, attachment-aware approach (Training provided)
• Respond to emotional and behavioural needs with empathy and consistency
• Support and contribute to individual care plans
• Plan and take part in activities that promote life skills, confidence and wellbeing
• Work as part of a 24/7 rota team, including evenings, weekends and sleep-ins (Sleep-ins are paid in addition to salary)
• Support daily routines and promote dignity and respect
• Work collaboratively with families and partner agencies
• Maintain clear, accurate records

Let's talk about you

You are caring, bringing warmth, compassion and a commitment to lifelong learning, and you’re motivated by the chance to make a real and lasting difference in young people’s lives. You understand that all behaviour is a form of communication that requires a calm, kind response and curiosity about what needs the young person is communicating.

You will have:

• A genuine interest in supporting care-experienced young people and children with disabilities
• An understanding of — or willingness to learn about — trauma-informed practice
• Experience in residential, childcare or social care settings is helpful, but we also welcome applicants with transferable skills from other people‑focused roles
• Experience supporting young people with a range of emotional or behavioural needs is helpful but full training and support is provided in our positive behaviour system
• A strong commitment to safeguarding
• Registered with the SSSC or willingness to do so within 6 months of employment
• SVQ 3 and/or HNC in Social Care (or willingness to work towards - we will fund and support you to achieve this)
• A commitment to ongoing professional development

This is rewarding work where your kindness, patience and people skills can have a lasting impact. If you’re someone who shows care, can stay calm and supportive in difficult moments and treats others with respect, you already have the foundations to thrive here. If you are ready to commit to making a lasting difference in young people’s lives, we would welcome your application.

Good to know

Application Process

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for thisrole.

There are five sections to complete: Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration.

Contact: Jessica Jarvis email us at recruitmentservice@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 13432

Diversity, equality and inclusion

At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.

We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Disabled candidates. We are taking deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society at Action for Children. We have a diversity and inclusion strategy and an anti-racism action plan as well as a range of diversity and inclusion staff networks and groups. We welcome applications from people of all genders, including men, who are currently under‑represented in our Children’s Services workforce.

About Aberlour Hearts and Minds Renfrewshire

Working in partnership with Renfrewshire Council this service works to improve attainment outcomes for neurodivergent care experienced children and young people.

The service brings together vulnerable children and young people with a mentor to build a consistent and trusting relationship and improve their opportunities. The focus in every mentoring relationship is on developing the relationship, recognising and building their strengths, and providing support and encouragement to deal with difficult and challenging situations in their lives.

What we are looking for....

As a Family Mentoring Co-ordinator you will help develop this vital service and ensure its ongoing success for some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children we are looking for experienced and dedicated workers.

You will have demonstrable experience of supporting volunteers and a good understanding of the issues facing looked after children along with experience of developing and delivering training.

You will have a relevant professional qualification at SCQF level 8, or relevant experience and be driven to succeed.

You will work 37.5 hours per week, this is usually worked over Monday - Friday between 9am - 8pm to help induct, train and support our volunteers. There may be a requirement for occasional weekend work.

A full driving licence and access to a car are essential for this role.

This is a fixed term post for 12 months.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. To have a look at our values to understand more about what we are looking for from our employees.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers. Find out more about our Employee Benefits here and our commitment to Equality and Diversity here.

Do you want to make a difference to our children and young people?

Do you believe that every one of Scotland’s children and young people deserve the chance to flourish?

If so, this is the post for YOU!

About Aberlour Glasgow Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS)(City Wide)…

Aberlour are working in partnership with the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership and other Third Sector providers to promote the wellbeing of children and young people by offering caring and responsive support. Aberlour Glasgow Intensive Family Support delivers the support families need, when they need it. The aim of the service is to ensure that children and young people can continue to flourish at home, at school and in their local community.

What we are looking for....

We are looking to recruit a Family Support Worker, working 37.5 hours per week. You will work directly with families to nurture relationships, build on existing strengths and interests, help children and families build skills and confidence and strengthen community connections. You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team that works for a period of up to 12 months with families to support and enable positive change and improve outcomes. Our ambition is to help children, young people and families feel safe, confident, capable, and included, offering support when it is needed, including evenings and weekends. We believe in working alongside families, empowering them to lead positive change in their own lives.

We are looking for candidates who are experienced in working alongside vulnerable families to assess strengths and needs as well as plan, deliver and evaluate interventions and strategies which enable families to thrive. You will have experience of child and adult protection issues. Experience of working within other childcare settings such as Residential Child Care will be considered.

You must share our vision that collaborative working and relationship based early intervention is the best option for children and families who are feeling overwhelmed or excluded. Ideally you will hold a relevant professional qualification at SCQF level 7 or above, together with relevant experience of working directly with children or young people and their families. Not afraid to test new ways of working, you will bring a fresh, caring, and collaborative approach which recognises strengths and responds empathically to the needs of children, young people, and their families – this will include early mornings, evenings, and weekends.

To succeed in this role, you will need to work flexibly within a variety of locations across Glasgow City, including family homes, schools, and community settings.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. To have a look at our values to understand more about what we are looking for from our employees click here

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers. Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity here.