“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.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 670,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

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 service

Dundee Youth Housing Service is spread across two residential sites in the city of Dundee. We can accommodate 25 young people at one time through a mixture of housing support and care at home intervention.

The Dundee Youth Housing Service, in collaboration with the Dundee City Council, fulfils its statutory duty by supporting homeless/care experienced young people aged 16 and above. The aim of the service is to engage with young people and families at the earliest opportunity. To be responsive, to prevent situations escalating, and take the pressure off the local authority front line services.

As the initial point of contact for any young person facing homelessness in the city, our service plays a crucial role. Within the strategic housing partnership, Action for Children stands as the sole organisation dedicated to preventing young individuals from becoming homeless. Our service operates 24/7.

Our primary focus is to provide temporary accommodation for young people who have been assessed as homeless. We extend our support to young individuals who are homeless and have care experience.

A bit about the role

As a Team Leader within Housing Support, you will provide operational leadership to practitioners and support workers delivering support to young people, ensuring high‑quality, consistent and person‑centred services. You will oversee the delivery of structured support pathways, including referral, assessment, support planning and regular review, ensuring interventions are effective and outcomes‑focused.

You will work closely with Social Work, DCC Housing Teams and the AFC Prevention Team to ensure robust baseline assessments are completed prior to accommodation placements. Through supervision, guidance and quality assurance, you will support your team to empower young people to develop independent living skills and progress confidently towards sustainable, permanent accommodation.

You will manage and coordinate staffing arrangements for a continuous 24‑hour, year‑round service to ensure staffing levels consistently meet service demands, responding quickly to unplanned absences and allocating resources effectively to maintain performance and service continuity.

You will also be part of a Team Leader rota, providing on‑call cover as required. This includes responding to incidents, offering guidance to staff, supporting decision‑making out with normal working hours and escalating concerns appropriately in line with policy. This role includes an additional payment for participation in the on‑call rota

The role involves leading partnership working with internal and external agencies to develop and deliver holistic, tailored support packages that respond to individual needs. You will promote best practice, encourage reflective working, and ensure safeguarding, risk management, and equality principles are consistently applied.

Ultimately, you will support your team to help young people live independently, engage positively with their communities, and achieve long‑term, positive outcomes—while maintaining service standards, compliance, and a focus on continuous improvement.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

As a Team Leader within Housing Support, you will lead and support staff to deliver effective, person‑centred support to young people. While maintaining an understanding of frontline practice, your role will focus on overseeing the delivery of general support and guidance, including independent living skills, tenancy sustainment, housing applications and access to appropriate services.

You will ensure your team has a strong awareness of local services available across Dundee and that young people are effectively signposted to relevant support based on assessed need. Through supervision, guidance, and role‑modelling best practice, you will support staff to deliver consistent, high‑quality interventions that promote independence and wellbeing.

You will also be responsible for:

• Promoting and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues, partner agencies, young people and families to support positive outcomes
• Ensuring safeguarding and child protection responsibilities are fully understood, embedded in practice and escalated appropriately in line with policy
• Providing regular supervision and facilitating practice meetings, ensuring reflective practice and a cohesive, consistent approach across the team
• Monitoring compliance with policies, procedures, and professional standards, addressing issues through support and performance management where required
• Leading and embedding practice aligned with GIRFEC, The Promise, the Health and Social Care Standards, and the SSSC Code of Conduct

Through strong leadership, oversight, and support, you will ensure services are delivered safely, consistently and in line with statutory and organisational expectations, contributing to positive long‑term outcomes for young people.

Let's talk about you

• Essential - SVQ 3 in Social Services and Healthcare, or HNC Social Services plus management award (PDA)
• Desirable - SVQ4 in Social Services and Healthcare or willing to work towards
• SSSC registered.
• Previous experience of supervising staff.
• Significant experience of working with children and young people with complex trauma
• Confident in all aspects of MS Office.
• Experience of coaching and supporting staff to reach a competent standard.
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining drive and enthusiasm and to be able to deal with children and young people effectively and safely with challenging behaviour.

Good to know

Application Process

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

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

Talent Pool

We know talent when we see it. But sometimes we find the right person but not for the right job. We'd love to keep your details for when the right job comes up. Let us know if you'd rather we didn't.

Contact: Jessica Jarvis at recruitmentservice@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 13366

Diversity, equality and inclusion

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

Weactivelyencourageapplications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.

Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.

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.

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.