Help shape brighter futures for children and families across Scotland

At Children First, we believe every child should be safe, loved and able to enjoy a happy childhood. As Scotland's national children's charity, we work alongside children, families and communities to protect children from harm, support recovery from trauma and abuse and create lasting change.

We are looking for a compassionate, skilled and motivated Community Partnership & Participation Worker to join our team and help strengthen the support available to children and families across Scotland.

In this exciting role, you will build trusted relationships with communities, services and partner organisations, helping families access the support they need while ensuring children's and families' voices influence how services are developed and improved.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference by connecting people, strengthening local networks and helping shape services that respond to what matters most to children and families.

What you'll do

Working as part of our Support Line service, you will:

• Develop strong partnerships with community organisations, schools, health services, local authorities and third sector partners.
• Improve access to support for families experiencing poverty, inequality, kinship care challenges or concerns about a child's safety.
• Increase awareness of Children First Support Line and the range of help available to families across Scotland.
• Ensure children, young people and families have meaningful opportunities to share their experiences and help shape service development.
• Support participation, engagement and co-production activities, including events, consultations and focus groups.
• Build local knowledge of community resources and identify gaps, barriers and opportunities for support.
• Gather learning and insights that help us improve services and influence positive change for children and families.

What we're looking for

• You'll bring experience of community engagement, partnership working or participation practice, along with a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.

You'll also have:

• Experience working with children, young people, families or communities.
• Strong relationship-building and partnership skills.
• Excellent communication and facilitation abilities.
• An understanding of poverty, inequality and the barriers families can face when seeking support.
• Knowledge of children's rights and participation approaches.
• Experience of trauma-informed, strengths-based and relationship-based practice.
• The ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and maintain accurate records.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and digital communication tools.

Who you are

We're looking for someone who:

• Believes in the power of children's voices.
• Values inclusion, participation and co-production.
• Builds trust quickly and works collaboratively with others.
• Is passionate about reducing inequality and improving children's lives.
• Brings warmth, curiosity and compassion to their work.
• Shares our commitment to safeguarding and promoting children's rights.

Why join Children First?

At Children First, our values guide everything we do:

With Love

We put children first, listening with compassion and kindness and standing alongside families when they need support most.

With Purpose

We work together with families, communities and partners to create lasting change and better outcomes for children.

With Strength

We do whatever it takes to protect Scotland's children and champion their rights.

You'll join a supportive organisation that values learning, innovation and collaboration, where your work will directly contribute to helping children and families thrive.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and anti-racist organisation where everyone experiences a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences and particularly encourage applications from groups currently under-represented within our workforce.

Join us

If you're passionate about building stronger communities, amplifying children's voices and helping families access the support they need, we'd love to hear from you.

Together, with love, purpose and strength, we can help Scotland's children and families thrive.

Every conversation can change a childhood. Every volunteer can change a life.

Help us build Scotland's biggest team of volunteers standing alongside children and families

At Children First, we believe every child should be safe, loved and able to enjoy a happy childhood.

We're transforming how families across Scotland access support through our growing national Support Line. Backed by Scottish Government investment, we're expanding our reach so that thousands more families can access practical, emotional and financial support when they need it most.

To help us achieve this, we're looking for an exceptional Support Line Volunteer Coordinator to recruit, inspire and lead a team of volunteers who will help children and families across Scotland thrive.

Why this role matters

This is not simply a volunteer management role.

You will build and lead a volunteer programme that directly contributes to tackling child poverty, reducing isolation and improving outcomes for children and families across Scotland.

Working across our Support Line and Whole Family Support Programme, you'll ensure volunteers are recruited safely, trained effectively and supported to make a real difference. You'll create opportunities for people to use their skills, compassion and lived experience to strengthen communities and improve lives.

Your leadership will help ensure more families have somewhere to turn before challenges become crises.

What you'll do

• Recruit, train and develop volunteers across Scotland
• Create a positive, inclusive and rewarding volunteer experience
• Provide supervision, coaching and wellbeing support
• Ensure the highest standards of safeguarding and safe practice
• Build partnerships with communities, colleges, employers and third sector organisations
• Use data, feedback and insight to improve volunteer impact
• Help shape a national volunteer programme that supports Children First's ambitious growth plans

We're looking for someone who

You might be the right person if you:

• Have experience recruiting, managing and developing volunteers
• Enjoy helping people grow their confidence and skills
• Can build trusted relationships with a wide range of people
• Are organised, adaptable and able to balance competing priorities
• Understand safeguarding, professional boundaries and quality assurance
• Believe in the power of volunteering to create social change
• Share our commitment to tackling child poverty and supporting families
• Are passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people

Experience in volunteer management, family support, advice services, community services or the third sector would be particularly valuable.

What you'll get from us

With Love. With Purpose. With Strength.

Alongside a role where you can make a genuine difference, you'll receive:

• 40 days annual leave including public holidays
• Flexible and hybrid working
• Generous pension scheme
• Westfield Health and wellbeing support
• Blue Light Card discounts
• A Fair Work accredited workplace
• Learning, development and career opportunities
• The chance to help shape a growing national service supporting families across Scotland

Who we are

Children First is Scotland's national children's charity.

We protect children from harm, support recovery from trauma and abuse and provide practical, emotional and financial support to families. We stand alongside children, families and communities because we believe every child deserves a safe childhood.

Our values guide everything we do:

With Love - We put children first with compassion and kindness, always.

With Purpose - We collaborate to transform children's lives together.

With Strength - We do whatever it takes to protect Scotland's children.

Join us and help build a volunteer movement that gives every family in Scotland a place to turn.

Children First Support Line

Could you play a vital role within our national Support Line, helping deliver Scotland's mission to eradicate child poverty?

Join Children First and be part of a once in a generation transformation in how families access help to alleviate crisis, prevent harm and build long-term stability to break the cycle of child poverty. Funded by the Scottish Government, we are doubling the size of our Support Line with the aim of supporting 7,500 more families across Scotland in the first year.

We've been preventing harm, supporting recovery and driving change since 1884 and our ambitious plans for the Support Line build on our experience of delivering cash-first, short, medium and long-term holistic support to families living in, or at risk of, poverty.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing multidisciplinary team and help ensure every family in Scotland has somewhere to turn when they need help.

About the Role

You will play a vital role in the expansion and delivery of our national support line service, which offers practical, financial and emotional support to families through phone calls, webchats, advice and information on our website and in their homes and communities across Scotland.

This role plays a key role in supporting the effective day-to-day running of Children First services. The postholder provides operational, administrative and systems support to ensure services run safely, efficiently and in line with organisational requirements.

This role is central to enabling high-quality support for children, young people and families. The postholder will support the effective operation of the national Support Line by coordinating service administration across telephone, webchat and digital channels, ensuring accurate records, efficient service access and high-quality information to support performance monitoring and reporting.

By coordinating key processes such as data management, finance administration, service access and local operations, the Service Operations Administrator allows Support Line Coordinators, volunteers team leaders and managers to focus on delivering impactful support.

The role operates with a high level of autonomy and responsibility, often acting as the first point of contact for operational matters within a service. It requires strong organisational skills, initiative, and the ability to respond flexibly to changing service needs.

What You'll Be Doing

1. Service Operations and Coordination

Services are well-organised, responsive and able to operate effectively, with administrative and operational processes running smoothly and consistently.

2. Systems and Data Management

Accurate and timely data is maintained across systems (including Dynamics, Advice Pro and our Call Handling System), supporting service delivery, reporting and organisational insight.

3. Finance and Resource Management

Service-level financial processes are managed accurately and in line with organisational procedures.

4. Facilities, Health & Safety and Local Operations

Service environments are safe, compliant and well-maintained, with appropriate coordination of property, facilities and health & safety activities.

5. Team and Service Support

Practitioners and managers are effectively supported through coordination of meetings, diaries, resources and operational requirements.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and operational support to ensure effective service delivery
• Maintain accurate records and data within organisational systems (including Dynamics)
• Support financial processes including invoices, purchasing and petty cash
• Act as a key point of contact for enquiries, supporting service access and communication
• Coordinate meetings, diaries, resources and general service organisation
• Support compliance with organisational policies and procedures
• Support the administration of Support Line activity including contact volumes, service schedules and rotas, referrals, practitioner workflows and performance reporting
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative team environment

Service-Specific Responsibilities

· Health & Safety coordination and local compliance tasks

· Property and facilities management

· Reception / front of house responsibilities

· Supporting local funding, resources or community activity

· Event coordination or service-specific administration

· Additional systems or reporting requirements

· Support the administration of telephone, webchat and digital support channels.

· Assist with service performance reporting, data quality checks, case closures and monitoring against contract requirements.

· Support referral pathways, financial support administration and onward connections to local and national services.

· Coordinate practitioner rotas, meetings, training records and operational communications.

· Contribute to the oversight of the budget

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is passionate about supporting children and families and who can build trust quickly through empathy, compassion and kindness.

· Strong organisational and coordination skills

· Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently

· Confidence using systems and managing data accurately

· Strong communication and interpersonal skills

· A proactive and flexible approach

· Alignment with Children First values

Our Values

Everything we do is guided by our values:

With Love

We put children first with compassion and kindness.

With Purpose

We work alongside families and partners to transform children's lives together.

With Strength

We do whatever it takes to protect Scotland's children.

What You'll Get From Us

At Children First, you'll be part of a values-led organisation committed to developing and supporting our people.

We offer:

• 40 days annual leave including public holidays.

• Contributory pension scheme.

• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities.

• Wellbeing support and health benefits.

• Blue Light Card discounts.

• Learning, training and career development opportunities.

• The opportunity to help shape an ambitious national service supporting thousands of families across Scotland.

Children First Support Line

Could you play a vital role within our national Support Line, helping deliver Scotland's mission to eradicate child poverty?

Join Children First and be part of a once in a generation transformation in how families access help to alleviate crisis, prevent harm and build long-term stability to break the cycle of child poverty. Funded by the Scottish Government, we are doubling the size of our Support Line with the aim of supporting 7,500 more families across Scotland in the first year.

We've been preventing harm, supporting recovery and driving change since 1884 and our ambitious plans for the Support Line build on our experience of delivering cash-first, short, medium and long-term holistic support to families living in, or at risk of, poverty.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing multidisciplinary team and help ensure every family in Scotland has somewhere to turn when they need help.

About the Role

As a Support Line Triage Call Taker, you will be the first point of contact for children, young people, families, kinship carers and professionals seeking support from Children First.

Through telephone, webchat, email and outbound contact, you will provide a warm, compassionate and professional response, helping people feel heard, understood and supported from the moment they reach out.

Using skilled listening, effective questioning and sound judgement, you will gather information, assess needs and risks and connect people to the most appropriate support. You will play a key role in ensuring timely access to Children First services, including family support, money and debt advice, welfare rights support, energy support, kinship care advice and advocacy services, while helping families access wider community resources and partner support.

Working in a fast-paced contact centre environment, you will contribute to a service that strengthens families, reduces the impact of poverty and keeps children's safety, wellbeing and rights at the centre of everything we do.

What You'll Be Doing

Supporting Children and Families

• Providing a compassionate, professional and welcoming first response to families and professionals contacting the Support Line.

• Creating a safe environment where people feel listened to, respected and understood.

• Using effective questioning and assessment skills to understand individual circumstances, strengths and support needs.

• Undertaking initial assessments of need, vulnerability and risk.

• Identifying safeguarding concerns and taking appropriate action in line with Children First policies and procedures.

• Supporting children, families and carers to access the right help at the right time.

Information, Advice and Support

• Providing information, guidance and reassurance to families facing a range of challenges.

• Completing warm introductions and referrals to specialist Children First services.

• Supporting families to access emotional, practical and financial support.

• Helping families experiencing poverty, financial hardship, housing difficulties or social isolation connect with relevant services and resources.

• Processing applications for emergency supports including food and fuel assistance where appropriate.

Contact Centre Operations

• Managing inbound and outbound calls, emails and webchats efficiently and professionally.

• Supporting appointment scheduling, follow-up activity and queue management.

• Maintaining a positive experience for everyone using the service.

• Identifying repeat contacts, emerging themes and unmet need to help improve service delivery.

Working Together

• Developing positive working relationships with colleagues, volunteers and external partners.

• Building knowledge of local and national services including housing, employability, financial wellbeing and community support.

• Participating in supervision, reflective practice, training and team learning.

• Contributing to service development and continuous improvement.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is passionate about supporting children and families and who can build trust quickly through empathy, compassion and kindness.

You may come from a contact centre, customer service, advice, support, housing, employability, health, social care or community-based background.

You'll bring:

• Experience of speaking with people in a customer service, contact centre, helpline, advice or support role.

• Experience of supporting people who may be distressed, worried or facing challenging circumstances.

• Excellent communication and listening skills.

• The ability to gather information sensitively and make informed decisions about next steps.

• Confidence using digital systems and managing communications across multiple channels.

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.

• An understanding of the issues affecting children and families, including poverty, financial hardship and family wellbeing.

• A commitment to safeguarding, children's rights and relational practice.

• A willingness to learn and develop within a supportive and values-led organisation.

Our Values

Everything we do is guided by our values:

With Love

We put children first with compassion and kindness.

With Purpose

We work alongside families and partners to transform children's lives together.

With Strength

We do whatever it takes to protect Scotland's children.

What You'll Get From Us

At Children First, you'll be part of a values-led organisation committed to developing and supporting our people.

We offer:

• 40 days annual leave including public holidays.

• Contributory pension scheme.

• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities.

• Wellbeing support and health benefits.

• Blue Light Card discounts.

• Learning, training and career development opportunities.

• The opportunity to help shape an ambitious national service supporting thousands of families across Scotland.

Join Us

If you share our belief that every child in Scotland should grow up safe, loved and free from poverty and want to be part of a team that is transforming how families access support, we would love to hear from you.

Together, we can help alleviate crisis, prevent harm and build brighter futures for children and families across Scotland

Please visit the following link to learn about our recruitment events to meet our team, hear about our plans.

issuu.com/children_first/docs/children_first_support_line_recruitment_pack