The postholder will be expected to operate in line with our values which are: justice, equity, trust, collaboration and compassion.

Overview

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support that enables them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children. Our core values of justice, equity, trust, collaboration and compassion are at the heart of everything we do and underpin all aspects of our work.

About this role

The Project Lead will play a key role in supporting the Regional Coordinator / Service Manager with the day-to-day management, coordination and delivery of the OPFS local service.

The postholder will provide operational leadership and support to the service team, helping to ensure high-quality, person-centred and effective support is provided to single parents, children and families.

The Project Lead will support the delivery of the Whole Family Support Third Sector Delivery Fund, working alongside families to address the issues that matter most to them and contributing to improved outcomes for parents, children and families.

Working within the My Life and Me framework, they will support a strengths-based, trauma-informed and whole-family approach. They will help ensure families receive coordinated support based on their individual circumstances, strengths, priorities and aspirations.

The Project Lead will support staff practice, workforce development, quality assurance, performance monitoring and service improvement. They will work closely with colleagues and partners to develop effective pathways and ensure families can access the appropriate support from OPFS and other services.

The postholder will provide day-to-day supervision, guidance and support to staff and relevant colleagues as delegated and will deputise for the Regional Coordinator / Service Manager when required.

The role will contribute to the development of local whole-family support approaches and to the wider OPFS ambition that families experience a “no wrong door” approach, where they can access coordinated support without having to repeatedly tell their story.

Working within the My Life and Me framework, the postholder will provide operational leadership, support and supervision to staff, ensure high-quality service delivery and undertake quality assurance activities.

Benefits:

• Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave and the option to buy or sell leave
• Cycle to work scheme
• Excellent training and the opportunity to undertake professional training for some roles
• Flexible maternity, paternity and adoption packages
• Up to 5% employer contribution and life assurance cover
• Blue Light Card eligibility with discounts at 15,000 national retailers
• As part of our commitment to staff wellbeing, you’ll receive a paid annual Wellbeing Day to use however you choose, supporting a healthy balance between work and life.

At Action for Children, we offer more than just a job. Join us and you’ll be part of a team dedicated to giving children safe and happy childhoods. See how your skills can make a real difference, helping solve the problems children and young people face every day.

A bit about the role

As an Employment Facilitator in Inverclyde, you’ll be part of a supportive team delivering high‑quality employability support to young people. Your role is hands‑on, varied and deeply rewarding. You’ll work one‑to‑one with young people to understand their strengths, barriers and aspirations, helping them build confidence and take practical steps toward employment, training or further education.

You’ll design and deliver tailored employability sessions across areas such as Customer Service, Construction, personal development and essential skills. A key part of your role will be creating outcome‑focused action plans, reviewing progress regularly, and providing warm, consistent aftercare to help young people stay motivated and on track.

Working closely with colleagues, local partners and employers, you’ll help young people explore opportunities in the labour market, prepare for interviews, develop workplace behaviours, and gain the skills they need to thrive. You’ll also support them to overcome challenges that may be holding them back, ensuring they feel heard, supported and empowered throughout their journey.

About the Service

Our Employability Service supports young people aged 16–24 across Inverclyde who are facing barriers to making positive choices about their future. Many of the young people we work with may be struggling to access education, training or employment, or may need extra support to feel confident about their next steps. We provide a welcoming, youth‑centred environment where they can explore opportunities, build essential skills, and develop a sense of direction.

Through personalised programmes, practical activities and strong partnerships with local organisations, we help young people strengthen their motivation, resilience and readiness for the world of work. Whether it’s improving confidence, gaining sector‑specific skills, or understanding what opportunities are available locally, our service is designed to meet each young person where they are and support them to move forward with clarity and confidence.

At the heart of our work is a commitment to improving life chances. We empower young people to recognise their strengths, overcome challenges, and take meaningful steps toward long‑term success.

What you do could make a difference

Some key responsibilities of an Employment Facilitator are;

• Working in line with Action for Children’s standards and professional practice expectations and helping to put these into everyday practice.
• Supporting and coordinating a caseload of young people, offering a range of tailored interventions, whether through group sessions, coordinated activities, or one‑to‑one support, to help them move towards the labour market.
• Delivering engaging group‑work modules that contribute to our wider employability programmes, encouraging inclusion and recognising different learning styles.
• Keeping all compliance requirements up to date and accurate, ensuring we meet the needs of both the organisation and our stakeholders.

Let’s talk about you

We’re open to people joining us from a variety of backgrounds, whether you’re stepping into your first role after gaining a recent qualification or looking to build on experience in youth work, employability or a related field. What matters most is your ability to engage young people, understand their challenges, and support them to move forward with confidence.

• An SVQ Level 3 in Social Care, Guidance or a similar area would be helpful, but we’re equally open to applicants who bring relevant experience instead of a formal qualification.
• Experience working with young people in group settings, particularly those facing multiple barriers, will be really valuable.
• A good understanding of the challenges young people face when trying to access employment, and the motivation to help them overcome these.
• Experience or insight into the Construction or Customer Service sectors would be beneficial, as these are key areas within our employability programmes.
• The ability to build positive relationships, maintain professional boundaries, and create an inclusive, youth‑centred learning environment.

Why Action for Children?

Every child should have a loving home, food, warmth, the chance to grow and learn - the support to cope with life’s challenges. But too many children don’t. By bringing your passion and unique skills and experience, you’ll help us change that where it really matters.

We've been driven by love to take action for children for over 150 years, giving them the protection and practical help they need. A lot’s changed since 1869. But what children really need, hasn’t. So as long as children need us, we’ll be here.

We are looking for a compassionate, skilled and motivated adviser to join our Thrive Early team.

The Thrive Early Family Adviser will provide practical, holistic support to families with children under five who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, poverty. The role will focus on helping families improve their financial wellbeing by providing advice and support around welfare benefits, income maximisation, debt and other financial issues, as well as information sessions to small groups.

A key part of the role will be building trusted, positive relationships with families who may face significant barriers to engaging with traditional advice services. The postholder will work with families over the medium to long term, providing tailored advice, advocacy and practical support to help them achieve greater financial security and wellbeing.

The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues from Home-Start, Save the Children UK, Citizens Advice Scotland and other local partners to deliver coordinated, whole-family support.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Experience providing welfare rights, money, debt or holistic advice.
• Experience supporting people experiencing poverty, financial hardship or complex life circumstances.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with individuals and families.
• Ability to manage a caseload effectively and maintain accurate case records.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with partner organisations and external agencies.
• Commitment to equality, inclusion and reducing child poverty.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the Scottish Social Security and welfare system.
• Experience of providing information sessions to small groups.
• Experience of working with families with young children.
• Experience of advocacy or casework involving complex issues.
• Experience of monitoring outcomes and contributing to evaluation or reporting.
• Knowledge of local services and support available across the Falkirk Council area.
• Access to a car.

Practical Requirements

The successful candidate will:

• Be able and willing to travel throughout the Falkirk Council area as required by the role.
• Be willing to undertake relevant training and professional development.
• Be able to work flexibly in response to the needs of families and the Thrive Early programme.
• Undergo a PVG check

About Thrive Early

Thrive Early is a partnership programme delivered by Citizens Advice Scotland, Home-Start UK and Save the Children UK. The programme supports the Scottish Government's commitment to tackling child poverty by helping families with children under five to prevent and mitigate the impacts of poverty.

Thrive Early provides integrated, community-based and whole-family support. The programme brings together:

• practical and emotional family support from Home-Start;
• financial, welfare and holistic advice from Citizens Advice;
• opportunities for families to share their experiences and influence service development and wider systems change through Save the Children UK.

Support is tailored to individual family circumstances and aims to improve financial wellbeing, emotional resilience, social connections and access to services.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Citizens Advice Bureau (Grangemouth & Bo’ness) Ltd. is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community and particularly encourage applications from people whose experiences and backgrounds reflect the diverse communities we serve.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment to support candidates and staff with disabilities or other individual requirements.