A fantastic opportunity to come and join the Children First team in Scottish Borders

At Children First our ambition is for every child in Scotland to be safe, loved and well with their family. As a charity we offer emotional, practical, and financial support to help families to put children first and campaign to uphold the rights of every child.

We have a long history of working with children, families and partners in the Scottish Borders. Children First along with our partners share a determination to act upon the recommendations from The Independent Care Review and deliver The Promise to children and young people. We are also determined that the full incorporation of the UNCRC means that children will have their rights respected in all areas of their lives and will have a real say in the way they are supported.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of our specialist Domestic Abuse team, delivering evidence-informed, trauma-responsive support to children, young people and families affected by domestic abuse. The postholder will build trusted relationships that promote safety, recovery and resilience, undertaking risk assessment, safety planning and tailored interventions that respond to the unique needs of each family. Working collaboratively with statutory and third-sector partners, they will contribute to high-quality service delivery, strengthen protective networks and ensure children's experiences remain central to decision-making. The role also involves evidencing impact and outcomes, supporting continuous improvement and the development of effective responses to domestic abuse across our local community.

If you have a professional qualification in a relevant area such as Social Work, Health, Teaching, Child Care/Social Care, accredited counselling/therapeutic qualification, IDAA training/qualification or other relevant qualification at SCQF level 9 or higher then we want to hear from you.

What kind of people are we looking for?

• have experience of keeping children safe in their own families
• are fiercely passionate about children’s rights
• thinks it’s a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families and,
• are kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind

What kind of team member will you be?

Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:

• resilient, skilled and knowledgeable who wants to transform children’s lives
• determined to support children to stay safely with their own family
• big hearted and courageous
• able to build strong relationships and to manage the tricky conversations
• is compassionate and understanding of trauma
• a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
• inspiring colleagues and teams to be even better
• an amazing ambassador for children and Children First

Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

At Children First, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects communities across Scotland. Guided by our values, With Love, With Purpose, With Strength, we strive to create a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to thrive. We actively work to remove barriers to inclusion and promote equity in all aspects of our work. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those from marginalised communities, and are dedicated to ensuring a fair and supportive recruitment process.

Base

Your base will be shared between our office in Selkirk as well as venues within the local community. You will work on an outreach basis to connect with children and families in communities across Scottish Borders. A driving licence and access to a car is essential.

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 9 public holidays). We have additional benefits such as a cash back health plan, cycle to work scheme, and option to join a Credit Union.

Established in 1944, One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) is the leading charity working with single parent families in Scotland. We provide expert advice, practical support and campaign with parents to make their voices heard to change the systems, policies and attitudes that disadvantage single parent families. We work alongside single parents and their families, placing them at the centre of everything we do. Creating ways to overcome barriers, changing their lives and

fulfilling their potential. We also celebrate the many achievements of single parents and their children.

Our vision is to see a Scotland where single parent families are celebrated in all their diversity, are treated fairly and live free from discrimination and poverty. Our mission is to amplify the voices of single parent families in their unique role as sole carers and providers and together challenge stigma, poverty and inequality to achieve change.

Our values are trust, equity, justice, collaboration and compassion. These are the principles or standards that we consider important in life. They shape behaviour and guide our decisions and actions.

Our strategic objectives shape and guide all roles at OPFS. They are the pillars that underpin all our work. We all will:

1. Support single parents to build on their strengths and attributes to achieve their goals.
2. Strengthen single parent families’ wellbeing, enabling children to be happy and thrive.
3. Influence policies to eradicate child poverty taking an intersectional, equalities approach to policy making.
4. Involve single parents, experts by experience, to co-produce OPFS services and policy priorities.
5. Challenge societal attitudes and behaviours to fully support and respect single parent families.

About this role

We're looking for an experience Research Officer to join our Policy, Participation and External Relations team. This is an exciting opportunity to drive forward research projects, produce compelling findings, recommendations and high quality impact reports and webinars that bring our findings to life. We're looking for a creative and insightful person who is passionate about creating a Scotland where single parent families can thrive.

For more information, please download the Job Description & Person Specification below.

An exciting opportunity has emerged to join the Home-Start Glasgow South team, working as part of Glasgow’s Proactive Outreach Programme within the Glasgow City Council Child Poverty Programme.

Reporting to the Senior Family Support Worker, you will provide holistic, relationship-based case management to a defined cohort of families experiencing or at risk of poverty. Working alongside Home-Start Glasgow South colleagues and a wide range of statutory and third-sector partners, you will proactively engage families, understand their strengths and circumstances, coordinate support and help improve outcomes for children and families.

The role combines direct work with families and collaborative working across organisations. Alongside case management, you will participate in regular collaboration, case review and learning sessions, sharing insight from your work with families and contributing to the continued development of the proactive outreach model.

Overview

Established in 1944, One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) is the leading charity working with single parent families in Scotland. We provide expert advice, practical support and campaign with parents to make their voices heard to change the systems, policies and attitudes that disadvantage single parent families. We work alongside single parents and their families, placing them at the centre of everything we do. Creating ways to overcome barriers, changing their lives and fulfilling their potential. We also celebrate the many achievements of single parents and their children.

Role and responsibilities

The Family Support Assistant will play an important role in delivering the OPFS Support for Families Service, working alongside Family Support Workers and the wider team to ensure single parent families receive high-quality, accessible support. Working within the OPFS My Life and Me framework, the postholder will assist with family support activities, group programmes, events, outreach work, and practical support to help families achieve positive outcomes. The role will contribute to creating a welcoming and inclusive service, supporting single parents and their children to access information, opportunities, and services that enhance their wellbeing, resilience, confidence, and social connections.