About East Lothian Foodbank

East Lothian Foodbank is at the forefront of the fight against poverty in East Lothian. We believe passionately that everyone should have the right to respect, dignity and self-determination, in a world without hunger and poverty; our advice services and campaigning activities are designed to help achieve these goals, sitting alongside our core role of providing emergency food & essentials to those who need them.

As an independent Scottish charity, we are also fortunate to be part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working towards combatting poverty and hunger across the UK.

About You

We are looking for someone to join our team, who has a similar passion for driving meaningful change in our community. As one of our key “faces” to the outside world, the role would be suited to someone with strong communication skills and relationship building skills, who is driven and well organised.

About the Role

The East Lothian Foodbank Service Co-ordinator is at the frontline of our crisis service. As the first point of contact for our service users and referral partners you must be a confident communicator who can work well managing multiple tasks in a busy environment. Duties will include processing requests for emergency food support received via phone, email and online.

You will be taking care of day-to-day contacts and building relationships with partners, service users and others with regards to our crisis service. You will be expected to handle service user and referral partner information in line with data handling policy and procedures, notifying the Foodbank Manager of specific requests or requirements.

As an emergency food service, you may be dealing with people who are often in distress so the ability to deal with people sensitively and with compassion is required. The core values of East Lothian Foodbank must always be observed and promoted to ensure we offer the best possible support.

The Service Co-ordinator must maintain good working relations, not only with our referral agents and partners, but also with our volunteers. The core values of East Lothian Foodbank must always be observed and promoted to ensure we offer the best possible support to those in food crisis.

In line with our Recruitment and Selection Policy this role will be subject to a criminal record check.

We are looking for a skilled participation consultant to evaluate our participation work and support us in creating a three-year participation plan. This work will compliment our wider work to end the need for our crisis food support service. We seek someone with facilitation experience and excellent communication skills, and a strong understanding of the complex issues surrounding food insecurity, financial crisis and destitution who can complete this work before June 2025.

Are you looking to make a positive change in society through communications work? At Samaritans Scotland we are seeking a Communications Officer to join our friendly team in Edinburgh.

As Communications Officer, you’ll ensure the smooth delivery of internal and external communications in Scotland, including media and PR. Working across new and existing Samaritans’ campaigns, representing Samaritans to external stakeholders, reacting to the day-to-day news and supporting the development and delivery of a variety of projects.

You’ll be a key driver of our marketing and brand in Scotland. Working with our volunteers, story tellers and partners to support engagement and understanding of our work.

We are a flexible and inclusive organisation. We are moving from strength to strength and this role will make a real and lasting difference to ensure fewer lives are lost to suicide.

Samaritans Scotland

Join a friendly, supportive, and ambitious staff team in Scotland. Our established Policy and Communications team is working with a range of external stakeholders including the Scottish Government, MSPs and local partners to achieve change and have an impact on suicide risk. There are around 1000 Samaritans volunteers across Scotland working in our 19 branches. These volunteers respond to calls for help every day of the week via telephone, e-mail, text and in person at our branches or at events across Scotland. Our staff team works to support and promote our services and ensure that people know we’re here when they need us.

We also work with the public and the media to inform them about Samaritans and explain how we can help people find their own way forward, as well as supporting the delivery of media guidelines training in Scotland.

What’s in it for you – our benefits

So, you want to work for us? Good choice. We like it here too. We offer competitive salaries, flexible and hybrid working to suit your needs, family-friendly policies, 28 days annual leave inclusive of wellbeing days and a matched pension contribution up to 5%. You’ll have a structured induction and ongoing projects, secondments & learning opportunities. We also have colleague-led affinity groups made up of people with shared identities.

Your health and wellbeing is our priority. We have a staff community of Mental Health First Aiders, a Health Cash Plan and an Employee Assistance Programme. You’ll have free subscriptions to Headspace (your personal guide to mindfulness, sleep, focus, movement, and more) & Perkbox (an employee benefits platform with online exercise classes). That’s not all. We listen to your ideas and have staff forum and social committee networks.

Hybrid and flexible working

We are a flexible organisation, and we embrace hybrid working – a mix of connecting in person and remotely. We’re aware that the world is changing, and we all want and need different things from our work and home lives. So, if you need to walk the dog, go to the gym, or have commitments outside of work, we’re open to talking through flexible working options that work for you and us.

Being Inclusive

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from Disabled, BAME and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.

Are you passionate about being part of an organisation where your work has meaningful impact on delivering vital health services to local people facing entrenched multiple deprivation?

The Health Agency (THA) is a leading community-based organisation providing services within the integrated Health and Social Care Healthy Living Centre in Wester Hailes. Set up in 1999, it aims to make a positive and meaningful impact on the physical and mental health and wellbeing of those who live within the local community.

The Health Agency does this through the rich provision of community services covering;

• Mental Health support through Counselling delivered by qualified and trainee therapists
• Support services to those affected by cancer and long-term conditions such as COPD and long COVID. Services are also provided to relatives, carers, and friends of anyone who has received a diagnosis, and anyone bereaved due to cancer
• Food insecurity and the health inequalities that prevent people from getting access to quality, affordable, healthy food
• Physical activity and maintaining a healthy diet long term.
• Community groups for carers, women and more
• Complementary therapy services
• A community gardening group

We are seeking a talented Mental Health professional to fill a permanent role part time role as a Mental Health Co-ordinator. This role reports to the CEO and works as part of a team delivering exceptional standards of critical services across multiple programs to the local community in Wester Hailes.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment, Development & Performance:

• Initiate and progress regular trainee intakes to ensure the provision of services across all therapies from counselling to complimentary and more. This includes selecting for interview, interviewing and induction activity.
• Support with broader THA role recruitment activity and induction of new employees.
• Assist in the management of any flexible support team resource, in relation to work tasks, attendance, identification of training needs and day to day supervision.

Operational Co-ordination & Administration:

• Collaborate with CEO for THA and undertake activities as agreed with them to ensure THA services are delivered to an exceptional and compliant operational standard.
• Support each Service Manager to schedule and co-ordinate THA employees, sessional workers and volunteer capacity across all agency provided services.
• Perform all necessary operational tasks of a placement provider, including completing and ensuring all placement paperwork and record keeping is fully compliant and of a high standard.
• Develop and progress projects as required. In addition, assist in the monitoring, tracking and administrative tasks associated with projects underway within THA service teams.
• Responsible for gathering all counselling related paperwork/records, information is completed accurately, entered the appropriate THA system, and maintained on an ongoing basis.
• Ensure that relevant data and reporting requirements relating to services such as counselling, CORE scores and evaluation are collated and shared with the CEO and the Board.

Safeguarding

• Provide safeguarding rota cover as part of a small safeguarding team and in line with the THA Safeguarding policy to those providing individual counselling, group counselling or other relevant services.
• Provide operational support to a team of mental health practitioners providing therapeutic, emotional, and practical support.

Relationship Management and Service Partner Integration

• Work collaboratively with statutory services such as NHS specialist mental health services and GP’s, to ensure that joined-up, integrated support experience is offered to all THA service users
• Build co-operative and beneficial relationships, develop networks and promotes partnership working with local community members, groups and wider with session providers, agencies, funders, and local authorities.
• Develop relationships with academic institutions and promote The Health Agency as a placement provider to trainees looking to carry out clinical hours as part of their counselling courses.

About You

The ideal candidate will have:

• Diploma in Counselling such as; person centred counselling, CBT or an equivalent qualification is essential. Ideally the qualification would be accredited by BACP or BABCP or COSCA,
• PVG Scheme Membership
• Experience of a person-centred approach to mental health support
• Experience of taking a lead role in the planning and delivery of mental health support and recovery
• Understanding of health & safety requirements and safeguarding needs for a counselling service and those delivering counselling services
• A solid working understanding of the challenges faced by people living in areas of multiple deprivation
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence e a wide range of stakeholders.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and email.
• Right To Work in the UK

What We Offer

• A unique opportunity to be part a respected and impactful organization.
• The chance to make a real difference to the lives of individuals and communities in Wester Hailes.
• A base salary between £25 – 29k per annum (prorated) plus 3% contribution to NEST pension scheme with an employee contribution of 5% required.
• Working hours: 21-24 hours per week over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday based at The Living Well Centre in Wester Hailes. Some occasional evening or weekend working may be required.