This is a great opportunity to join CAPS’ friendly, supportive Individual Advocacy team to provide Individual Advocacy to adults in East Lothian and Midlothian who are experiencing mental health issues. This service sits alongside our adult service of Individual Advocacy for people who are affected by drugs or alcohol, and our new area of work providing individual advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community in Midlothian and East Lothian.

The focus of the work is the provision of Independent Advocacy – making sure that people’s views and wishes are heard. You will make sure people are informed about their options and their rights and assist people who have mental health issues to redress power imbalances in their lives and in their interactions with services. Individual Advocacy is very rewarding work that makes a real difference. Full training will be provided.

This post will be subject to membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. There will be a 6 month probationary period attached to this post. A mix of home and office working is possible but face to face working with people is essential.

EARS is an independent advocacy provider – our mission is to ensure that people’s voices are heard, and their rights are respected.

This is an office-based post. The majority of the working hours will be spent working in Edinburgh and East Lothian communities, with the people who seek your support, and working from the West Lothian office to join meetings, record notes and compile reports. Mileage expenses are reimbursed for travel within work.

Applications

We especially welcome applications from people with any of the following:

• experience of providing advocacy
• working with individuals with a disability
• experience of the Health and Social Care Sector
• experience of the Third Sector

The Policy and Participation Officer plays a crucial role in advancing Together’s mission to ensure that all babies, children, and young people in Scotland have their human rights respected, protected, and fulfilled. This role supports the Legal and Policy Manager by enhancing policy development and ensuring robust participation of babies, children, and young people in all aspects of Together's work. The Officer will assist in policy advocacy, engage in public affairs, and strengthen the engagement of babies, children and young people in Together’s activities, including the Rights Detectives.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Supporting policy development and analysis by assisting with Together's annual State of Children's Rights report and the #RightsOnTrack programme, monitoring developments and recommendations from UN treaty bodies, drafting responses to relevant Scottish/UK Government and Parliament consultations, and developing policy briefings.
• Supporting the development of participation projects and leading desk-based research that ensures babies, children, and young people’s views are at the heart of Together’s policy and advocacy.
• Facilitating collaboration with members and supporting partnership activities with organisations across the UK, Europe and internationally.
• Supporting the Legal and Policy Manager with public affairs tasks and working with the Membership and Social Media Officer to coordinate strategies to enhance Together's social media presence.
• Supporting the Legal and Policy Manager in policy meetings and events, actively engaging in team meetings, and assisting in the development of funding proposals.

Throughout the role, the post-holder will be expected to involve Together’s membership – including children and young people – whenever possible and appropriate.

Reporting to: Legal & Policy Manager

Engender is Scotland’s leading intersectional feminist policy and advocacy organisation. We work to dismantle gender inequality and to secure equal access to power, safety, resources and rights for all women.

The Role

This role will manage the 'Equal Media and Culture Centre Scotland', an initiative that focusses on securing intersectional gender equality in Scotland’s media and cultural landscape. The Centre works to increase accountability around equality within media and cultural institutions through a programme of research development, awareness raising, advocacy, partnership-working, and shared learning.

This project delivers on a recommendation from the First Minister's National Advisory Council for Women and Girls.

The Candidate

The successful candidate will have experience in managing a project including developing a strategy and plan, managing a budget and successful delivery of objectives. They will be confident in research and analysis, and have excellent writing abilities, capable of producing high-quality materials. An understanding of intersectional feminism and a strong commitment to promoting equality are essential.

The role requires knowledge of Scotland's media, culture, and creative industries, coupled with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective partnerships and stakeholder relationships. We value strategic thinking and the ability to provide vision and direction for initiatives.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills are crucial, as is the ability to work collaboratively within a team while also managing independent tasks and multiple priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead research, engagement, and advocacy initiatives promoting intersectional gender equality in Scotland's media, creative, and cultural sectors.
• Contribute to Engender's policy and advocacy work, particularly related to media and culture.
• Build effective partnerships and produce high-quality materials for publication.
• Provide strategic direction and oversee the development of the Equal Media and Culture Centre for Scotland.
• Manage the Centre's work plan, activities, and outputs in line with an up-to-date theory of change.

Required Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in managing projects, including budgeting, planning, and delivering against objectives
• Excellent research, analytical, and writing skills with the ability to produce high-quality materials
• Strong understanding of intersectional feminism and commitment to promoting gender equality
• Knowledge of media, culture, and creative industries in Scotland
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective partnerships and stakeholder relationships
• Ability to think strategically and provide vision/direction for initiatives
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Experience in policy/advocacy work, particularly related to gender equality and/or media/culture
• Experience working in the media, cultural, or creative sectors
• Experience in public speaking and media engagement
• Line-management experience

This is a full-time position of 35 hours per week (Engender is currently trialling a 4-day working week. During the trial working hours will be reduced to 30 per week with no impact on salary. The outcome of the trial will determine whether Engender adopts this approach in the longer term.)

Benefits

• Competitive salary £35,569.09 (funding is secured until 31st March 2025 with the expectation of continued funding)
• 39 days annual leave, including bank holidays (36 days pro rata during 4-day week trial)
• Auto-enrolment into Engender’s pension scheme with 8% employer contribution
• Flexible working opportunities and access to services and resources to support your wellbeing