Western Isles Rape Crisis Centre is looking to recruit an experienced support worker to join our team. The overall aim of the post is to provide one-to-one support to survivors of sexual violence.

For this role we are open to discussing the possibility of reduced hours, flexible start and finish times, or compressed hours.

A clean driving licence and use of own car is essential to this post.

Relevant PVG and disclosure checks will apply.

This post is fully funded by the Scottish Government until 31st March 2026.

We require female applicants only and are exempt under schedule 9, part 1 of the equality act 2010.

If you would like an informal chat about the post please contact angela.maclennan@wircc.org.uk

Benefits:

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts.

We are one of the largest children’s charities in the UK and have been making a difference to the lives of the UK’s vulnerable children for over 150 years.

A bit about the role

We’re excited to announce our new Scottish Government funded programme, set to launch in April 2025. This initiative aims to deliver inclusive voluntary throughcare services across the country for individuals serving short-term sentences or transitioning post-remand, encompassing men, women, and young people.

The programme's core lies in a collaborative and relationship-based partnership model, ensuring a holistic approach to support individuals in achieving positive outcomes for themselves and their communities. By focusing on improving reintegration and overall well-being, the initiative ultimately seeks to enhance lives and reduce re-offending rates.

Operated through a Pod model, the service will bring together staff from various partner organisations to cater to specific geographical regions. Each Pod will be overseen by a manager from one of the partner organisations, fostering a cohesive approach to service provision. Additionally, formal line management will be under the purview of an Action for Children manager, ensuring structured support and guidance.

We’re looking for a Community Worker in what will be a dynamic role, making a real meaningful difference in the lives of many. We’ll be requiring flexibility and dedication beyond standard business hours. The commitment to working during evenings and weekends highlights the programme's dedication to meeting the diverse needs of young people and fostering a supportive environment for all involved.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

Some key responsibilities of a Community Worker role are;

• Collaborative Pre-Release Planning: Work with prison staff to create robust pre-release plans, including three-way handovers.
• Utilise Pre-Release Tools: Engage through face-to-face contact, email correspondence, and multi-agency meetings.
• Family-Centred Approach: Collaborate with Families Outside partner to support individuals and their families.
• Effective Working Relationships: Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external colleagues for the best outcomes.
• Information Sharing: Share information with key stakeholders to support multi-agency collaboration.
• Onward Referrals and Service Endings: Identify suitable referrals and ensure smooth service transitions.

Let's talk about you

• Whilst no qualification is required for this role, experience or knowledge of the challenges faced by people involved in the Justice system, experiencing addiction, or homelessness would be great.
• You’ll build positive relationships with people supported and wider stakeholders (including partnership working – statutory and third sector).
• Trauma informed practice and managing a complex context
• Solution focused, finding innovative ways to respond to challenges.
• Prepare and implement dynamic risk management plans and applying Safeguarding processes
• Driving licence and access to a car are essential as the role covers a wide geographical area. The job requires the ability to travel according to the needs of the job, with reasonable adjustments, if required, according to the Equality Act.

About Us:

Glasgow Council on Alcohol (GCA) was founded in 1965 and is the oldest established Council on Alcohol in Scotland. GCA is a voluntary organisation working to reduce the harm caused by alcohol misuse through the provision of a range of high quality advice, information, counselling, support, prevention and education and training services.

Our mission is to provide evidence-based support to individuals, communities and government to improve health and wellbeing across Scotland.

The foundation of GCA is our supportive and inclusive culture for all who engage and work with us.

GCA deliver services over 6 days per week and throughout Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire.

About the Role:

The Peer Education Support Worker will support our peer-led Harm Reduction Service (U-Turn), benefiting young people aged 12 – 25 years old. This service is funded by Young Start from The National Lottery.

The main focus of this service is to provide Peer Education, with the added provision of one to one support for young Peer Educators. The service adopts an active citizenship approach when working with young people. There will be an expectation that the Peer Educators will work towards achieving qualifications through training and as a result of the work they undertake.

The service specifically targets some of the most vulnerable young people in areas where GCA currently delivers services, aiming to reduce the harm caused by alcohol and other drugs within their communities.

The Peer Educators will be supported to deliver peer-led inputs to other Young People on issued-based topics, with a focus to incorporate a harm reduction approach as well as a separate element of addressing stigma/language around drug and alcohol use.

We understand that many will have other commitments outside of work and so flexible working, part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements will be considered for the right candidate.

Why Join Us?

• Your work will contribute to make a real difference to people’s lives.
• Competitive salary and benefits package :
  • Very generous annual leave entitlement: full time employees start with an annual leave entitlement of 37 days (inclusive of 12 bank holidays) which increases with length of service.
  • Duvet days where employees may take time off at short notice.
  • Death in service policy.
  • Cycle to work scheme where employees can save money on a new bike and spread the cost.
  • And much more!
• Opportunities for continuous learning and career development.
• A supportive and inclusive work environment where your contributions are valued.

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland and we currently have over 3500 Care Experienced members.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual lifelong relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory and engagement opportunities for Care Experienced people across Scotland. We work alongside Corporate Parents and communities to broaden understanding and create change. We work with policy makers, leaders, and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy, and practice, working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

This unique role offers the opportunity to listen to and work directly with children and young people with experience of care, in an individual relationship-based advocacy role, and within participation and group activity across our South East region.

The post-holder will be a key member of the Advocacy and Participation team, supporting young people from across East Lothian to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard. In this role you will have the opportunity to provide independent advocacy, children’s rights, and participation opportunities for children and young people who are looked after, Care Experienced, or subject to formal processes and structures. The role will see you actively participating in child’s plan meetings, children’s hearings, and other formal processes, as well as assisting children and young people to prepare for them. In partnership with professionals, carers, and organisations, you will help to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people by keeping detailed records of the work you undertake, writing liaison reports, and monitoring statistics.

As a vital part of the work of Who Cares? Scotland, your role will include facilitating group opportunities for and with children and young people within East Lothian. This includes providing engagement and participation opportunities throughout the Who Cares? Scotland local and national network, as well as meeting with care experienced children and young people to introduce the service in agreement with the local authority. Raising awareness of Who Cares? Scotland and its services with children, young people, professionals, and carers you will also be responsible for facilitating training amongst care corporate parents.

The right candidate for this post will be able to form positive relationships with children and young people and have good interpersonal skills. You will feel confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt to a wide range of contexts. Secure in making effective plans, as well as evidencing your work, you can prioritise and meet deadlines. You take enjoyment from working collaboratively with partners, believing in equal opportunities and inclusive working. Committed to children’s rights, you are someone who knows that all young people can make transformative change happen in their lives if given the opportunity. You can demonstrate knowledge of the current structure, developments, policy, and practice in relation to children and young people experiencing care in Scotland. You are also flexible, given the remit of the role, as some evening and weekend work will be necessary, along with a full driving licence and access to transport.

While we would welcome the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as interested in relevant work experience. We welcome and encourage applications from those with experience of care.

The successful candidate will be joining Who Cares? Scotland and working within the South East team at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are in or have experienced care are growing in power, individually and collectively - bringing with them insight, challenge, hope and change.