“I lost my kids a few times they went to foster care and I would have gone to a place like this if I had the chance. This is badly needed. I hid my drug use and people only found out about it when I had my baby and she was in withdrawal. I loved my daughter and would have welcomed something like this.”

A mother who has been supported by Aberlour

About Aberlour’s Mother and Child Recovery House

Aberlour is proud to be working with the Scottish Government for our dedicated Mother and Child Residential Recovery House based in Falkirk. Our service is designed to enable children of women with problematic substance use to stay with mothers during their recovery. Aberlour’s approach to rehabilitation aims to deliver positive outcomes for women and their children.

We support families using the Parents Under Pressure (PuP) program which combines psychological principles relating to parenting, child behaviour and parental emotion regulation within a case management model. The program is highly individualized to suit each family. Parents are given their own Parent Workbook. For many parents, this becomes a personal journal of their treatment experience. The overarching aim of the PuP program is to help parents facing adversity develop positive and secure relationships with their children. Within this strength-based approach, the family environment becomes more nurturing and less conflictual.

“Too many women with problem drug and alcohol issues are having their young children taken into care and many other women won’t engage with support agencies for fear of their children being removed. The new houses will improve outcomes for these women and children; reduce deaths of mothers with problem drug use; avoid family breakdown and increase the likelihood of children being cared for by their parents.”

Aberlour Chief Executive SallyAnn Kelly

What we are looking for....

We are looking to recruit 2 Lead Family Support Workers who share our vision and values, with the passion and ability to support managers in guiding and developing the team. Your hours of work (37.5 per week) will be based around the needs of the families we work with which will include mornings, evenings, nights, weekends, and public holidays. This role will be working within both our outreach part of the service and in the residential house so that we can ensure that our families have continued support on their journey to recovery. We are looking to recruit 1 permanent Lead Family Support Worker as well as 1 fixed term Lead Family Support Worker, covering an internal secondment. This post will therefore end on 31st March 2026 but there may be potential for extension depending on funding. If applicants could specify in their application which they would like consideration for.

You will support the assessment, intervention and planning for women and their children; initially when women are referred to the service, during their stay in the residential house and supporting them when they return to their communities, working in partnership with other agencies.

Ideally you will have experience of direct work with vulnerable families to support improved capacity for women and children and of working collaboratively with other professional agencies and a working knowledge of drug/alcohol use and its effects on women and children.

Applicants should hold a relevant professional qualification at least SCQF level 7 or equivalent knowledge acquired by other means with a willingness to obtain the required qualifications for SSSC Registration.

Individuals with Lived Experience of alcohol or drug use are strongly encouraged to apply for this position, where they will gain experience and training to enhance their knowledge and skills. People with lived experience are vital members of the team delivering this service to the women and children.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers. Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity on our website.

I lost my kids a few times they went to foster care and I would have gone to a place like this if I had the chance. This is badly needed. I hid my drug use and people only found out about it when I had my baby and she was in withdrawal. I loved my daughter and would have welcomed something like this.

-A mother who has been supported by Aberlour

About Our Mother and Child Recovery House

Aberlour is proud to be working with the Scottish Government for our dedicated Mother and Child Residential Recovery House based in Dundee. Our service is designed to enable children of women with problematic substance use to stay with mothers during their recovery. Our approach to rehabilitation aims to deliver positive outcomes for women and their children.

We support families using the Parents Under Pressure (PuP) program which combines psychological principles relating to parenting, child behaviour and parental emotion regulation within a case management model. The program is highly individualized to suit each family. Parents are given their own Parent Workbook. For many parents, this becomes a personal journal of their treatment experience. The overarching aim of the PuP program is to help parents facing adversity develop positive and secure relationships with their children. Within this strength-based approach, the family environment becomes more nurturing and less conflictual.

Too many women with problem drug and alcohol issues are having their young children taken into care and many other women won't engage with support agencies for fear of their children being removed. The new houses will improve outcomes for these women and children; reduce deaths of mothers with problem drug use; avoid family breakdown and increase the likelihood of children being cared for by their parents.

-Aberlour Chief Executive SallyAnn Kelly

What we are looking for....

We are looking for a Lead Practitioner who shares our vision and values, with the passion and ability to support managers in guiding and developing the team. Your hours of work (37.5 per week) will be based around the needs of the families we work with which will include mornings, evenings, nights, weekends, and public holidays. This role will be working within both our outreach part of the service and in the residential house so that we can ensure that our families have continued support on their journey to recovery. This is a maternity cover post and is fixed term until 30 June 2026.

You will support the assessment, intervention and planning for women and their children; initially when women are referred to the service, during their stay in the residential house and supporting them when they return to their communities, working in partnership with other agencies.

Ideally you will have experience of direct work with vulnerable families to support improved capacity for women and children and of working collaboratively with other professional agencies and a working knowledge of drug/alcohol use and its effects on women and children.

Applicants should hold a relevant professional qualification at least SCQF level 7 or equivalent knowledge acquired by other means with a willingness to obtain the required qualifications for SSSC Registration.

Individuals with Lived Experience of alcohol or drug use are strongly encouraged to apply for this position, where they will gain experience and training to enhance their knowledge and skills. People with lived experience are vital members of the team delivering this service to the women and children.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. To have a look at our values to understand more about what we are looking for from our employees click here.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers. Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity here.

About Aberlour Options Borders

At Aberlour Options Borders we provide a range of support services for young people up to the age of 18 years who have various disabilities. Our aim is to provide families with a short break from their caring role through the provision of high-quality child-centred services which provide a positive experience for the young people we work with.

We have a strong reputation for supporting young people with high levels of complex needs, supporting them to grow, learn and maximise their potential. We believe that every child has the right to flourish. Our Young People’s Workers play a fundamental role in ensuring that the young people they work with have the best possible experience in working towards their objectives in line with their care plan. Whilst not without its challenges and demands, this is a highly rewarding role, where the work we do has a demonstrable impact on each young person's progress. Using a person-centred approach you will provide enabling support ensuring the highest level of physical, personal and emotional care to support children in their daily living and within the local community.

What we are looking for....

We have an opening for two Young People’s Workers to join our staff team, on a permanent basis. Contracted hours are split – 23 hours per week during term time for 42 weeks of the year and 35 hours per week for 10 weeks of the year (during school holidays).

Weekday shifts take place during late afternoons and evenings, while weekend and holiday shifts are split as early and late shifts over the hours between 8am and 10pm. There is also a requirement to do sleepover shifts which are paid at £67 per sleepover.

This role will involve key working responsibilities and administrative tasks such as completing daily care notes, medication kardex recording and care plan updates.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team.

Experience is desired, but not always essential. Full training for the role is provided by Aberlour, with regular updates.

This is a regulated role, and successful candidates would need to be registered with the SSSC and PVG scheme.

A driving license is desired but not essential.

A Day in the Life of a Young People’s Worker

Our day usually starts with the morning routine. We support our young people to get ready for their day ahead, assisting with all aspects of personal care. We then prepare breakfast and medications as required for our young people and organise the day’s activities. We encourage choice and decision making for planning fun activities in the local community and beyond, assisting young people with communication and everyday tasks.

In the evenings, we organise in-house activities and enjoy relaxing with movies, sensory play and spending time with friends.

"Aberlour Options Borders provide a safe, fun and homely environment for respite for our son. He loves going to stay and asks daily when his next visit is" - (Parent)

"Aberlour treat me like part of the family" - (Young Person)

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

Do you have relevant experience of working with children and young people with a disability/and or autism or relevant experience in a similar sector or work environment?

About Options Ayrshire

Our Service is a busy respite care unit for children and young people with additional support needs, including complex learning and physical disabilities. As well as providing short residential breaks the service offers outreach to families and is also involved in the managing and running of an after school club as well as a busy Easter and Summer play scheme.

Based in a quiet, residential street in Prestwick, our disability support service offers a safe, homely environment for a child to come and stay for a short break that gives their families a rest from their caring role. During that break, children enjoy a range of fun activities and experiences with our staff who specialise in taking care of children with disabilities. Our service is very much a ‘home from home’ for the children who stay with us there.

What we are looking for...

As a Young People’s Worker you will play a fundamental role in ensuring that the young people you work with have the best possible experience in working towards their objectives, in line with their care plan, supporting children to progress within their individual outcomes. Whilst not without its challenges and demands, this is a highly rewarding role, where the work we do has a demonstrable impact on each young person's progress. Using a person-centred approach, you will provide enabling support ensuring the highest level of physical, personal and emotional care. We support young people who have Epilepsy, need personal care and need gastrostomy feeding. Aberlour, in conjunction with NHS, provide all staff with training.

If you have an interest in working with young people, we would like to hear from you. We are looking for two Young People’s Workers to work part time (21 hours per week). These hours will be worked as part of a rolling rota. They will be worked evenings, mornings, weekends and public holidays. You may be expected to work the occasional night shift or sleepover.

Ideally, candidates will have social care experience, an understanding of autism, complex needs and disability. You will hold, or be willing to work towards, a relevant professional qualification at SCQF level 7 or above (for example: SVQ 3 in Care plus an HNC) together with relevant experience of working with children or young people. You must also be able to demonstrate awareness of the key elements of working with people affected by disability as well as an understanding of, and commitment to, young people’s rights.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. Aberlour’s values are critical and drive everything we do. We will be looking for someone who can demonstrate how Aberlour’s values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity and Challenge will be visible in their practice.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.

Aberlour is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our service users and uses a thorough and rigorous recruitment and selection process including PVG Scheme checks to ensure this commitment is not compromised.