VOCAL is the Voice of Carers across Lothian, a Scottish charity run by carers and for carers since 1994. We are looking for a qualified, compassionate and experienced Senior Counsellor to join our dedicated and busy Counselling service.

With a minimum 3 years’ post-qualification experience in delivering counselling services, the successful candidate will provide one-to-one therapeutic counselling to unpaid carers via face-to-face, telephone, and online sessions. The post holder will also support the management, coordination and development of all aspects of VOCAL’s Carer Counselling service. This will include: the recruitment, induction, support and line management of volunteer and paid sessional Counsellors; referral management; carer assessment through intake sessions and client allocation; and deputising for the Counselling Manager as required.

This role is ideal for a qualified Counsellor who is passionate about supporting those who care for others and who has previous managerial/ staff-supervisory experience. Experience and skills must include post-qualification counselling practice; service management and planning; counselling assessment/intake; and managing or supporting Counsellors. Membership of a relevant professional body, e.g. BACP, COSCA is also required and experience of using CORE evaluation system is desirable.

Carers of East Lothian is the local organisation supporting adults who care for family and friends. We have an excellent reputation, recently gaining recognition through the Carers Trust ‘Excellence for Carers’ Award and have recently secured the contract to deliver adult carer services across East Lothian for an initial two-year period and a total period of up to six years, to 2031. We are a Carer Positive Exemplary employer, as well as being Disability Confident Committed and a Living Wage employer.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the first point of contact for carers and professionals, handling enquiries and referrals with sensitivity and confidentiality.
• Maintain accurate client records, manage referrals, and arrange clinic appointments (e.g. Legal Advice, Power of Attorney).
• Provide admin support for carer events and workshops, process small grants, and update financial records.
• Support reception area upkeep, office supplies, and general admin tasks including mailings, info packs, and Board support.
• Assist the wider team and volunteers while ensuring compliance with data protection and health & safety policies.

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience in reception or office admin
• Great communication and interpersonal skills
• Good IT skills and attention to detail
• A team player with a commitment to supporting unpaid carers

Very flexible working and 6% matched pension.

Are you passionate about grants funding? Do you want to be part of an enthusiastic and dedicated team that supports the short breaks needs of unpaid carers in Scotland?

Shared Care Scotland is an innovative national charity, based in Dunfermline, working to support Scotland’s unpaid carers to access short breaks and respite.

We are looking for an enthusiastic grants officer to join the Shared Care Scotland team. The postholder will be responsible for supporting the delivery of our Creative Breaks programme which we administer on behalf of the Scottish Govt. as part of the Short Breaks Fund.

The successful applicant will have a proven track record of strong administration skills and attention to detail. They will share and uphold our values and enjoy working as part of a team. An understanding of the needs of unpaid carers and the importance of short breaks is desirable, as is experience of working with a broad range of stakeholders.

In return we offer a supportive team environment with excellent terms and conditions. Staff benefits include a pension scheme with 15.5% employer contribution, employee health plan, flexitime and flexible working and opportunities for professional development.

About Shared Care Scotland

Shared Care Scotland is a small organisation with a big ambition.

We want every unpaid carer in Scotland to be able to live a full and balanced life, with the assistance they need to take regular, quality breaks from the demands of their caring routines.

In Scotland, there are an estimated 800,000 people of all ages who provide unpaid care for a family member, partner, friend or neighbour who needs assistance due to a physical or mental illness, disability, age or addiction-related issues.

Access to breaks from caring provides a much-needed release from the physical and emotional demands of the caring situation and can help carers achieve better balance in their lives by looking after their own health and wellbeing.

Shared Care Scotland work to improve the quality, choice and availability of short breaks and respite care across Scotland and we aim to be the leading source of information on short breaks in Scotland.

We are a values-led organisation which recognises the commitment of all employees and supports them to reach their full potential.