This is an exciting opportunity for three experienced Project Workers to join our large, creative and vibrant team.
Our Service delivers a number of diverse supports alongside children and families. Our activities include Family
Group Decision Making, support for children and families to recover from trauma and harm and whole family
wellbeing support.
Our ambition is for every child in Scotland to be safe, loved and well, together with their family. Children 1st is
committed to protecting children by preventing harm through abuse and neglect. We will promote their wellbeing
by respecting, protecting, and fulfilling children’s human rights.
We have a long history of working with children and families and partners in the Scottish Borders. Children 1st along
with our partners share a determination to act upon the recommendations from The Independent Care Review and
deliver The Promise to children and young people. We are also determined that the full incorporation of the
UNCRC means that children will have their rights respected in all areas of their lives and will have a real say
in the way they are supported.
We are currently looking for three new colleagues to support Parenting and family wellbeing support, Family Group
Decision Making and the delivery of the CEDAR programme.
- The Family Wellbeing Project Worker role will be working alongside children, young people and parents/carers. We
adopt a relational and restorative approach which helps families to strengthen relationships and reduce
emotional distress. Placing the voice of children, young people and their families at the centre of the support,
this role will provide collaborative family support; focusing on highlighting the resilience of families and
responding to their individual needs.
- The FGDM coordinator role will work with families in a whole
family system approach, they are independent and work with families to find their own strength and solutions to
their problems and keep children, young people, safe and nurtured within their families. The successful
candidate will be required to work in close partnership with Social Work colleagues, guiding and supporting
restorative approaches to working with families. You do not require previous experience in the delivery of
Family Group Decision Making but you must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles and values
of the approach. You must also show a commitment to complete accredited training, which will be
provided.
- The CEDAR Co-ordinator role will develop and manage a community group work programme (CEDAR
Project) for children and young people and their mothers with experience of domestic abuse alongside support
from our highly experienced Domestic Abuse Recovery team
The successful candidates will play a pivotal role in the delivery of our service, ensuring high quality
relationships with children and families and working alongside our partners to evidence impact.
What kind of people are we looking for?
- have experience of keeping children safe in their own families
- are fiercely passionate about children’s
rights
- thinks it’s a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families and,
- are kind
and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind
What kind of team member will you be?
Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:
- resilient, skilled and knowledgeable who wants to transform children’s lives
- determined to support
children to stay safely with their own family
- big hearted and courageous
- able to build strong
relationships and to manage the tricky conversations
- is compassionate and have an understanding of
trauma
- a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
- inspiring colleagues and teams to be
even better
- an amazing ambassador for children and Children 1st
Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and
their families at every turn.
If you have a professional qualification in a relevant area such as Social Work, Health, Teaching, Child Care/Social
Care, accredited counselling/therapeutic qualification, IDAA training/qualification or other relevant
qualification at SCQF level 9 or higher then we want to hear from you.
Base
Your base will be shared between our office in Selkirk as well as venues within the local community. You will work on
an outreach basis to connect with children and families in communities across Scottish Borders.
Salary, Conditions, Pension
We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 7 public holidays),
flexible working opportunities and a contributory pension scheme. We also have a cash healthcare plan, cycle to
work scheme and access to a credit union.
Further Information
These are all full-time posts of 35 hours per week. The CEDAR post is fixed term with an end date of 31st March 2025
with a strong indication that funding will continue beyond this. The other two posts are permanent.
Please indicate on your CV/Cover letter if there is a particular role you are interested in or whether there are
multiple roles you would like to be considered for.