Overview

OPFS was founded in 1944 and since then we have been at the forefront of shaping policy and services that support the 144,000 single parent families in Scotland. OPFS HQ is in central Edinburgh, there are local services in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Falkirk, Edinburgh and Dundee with National digital and helpline services.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support that enables them to achieve their potential and helping to create lasting solutions to poverty and barriers facing single parents and their children. Our core values of Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion are at the heart of everything we do and underpin all aspects of our work.

Main duties

The Employability Advisor will be responsible to Regional Co-ordinator and will work as a member of OPFS Lanarkshire Employability Service, to provide employability support for single parents and young parents facing additional barriers to engaging with services, entering suitable employment, education, and training opportunities through one-to-one meetings and group work sessions.

The successful post-holder will be expected to operate in line with our values which are:

Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Overview

OPFS was founded in 1944 and since then we have been at the forefront of shaping policy and services that support the 144,000 single parent families in Scotland. OPFS HQ is in central Edinburgh, there are local services in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Falkirk, Edinburgh and Dundee with National digital and helpline services.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support that enables them to achieve their potential and helping to create lasting solutions to poverty and barriers facing single parents and their children. Our core values of Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion are at the heart of everything we do and underpin all aspects of our work.

Main duties

The Employability Advisor will be responsible to Regional Co-ordinator and will work as a member of OPFS Employability Service, to provide employability support for single parents and young parents facing additional barriers to engaging with services, entering suitable employment, education, and training opportunities through one-to-one meetings and group work sessions.

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.

Would you like to join a vibrant, exciting team working alongside families and volunteers in North Lanarkshire?

An exciting opportunity has arisen within North Lanarkshire to be part of a new early intervention family support service – Families Here and Now. This project is funded by North Lanarkshire Council and will provide holistic support for the whole family in local communities/hub areas.

You will play a key role in developing this service alongside families and community partners. The service is a collaboration between four charities: Barnardo’s, Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire (HSGNNL), Action for Children and Impact Arts, and you will work closely with colleagues from these organisations.

This outreach support role covers the North Lanarkshire area, based in or around community hubs/schools/nurseries and family homes. The aim of the service is to enable families (pregnant and/or with children up to age 18 years/26 years for care experienced children) to access supports at the earliest possible time, ensuring a ‘whole family’ and ‘no wrong door’ approach.

The service will operate 7 days a week between the hours of 8 am – 8 pm, 365 days per year.

The postholder will be required to work at least one evening per week and at least one weekend in four. The role is initially funded until April 2027.

Do you have what we are looking for?

• Creative personality and passionate about working with children and families
• Experience of supporting pregnant families and families with children of all ages
• Good IT skills (Microsoft)
• Team player but ability to self-motivate and inspire others
• A car driver with access to a car